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Ottawa to announce $100 million toward offshore wind projects in Nova Scotia
Ottawa to announce $100M toward offshore wind
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Julia Nikhinson
The federal government is set to announce a $100-million commitment toward developing offshore wind energy in Nova Scotia in the hope of attracting private investment to projects like the province's Wind West plan.
Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is expected to deliver the announcement in Halifax on Thursday morning. A media advisory says he is to be joined by Justice Minister Sean Fraser — whose riding brushes up against Halifax and who last month attended the world’s largest wind industry trade show in Germany.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who has long called on Ottawa to help cover the costs of the Wind West project, is also set to be on hand for the announcement.
A senior government source, who was not authorized to publicly disclose details ahead of the announcement, said Ottawa is putting $5 million toward deploying a fleet of buoys to help measure wind speeds and ocean conditions.
The information, the source says, will help inform prospective investors ahead of a call for bids in winter 2027.
The provincial government says the first phase of Wind West is estimated to cost about $60 billion and would produce about five gigawatts of power as early as 2033. About $40 billion would be for turbine infrastructure, with another $20 billion for new transmission lines.
In June 2025, Houston said the province's plan to license enough offshore wind farms to produce five gigawatts of electricity would be increased eightfold to 40 gigawatts, well beyond the 2.4 gigawatts Nova Scotia needs.
Houston has said the excess electricity could be used to supply 27 per cent of Canada's total demand. Quebec and Massachusetts have already shown interest in buying electricity from the proposed project.
Thursday's announcement is also expected to include a $3-million commitment to expand modelling to include transmission of offshore wind power from Nova Scotia to Quebec and Ontario, and for underwater survey work to route transmission cables.
Earlier this year, Nova Scotia's offshore energy regulator signalled its intent to begin studying areas of the ocean that could be home to the first turbines of the Wind West project.
Although the federal government says more than 80 per cent of Canada's electricity comes from renewables — such as solar, hydro, nuclear and wind power — Ottawa has faced criticism in recent months from environmental groups over prioritizing conventional oil and gas projects rather than investing in more renewables.
In particular, Ottawa's electricity strategy unveiled in May aims to double Canada's grid. A key component of the strategy is leveraging a build out of natural gas.
Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University, said at the time the strategy "overstates the role of natural gas and understates the long-term energy security and affordability benefits of clean energy."
Marine Renewables Canada, the national association for the offshore wind industry, says the global offshore wind market is projected to be a trillion-dollar industry by 2040.
"And while Canada is home to some of the world's longest and most wind-rich coastlines, we have yet to install a single offshore wind turbine," the organization says.
"Nearly 30 countries are ahead of us, and in the North Sea alone, thousands of turbines now generate more than 30 gigawatts of power."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
— With files from Michael MacDonald and Devin Stevens in Halifax.
By Nick Murray | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Burnaby school district says cyberattack may have leaked student, parent info
Cyberattack may have leaked student, parent info
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
Public school officials in Burnaby, B.C., say hackers may have obtained student and parental information in a recent cyberattack.
The Burnaby School District says in an online notice that the ransomware attack it suffered on Sept. 21 affected school websites and portals, internal network services and phone lines.
The notice says hackers copied and stole files that may have contained lists of parent, guardian and student names and contact information, as well as birthdates, grades and school names.
It says the hackers may also have obtained registration forms, kindergarten assessment notes and detailed lists of students on specialized learning plans.
The school district says the matter is in the hands of the RCMP and B.C.'s privacy commissioner, adding that its system security is being evaluated to prevent further breaches.
It says staff, students and their families have been offered registration with TransUnion’s fraud alert service and encourages them to be wary of any suspicious communications.
"We understand that incidents of this nature are concerning and we remain committed to keeping the Burnaby Schools community updated throughout this process, as the investigation proceeds and additional information becomes available," the notice says.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Key quotes from the British Columbia leaders' debate ahead of Oct. 24 election
Key quotes from the B.C. leaders' debate
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Three of British Columbia's provincial party leaders debated Wednesday on issues such as health care, seniors housing, public safety, Indigenous relations, housing and government financing.
Here are some key quotes from Wednesday's televised debate:
NDP Leader David Eby, when asked why he called an election two years early:
"This was not a government that was able to deliver the big swings that you and your family need government to be taking for you. We need a government with representatives from every part of the province that are focused on your priorities, not on culture wars, not on repealing the human rights code, but on the real issues that matter to you and your family."
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Eby to Interim B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson on online posts about Islam by his campaign director, Katy Merrifield:
"Her Twitter feed at points reads like the worst corners of the dark web, and you stand here today, in the face of a call from national Muslim organizations and say, 'hey, we need to feel safe in this province.' And she's gonna continue as your campaign director."
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Doerkson, on Merrifield's posts:
"I will always stand up against hate. I want to just refer to the woman that you're referring to just for a moment, because this is a woman who survived sexual violence and she acted out in a moment of trauma. She removed the post and from there, I think she has been very apologetic."
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Green Party Leader Emily Lowan:
"If the Greens held the balance of power, it would be my top priority to advocate for a better voting system. A voting system where we're not caught between lesser evils, where we are choosing between broken promises or service cuts. And I think we can find that system in proportional representation."
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Lowan, after an exchange between Eby and Doerkson on hateful comments by candidates:
"I have to say this feels like déjà vu of the 2024 race. Our politics haven't advanced. We have a Conservative party that is yet again being divided, ripped up from the inside with candidates making abhorrent comments and an interim leader. And we see the same failing status quo, a managed decline under David Eby."
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Doerkson, on Eby's record:
"The challenge that I think British Columbians have is that you continue to refer to a decade ago. The reality is Mr. Eby you've been running this province for a decade and nothing is better than it was years ago."
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Doerkson, on when he will provide his costed election platform:
"I do not want to introduce a platform that I break promises on."
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CentreBC leader Elenore Sturko, in video remarks:
"I'm not asking British Columbians to pretend that CentreBC will form government. I'm asking them a different question. Who will hold the next government accountable? CentreBC is a socially progressive, environmentally pragmatic, and fiscally responsible party. Divisiveness and extremes on the left and on the right aren't helping British Columbian."
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OneBC leader Dallas Brodie, in video remarks:
"We will push for a 25 per cent income tax cut for both individuals and corporations, and we will push a two per cent cut in the PST. As well, we will fight against these land back giveaways that are being done by the current government. We will read the treaties and let you know what is going on. We will stop the greed and corruption of the reconciliation industry in British Columbia, and put B.C. back in the hands of British Columbians."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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L'île de l'amour vient tout juste de commencer et la production intervient déjà
Il y a déjà des flammèches! 🤯
Alors que la deuxième saison de L'île de l'amour vient tout juste de débuter, la grande première diffusée le dimanche 17 avril et la première quotidienne du 18 avril ont déjà semé plusieurs réactions chez le public. À peine deux jours après le début de la téléréalité, la production intervient déjà auprès des fans.
C'est dans une story partagée sur Instagram et sur Facebook le 20 avril que l'équipe derrière l'émission de dating a voulu passer un message aux téléspectateur.trices.
Dans sa publication, la production fait un rappel quant au respect à adopter tout au long de la saison, autant envers les candidat.es de l'aventure qu'en échangeant avec les autres internautes sur les réseaux sociaux :
« À L'île de l'amour, on crée des flammèches! Mais ce n'est pas une raison pour s'enflammer sur les médias sociaux [...]. Nous prendrons ces commentaires très au sérieux et les commentaires irrespectueux seront supprimés.
« Nous demandons à tous nos téléspectateurs d'être respectueux et de se rappeler que nos insulaires sont des humains qui ont des sentiments. Nous voulons que L'île de l'amour demeure une expérience positive pour tout le monde », conclut l'équipe.
Ce n'est pas la première fois qu'une émission québécoise doit intervenir sur la sphère publique pour rappeler de ne pas être déplacé.es envers les participant.es.
L'équipe derrière l'aventure de Si on s'aimait avait d'ailleurs tenu un discours similaire après qu'un duo de l'aventure ait suscité de fortes réactions.