The fallout from three Aboriginal rights agreements, signed last month between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation, continued on Tuesday.

It was a hot topic in question period in the BC legislature.

“Yesterday in this House, the Minister of Indigenous Relations stood up and he said he had no idea about any agreement with the federal government and the Musqueam,” BC Conservative interim leader, Trevor Halford, said during question period.

“Worse than that, the premier of this province stood in front of the media with children all around him and he says, and I quote, ‘I can’t say whether or not at this stage whether any public service members have line of sighted to it. I certainly didn’t,’ end quote.”

On Monday, at a press conference announcing that B.C. is adopting permanent daylight saving time, Premier David Eby said, “I haven’t been briefed yet on the contents of the agreement; I look forward to learning more about what the federal government’s been doing here.”

The premier’s office later revealed that Eby was at the signing ceremony on Feb. 20, but was not given any details.

“You would think that the premier of this province would attend an event and have some idea what the event is about,” Halford said.

“But then to go before the province and say he had no idea. He actually sat front row at a signing ceremony and then said he was caught surprised, just like everybody else. I’m not buying it, and I don’t think the public are buying it.”

3:54
Musqueam signs Aboriginal rights deals with Ottawa

Eby said in question period that he had no briefings about the contents of the agreement or any heads up from the federal government.

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He said he received an invitation from Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow to attend the signing and that he regularly attends events with the Musqueam Indian Band because they do not have a local MLA who represents their interests.

“I was honoured and glad to be attending,” Eby said.

“I absolutely sat in the front row. I was glad to see the federal government working with the Musqueam people, but I didn’t know the content of the agreements until they were released publicly by the federal government. But I’m glad they have been released.

“I wish we had been briefed in advance because we would have been able to clarify some of the comments made by the official Opposition that this was a land grab, that people didn’t own their homes anymore in Metro Vancouver, all the kind of nonsense that they said.”

Late on Monday, the federal government released a copy of the Rights Recognition Agreement between them and the Musqueam Indian Band.

Sparrow said the three deals outline how the federal government will work in partnership with Musqueam on fisheries, stewardship and marine management.

They also establish a framework for future negotiations on issues, including rights and title.

Speaking with CKNW on Tuesday, Sparrow said it does not include private properties.

“How we move forward on third-party land, municipal land and everything is stuff that we still need to resolve, but we still have interest in title, but it’s not with individual homeowners, that’s what I’m saying,” he said.

2:00
Cowichan court ruling raises property rights worries

Eby said that the work being done by the federal government is a positive thing.

“I’m hesitant to point the finger at the federal government about not bringing us in, because I know for our own government, we’re reflecting on how we can do a better job of bringing along key stakeholders in our own Indigenous work,” he said.

“This is challenging work when we sit down government to government, Hon. Speaker, but it’s important work, it’s crucial work, and up until very, very, recently, this was non-partisan work.”

Halford said it is hard to believe that Eby had no idea what was going on at the signing ceremony.

“Give me an absolute break, Mr. Speaker. We’re not buying that, neither is British Columbia,” he said.

“Either this is one of the highest levels of incompetency we’ve seen from this premiere, or even worse, he has chosen not to be up front in this House or outside of this House on important issues when it comes to First Nations deals. It’s that simple.”

Halford also asked Eby about DRIPA (Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act), which Eby said previously that the government would be amending, but not repealing.

“I look forward to tabling that in the house and we will ensure there is full opportunity to have debate and discussion about those amendments,” Eby said.

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As concerns rise over high oil prices due to the war in Iran, Canada’s oil-producing provinces could actually see revenue increase.

The price for a barrel of crude topped USD$73 in the early morning on Monday, up from less than $64 on Feb. 26. As of Tuesday afternoon, that number had jumped to about $74.83.

For Alberta, which has projected a $9.4-billion deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the oil price shift could mean a decrease in that large number.

“If prices stay in the low 70s, our deficit could drop into the $3 billion range and that would be helpful,” said Richard Masson, former chief executive officer of the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission.

“But we don’t know what’s going to happen and so I wouldn’t count on that yet.”

In its budget, Alberta had projected West Texas Intermediate — considered the lifeblood benchmark oil price for the province’s economy — to average $60.50 a barrel in the upcoming fiscal year.

Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner told reporters when the budget was released that if oil prices stay low indefinitely, the structural deficit would become “extremely obvious.”

An exact estimate is difficult to predict, but Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters on Monday a change is possible from the $4.1 billion deficit estimated for the current fiscal year.

“I suspect that rather than a $4.1 billion deficit that we were projecting in the budget, it might be somewhat less than that,” Smith said.

A day later, Horner told reporters a sustained period of high oil prices would help.

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“An extra month at elevated prices would have a dramatic impact,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t want to speculate on how much that will change things for this year, but we know it will help, we know we’re on the right side of it.”

It would depend how long the increased prices last, Horner said, and if it stays at that level it would “help the books.”

University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe said it’s common that when a major item produced by a province sees the price go up, it’s a good economic story.

“At the end of the day, a lot of the resources we produce in Canada are owned by provincial governments,” he said.

“So when the value goes up, that does mean more revenue to the government and the effect can actually be enormous.”

1:57
How the Iran war impacts inflation, energy prices, even your mortgage

Tombe said in the case of Alberta, every $1 per barrel change is equal to about $680 million to the government’s bottom line.

With the price of $74 per barrel of crude about $14 above the provincial estimate, it could equal $30 million per day to the government’s bottom line.

He added if that held for the month of March, that could equal up to $1 billion for the final month of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

“That basically means that if it holds, of course for an entire year, and who knows what the future holds, but if it holds it may very well have a balanced budget,” Tombe said.

Next door in Saskatchewan, another oil-producing province, the impact may differ.

In last year’s budget, the province estimated oil and natural gas revenue at $1.1 billion. It also estimated a barrel of oil at US$71 in the 2025-26 budget.

“The price of oil has jumped in the last few days, nobody anticipated that a month ago,” said Saskatchewan Finance Minister Jim Reiter.

Reiter noted to reporters the province has tried not to rely too much on natural resources and that remains the goal.

Tombe noted to Global News that the province is less reliant on oil compared to Alberta, but he estimated an equivalent change for Saskatchewan would amount to about $800 million.

“Oil prices matter for Saskatchewan, but the size of the effect is much, much smaller than in Alberta which means … they don’t face the same kind of volatile budget that Alberta does,” he said.

Saskatchewan’s finance minister said any budget-specific questions would be deferred until budget day, March 18.

Even though high oil prices could boost provincial budgets, everyday Canadians could still be hit hard both at the gas pump and in their wallet, Tombe cautioned.

“When the price of anything that we buy goes up, that does lower our purchasing power,” he said. “The increase in oil prices that we’re seeing now, if that lasts, then we may very well see inflation rise.”

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Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday reaffirmed Canada’s support for U.S. and Israeli efforts to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and terrorist threats, but added it was a position taken “with regret” and suggested the decision to attack Iran was “inconsistent with international law.”

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Australia, during his three-country international trip, Carney said the growing Middle East conflict “is another example of the failure of the international order” that he warned about in his widely-watched speech in Davos in January.

“We support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” he said. “Because Canada is taking the world as it is, not passively waiting for a world we wish to be.

“We do, however, take this position with regret because the current conflict is another example of the failure of the international order,” Carney continued.

He particularly noted the failure of the U.S. and Israel to engage with the United Nations or allies “including Canada” before attacking Iran on Saturday.

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“We were not informed in advance. We were not asked to participate. Prima facia, it appears that these actions are inconsistent with international law,” he said.

“We took a position because we view the nuclear threat and the export of terrorism of Iran over decades as one of the greatest threats to international peace and security. … In that limited sense, we supported that aspect.

“That is not a blank cheque,” Carney continued. “That is not us participating, that is not us asking for something in exchange for that — none of that is true. That is just a straight-up position.”

1:29
Carney says Canada supports US, Israel strikes on Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons

Carney later confirmed he did not view Iran’s nuclear program as an “imminent threat,” but said an Iran armed with a nuclear weapon “would be the biggest threat” and again cited the regime’s support for terrorism and multiple failed international attempts to end the program.

“Nobody has a civil nuclear program that’s buried a mile beneath the desert. So that is a threat,” he said. “The exact timing of it, the exact aspect of it, I’m not privy to all the information in terms of that.”

Although he condemned Iran’s strikes on neighbouring Gulf nations that have hit civilian infrastructure and killed civilians, he did not similarly criticize the U.S. and Israeli strikes, instead imploring “all parties” to “respect the rules of international engagement.”

“Canada calls for a rapid de-escalation of hostilities and is prepared to assist in achieving this goal,” he added.

“Resolution of this crisis will require commitment to a broader political solution, and diplomatic engagement is essential to avoid a wider and deeper conflict. Innocent civilians must be protected, and all parties must commit to finding enduring agreements to end both nuclear proliferation and terrorist extremism. Canada will pursue this approach with like-minded countries and participants in the conflict.”

More to come…

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The New Brunswick government has unveiled its minerals strategy, which is aimed at boosting the province’s economy amidst trade tensions with the United States.

The strategy aims to make the province a mining go-to — both nationally and internationally — by streamlining the permitting process. Legislation will be brought in this spring to achieve that.

It also aims to minimize environmental harm, according to the province, and “promote sustainable practices” while liaising with Indigenous communities and creating economic spinoff benefits.

Premier Susan Holt unveiled the strategy Monday at a mining conference in Toronto, saying New Brunswick’s goal is to signal to the world that the province is open for business.

“We’re going to compete and win that investment and we are going to use it to grow our economy so that I can deliver more health-care services and help make life more affordable for New Brunswickers,” she said from Toronto.

“We want to do it in a way that benefits New Brunswickers meaningfully, but that ensures that we still have a sustainable and healthy environment in New Brunswick.”

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The new strategy comes as Canada-U.S. trade tensions continue and after Prime Minister Mark Carney added the province’s Sisson Mine proposal to his major project list last fall.

Based on Crown lands near Stanley, N.B., the Sisson project is poised to mine for tungsten and molybdenum.

Both minerals can be used for energy storage and to improve battery performance. As well, since they are lightweight and durable materials, they can also be used in the defence and aerospace industries.

“I’m hoping to see (the strategy) drive up our GDP, increase revenues and economic activity in the province,” said Holt.

“Drive up good wages for New Brunswickers — wages that can help them tackle the rising cost of living because they have a good-paying job working in the mining and engineering sectors.”

However, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick says the strategy is lacking. The group’s executive director, Bev Gingras, said while the strategy is focused on attracting mining companies, it doesn’t clearly state how it will protect the people and environment that’s impacted by mining.

“It doesn’t actually address some of the very important concerns that people have, including environment impacts and social impacts and long-term economic impacts to be able to ensure that social licence can be given,” said Gingras.

She said communities deserve to know the impacts and risks, including potential water contamination, challenges with tailings pond management, traffic, dust, noise, and what happens when the mines are closed.

But Holt pointed out the province and country has “some of the highest environmental standards in the world” and efforts are being made to make careful decisions.

“So some of the first projects that we’re actually driving to development in New Brunswick are former mines. So you’ll see the old Bathurst mining camp used to be one of the largest mining jurisdictions in North America,” she said.

“Now we can use new technology and modern advancements to go back in and look at those old inactive mines and actually bring them back to life to extract more minerals out with technologies we didn’t have before and use a site that has otherwise become a brownfield unusable site and turn it back into something that’s producing jobs for New Brunswickers.”

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Defence Minister David McGuinty says Canadian military personnel in the Middle East are out of harm’s way as the U.S. and Israel continue to launch missile strikes on Iran.

McGuinty did not offer specifics Tuesday when asked how many Canadian military personnel are in the region, saying only there are “some.”

“They are all fine, out of harm’s way and it’s something that we’re watching very carefully,” McGuinty told reporters in Sydney, Australia, where he is on an official visit with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

McGuinty said the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a positive development.

“Ayatollah Khamenei has been for many, many decades a very, very powerful force for evil in Iran and in the region,” he said.

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Carney has endorsed the American and Israeli military strikes on Iran, but also said Canada will not get involved.

1:29
Carney says Canada supports US, Israel strikes on Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons

McGuinty said the Canadian Armed Forces weren’t involved in the preparation or execution of the attack and Canada was not given advance notice.

He said the government “decided from the beginning” it would support the attack but is also calling for a diplomatic end to the conflict.

The Department of National Defence has not said how many Canadian troops are stationed in each country in the Middle East. The department has said only that the Canadian Armed Forces will “assess any potential impacts on CAF personnel in the region.”

“The safety and security of all deployed CAF personnel remain our top priority. In line with established procedures, the CAF adjusts its presence and posture in deployment locations as required,” wrote department spokesperson Nick Drescher Brown.

“All CAF personnel in the region are currently safe and accounted for. For operational security reasons, the CAF does not disclose specific force protection measures.

“The CAF has no involvement in the United States’ Operation Epic Fury, nor were any CAF members involved in its planning.”

— with files from Dylan Robertson in Ottawa

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Saskatoon police are asking motorists to avoid a major roadway in the city’s north end due to a fiery collision Tuesday morning.

Police issued an advisory at 7:31 a.m. warning of the crash at Circle Drive and Millar Avenue.

The collision, which involves a semi-truck, has blocked the east and westbound lanes on Circle Drive, police said. Pictures shared with Global News show the semi-truck engulfed in flames.

“Motorists are advised to take alternate routes until the scene can be cleared,” police said.

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It’s unclear when the intersection will be cleared, what caused the crash or if there are any injuries.

An investigation is underway.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

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A wind energy company in Nova Scotia with the backing of local First Nations has secured $240 million in financing to construct onshore wind farms and an associated green hydrogen project that aims to be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

Trent Vichie, CEO of EverWind Fuels, said the financing from New York-based investment manager Nuveen Infrastructure Credit will be used to advance work on the first phase of wind turbines that will eventually power a hydrogen and ammonia plant in Richmond County, Cape Breton. Vichie says EverWind has not yet signed up a customer for the hydrogen, but Germany has shown interest in Canadian exports.

“We’re excited because it’s an institutional investor, who’s extremely experienced in the space, investing in this Phase 1,” Vichie said in an interview Monday about Nuveen. “And so getting this thing to financial close this year and starting to build — it means 100 long-term skilled jobs, 500 construction jobs (and) over $1 billion in contracts and procurement opportunities in Nova Scotia.”

Vichie says Nuveen, which manages a portfolio worth US$1.4 trillion, is providing “structured financing,” a complex financial instrument used to manage credit risk. Vichie says the financing has “debt- and equity-like characteristics” but declined to be more specific.

EverWind says Phase 1 includes four separate wind turbine projects around the province that together will have capacity to produce more than 650 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 200,000 homes. The turbines will relay power through the provincial power grid to EverWind’s Point Tupper hydrogen and ammonia project in Richmond County, the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. The plan is for the first wind energy to flow in 2028 with the hydrogen plant to come online a few years later.

The first phase of the project is projected to produce about 200,000 tonnes of clean ammonia a year. Ammonia is the most common way to ship hydrogen long distance. The second phase, which will include an additional wind farm and a dedicated transmission line, could add another 800,000 tonnes of ammonia per year.

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An Indigenous consortium led by Cape Breton’s Membertou First Nation holds 51 per cent ownership in the first phase of the wind portfolio. The Paqtnkek and Potlotek First Nations are also partners. “This financing marks a significant step forward in delivering clean energy projects that Indigenous communities are helping lead and shape,” Membertou Chief Terry Paul said in a statement.

“It signals confidence in the strength of the partnership, the quality of the work completed to date and the long-term vision behind these developments. For Membertou, participation at this level is about creating enduring economic opportunity while ensuring projects are developed with care, accountability and respect for Mi’kma’ki (traditional lands).”

EverWind says it’s planning more than $2 billion in investment on the first phase of the project. Vichie says the company has begun clearing land on the largest wind farm — the 47-turbine Windy Ridge project about 30 kilometres northwest of Truro, N.S.

In January, the European Union committed 200 million euros to support the production of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in Canada, saying the money will unlock matching funds from the Canadian government for fuels that would be exported to Germany. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau and former German chancellor Olaf Scholz signed a joint declaration of intent to work together on hydrogen in western Newfoundland in 2022 as a way to lessen the European country’s dependence on Russian energy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Auctions for Canadian hydrogen suppliers seeking rights to supply Germany are scheduled for 2027 with up to 300 megawatts of capacity on offer. The hydrogen will then be auctioned off to German buyers. The EU says that much fuel could mean almost 2.5 million fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Hydrogen projects in Atlantic Canada have not been without their challenges. Last month, the Newfoundland and Labrador government said it was owed more than $34 million in land reserve fees by several companies that had hoped to build wind-powered hydrogen operations. The government decided not to renew land reserves for three companies: EverWind, World Energy GH2, and Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen. Vichie said Monday that EverWind is still in discussions with the government on the matter.

World Energy GH2’s project was in partnership with CFFI Ventures, an investment firm run by seafood magnate John Risley. CFFI announced last month that it had submitted a plan to Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court to transfer its assets to a new owner in an effort to arrange its debt and become financially sustainable. Court documents show the company owes more than US$776 million. World Energy GH2 has since filed for creditor protection.

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