In the news today: Cooler week ahead as fires burn by Flin Flon, Man.

Crews have been trying to keep a blaze burning nearby at bay, as they have said the fire has been contained to outside its perimeter highway.

At this time, crews say there have been no structure losses.

To date, more than 17,000 people have been displaced by wildfires in Manitoba, including 5,000 from Flin Flon.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Carney, premiers meeting in Saskatoon

Canada’s premiers are meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in person for the first time since the federal election to pitch which major projects they think should get fast tracked.

The recent campaign saw Carney vow to slash federal approval times on major infrastructure projects considered to be in the national interest to help make the country an “energy superpower.”

The full list of big industrial projects they’re discussing is being kept secret, since they don’t want to send a bad signal about anything that doesn’t make the short list.

But Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his pick is the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she wants to see the Port of Prince Rupert become a major trade corridor.

The first ministers are also expected to discuss breaking down interprovincial trade barriers, which would make it easier to purchase Canadian-made goods from other provinces and territories.

Bank of Canada faces ‘risky’ rate decision

Few would confuse Hollywood action star Tom Cruise with Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

But while Cruise rides a plane in tailspin to his latest box office smash, some economists say Macklem finds himself in his own high-stakes circumstances with the central bank’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.

Macklem’s mission is to chart a path for interest rates that keeps Canada’s economy afloat at a precarious moment without straying from its inflation-taming mandate.

“It really is mission impossible,” said Andrew DiCapua, principal economist at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

The Bank of Canada’s policy rate stands at 2.75 per cent following a pause at the central bank’s last decision in April, snapping a streak of seven consecutive cuts. Most economists expect the central bank will hold rates again on Wednesday.

Ontario to limit debate on controversial Bill 5

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is moving to shut down debate on its most controversial piece of legislation this session, one of a plethora of bills getting the fast-track treatment before the legislature rises for a summer break.

A mining law known as Bill 5 that would give the government power to suspend provincial and municipal laws for chosen projects in areas deemed to have economic importance – and remove some endangered species protections – has sparked a lot of opposition.

A legislative committee heard from First Nations leaders and environmental groups, as well as mining groups, over two days and as the committee was considering amendments last week the NDP and Liberals used procedural tools to grind the process to a halt, in protest.

Government house leader Steve Clark is now stepping in to limit further committee time and require the bill to go back to the house for third reading, with just one hour of debate, and a final vote that same day.

While Bill 5 got two days of committee hearings, the six other pieces of legislation the government is speeding up have had no hearings, and will have as little as half an hour of third-reading debate, with just nine minutes each allotted to the two recognized opposition parties.

Hockey players’ sex assault trial continues

The sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team is expected to hear today whether another one of the players will take the stand.

Alex Formenton’s legal team is expected to tell the court whether they will call any witnesses, including their client.

Another accused, Carter Hart, testified over two days last week, which included one day of cross-examination by the Crown.

Formenton, Hart and their ex-teammates Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote have pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

The trial centres on an encounter with a woman inside a London, Ont., hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today: Cooler week ahead as fires burn by Flin Flon, Man.

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