Experts, Liberal MP hope for full ban on sports betting ads as advocates cite mental health decline

This article is new today!

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-30 14:50:39.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Healthcare, Social Services, Governance]

Bill S-211, introduced in May 2025 by Senator Marty Deacon and sponsored in the House by MP Bardish Chagger, is currently before the House standing committee on Canadian heritage to restrict sports betting ads across Canada. Supporters including Liberal MP Michael Coteau and public policy think-tank Cardus cite a University of Toronto study showing gambling-related emergency room visits nearly doubled in Ontario, alongside a 161 per cent increase in helpline calls among males aged 15-24 since single-game betting was legalized in 2021. Provincial officials from Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, along with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, have raised concerns regarding provincial jurisdiction, overlapping regulations, and economic impacts on commercial operators like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.

S-212 (45-1) - National Strategy for Children and Youth Act

This article is new today!

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-30 13:30:58.0
Tags: [National, Governance, Social Services]

Senate Public Bill S-212, titled the National Strategy for Children and Youth Act and sponsored by Senator Rosemary Moodie, progressed through the Senate during the 45th Parliament, 1st session, before being received in the House of Commons for first reading on March 12, 2026. The legislation aimed to establish a national strategy for children and youth in Canada but was ultimately not proceeded with in the House of Commons on October 30, 2026. This bill is a successor to Bill S-282 introduced during the 44th Parliament. The initiative builds upon advocacy frameworks such as the Canadian Children’s Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

N.W.T. premier commits to transferring child and family services to Akaitcho First Nations

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-29 12:24:40.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Social Services, Governance]

Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson has committed to transferring jurisdiction over child and family services to the Akaitcho First Nations following concerns raised at their annual general assembly regarding foster children being separated from their culture. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation has already indicated its intent to pursue the process, prompting the Department of Health and Social Services to initiate work on establishing a coordination agreement under the federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. Previous audits by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada highlighted major failings in the territorial system, including unverified foster home safety, missed welfare checks, and excessive caseworker loads surpassing the internal maximum of 11 cases.

S-253 (45-1) - Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-29 00:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Taxation, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

Bill S-253, titled the Making Child Care More Affordable for Canadian Families Act, was introduced and read for the first time in the Senate on October 29, 2026. The Senate Public Bill proposes to amend the Income Tax Act specifically regarding the child care expense deduction indexation. The legislation is currently at the second reading stage in the Senate during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament.

'Rebuilding trust': Mayor Knack meets with premier and cabinet ministers

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 21:11:54.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Social Services]

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack met with Premier Danielle Smith, Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, and Finance Minister Jason Nixon to discuss municipal priorities and rebuild trust following the provincial government's decision to overrule the City of Edmonton's zoning bylaw regarding multi-family residential infill. Alongside discussions on housing, Mayor Knack and Edmonton City Council advanced advocacy efforts for greater municipal political autonomy and increased partnership powers under the Canadian Constitution. The meetings also addressed broader municipal priorities including day spaces for the homeless population and measures to improve urban safety and affordability.

C-222 (45-1) - Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law)

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-27 19:44:40.0
Tags: [National, Labour, Social Services, Governance]

Bill C-222, titled the Relieving Grieving Parents of an Administrative Burden Act (Evan's Law) and sponsored by Liberal MP Terry Beech, proposes amendments to the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code regarding the death of a child. The Private Member's Bill passed second reading unanimously with 331 votes in the House of Commons on February 4, 2026, received amendments from the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons and Disabilities (HUMA) in April 2026, and advanced to third reading debate on October 27, 2026.

Yukon minister directing ‘crackdown’ of tents outside Whitehorse shelter, but won’t say how

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-27 15:44:59.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Social Services, Public Safety, Governance]

Yukon Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers stated in the Yukon Legislative Assembly that he has directed his department to crack down on tents outside the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter at 405 Alexander St. The minister stated he instructed his department to collaborate with the Department of Justice, the Department of Highways and Public Works, the RCMP, and the City of Whitehorse bylaw services to remove the encampments. Liberal Party Leader and Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Debra-Leigh Reti criticized the lack of operational clarity regarding the plan and called for a dedicated task force to assess the needs of individuals outside the shelter. The announcement coincides with ongoing legislative debate surrounding proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and the elimination of rent control in the Yukon.

Auditor presses N.W.T. child and family services to assess its own needs

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-22 20:17:39.0
Tags: [National, Social Services, Governance, Indigenous]

Canada's Office of the Auditor General (OAG) criticized Northwest Territories Child and Family Services—housed within the Department of Health and Social Services—for systemic staffing shortages, unmanageable caseloads triple internal maximums, and failing to systematically assess its own human resource needs. Deputy Auditor General Andrew Hayes reported that 98 percent of children in care in the N.W.T. are Indigenous, and persistent job vacancies continue to compromise welfare checks and foster home safety evaluations. In response, executive director of child and family services Arijana Haramincic stated the department has added 56 positions, expedited hiring, adjusted cultural training, and implemented bi-annual internal audits.

MPs moving to restrict gambling ads in Canada amid mounting harms

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Alberta, Public Safety, Governance, Social Services]

Federal MPs and Senators are advancing Bill S-211, a national legislative framework sponsored by MP Bardish Chagger and Senator Marty Deacon to restrict widespread sports betting advertisements and gambling promotions across Canada. The legislation follows findings from an analysis conducted by the University of Bristol during the 2026 NHL playoffs that revealed up to three gambling messages per minute on televised broadcasts featuring Canadian teams. The push to curb online gambling marketing comes amid rising rates of gambling addiction and a tripling of gambling-related suicides in Ontario following the province's 2022 expansion of private online casinos and sports betting. The provinces of Ontario and Alberta, along with the Canadian Gaming Association representing 80 industry operators, have opposed the federal bill, arguing it infringes on provincial regulatory authority over gaming frameworks.

Unreliable safety inspections at N.W.T. daycares put kids at risk, auditors find

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 23:14:15.0
Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Governance]

A report by the Auditor General of Canada revealed that the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment failed to fulfill key early learning and child care responsibilities, putting children at risk through unreliable safety inspections and a lack of follow-up on high-risk deficiencies such as missing smoke detectors. Auditors reviewed 44 inspection files and found that approximately 20 percent used outdated criteria, inspectors lacked formal standardized training, and the department disbursed funds to child care facilities without verifying enrollment reports or staff timesheets. Furthermore, the department fell short on monitoring inclusive child care spaces and failed to properly track recruitment and retention following the 2021 federal-territorial child care agreement.

Denny Rodgers named N.W.T.’s new health and social services minister

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 23:04:42.0
Tags: [National, Healthcare, Social Services, Governance]

Denny Rodgers, MLA for Inuvik-Boot Lake, was appointed as the Northwest Territories' new Minister of Health and Social Services by Premier R.J. Simpson following an acclamation to cabinet in the N.W.T. Legislative Assembly. Rodgers assumes the portfolio previously vacated by former minister and Inuvik Twin Lakes MLA Lesa Semmler following her sudden resignation in mid-September. Lucy Kuptana, who managed the department on an interim basis, will return solely to her duties as Minister for Housing N.W.T. and Minister responsible for the Status of Women. Meanwhile, a by-election to fill Semmler's vacant legislative seat in Inuvik Twin Lakes is scheduled for November 24.

Improved Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program Delivers Increased Support to Clients

Source: Saskatchewan - Government News
Date: 2026-10-21 23:00:00.0
Tags: [Saskatchewan, Social Services, Affordability, Governance]

The Government of Saskatchewan has implemented improvements to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program, which provides benefits to more than 18,000 residents. Approximately 44 per cent of SAID clients (more than 7,700 people) experienced an increase in their monthly benefits, averaging $51 more per month, with certain families and rural residents seeing increases of up to $294 per month. The structural modifications and expansion of the Living Income Benefit delivered nearly $400,000 in additional benefits in September alone and are projected to inject approximately $4.7 million in extra support over the next year.

Résidence Jao inc. de Chambly voit son autorisation de contracter révoquée et est inscrite au RENA

Source: Quebec - Fil de presse gouvernemental
Date: 2026-10-20 13:30:00.0
Tags: [Quebec, Public Safety, Social Services, Governance]

The Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) has revoked the contracting authorization of Résidence Jao inc., a Chambly-based residential facility offering services to autonomous and semi-autonomous individuals with intellectual disabilities. Consequently, the company has been officially registered in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA), barring it from participating in public contracts.

Résidence PDG inc. perd son autorisation de contracter et est inscrite au RENA

Source: Quebec - Fil de presse gouvernemental
Date: 2026-10-19 14:30:00.0
Tags: [Quebec, Social Services, Public Safety, Governance]

The Autorité des marchés publics (AMP) has revoked the contracting authorization of Résidence PDG inc., located in Chambly, Montérégie, and officially registered the company in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA). Résidence PDG inc. provides housing services to autonomous or semi-autonomous clients with intellectual disabilities. This regulatory enforcement action bars the company from entering into public contracts in the province of Quebec.

Q&A | Navarana Beveridge looking ahead in her first week as NTI CEO

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-18 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Indigenous, Governance, Social Services]

Navarana Beveridge assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) on October 5, 2026, bringing two decades of experience with Inuit organizations, including negotiating the Mary River Project Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement. In her first week, Beveridge outlined her priorities to focus on listening to leadership, preparing for the upcoming Annual General Meeting in Kugluktuk alongside President Gloria Uluqsi, and implementing the Inungnik Makipalliatittiniq strategic plan. She emphasized collaboration with government bodies and regional Inuit associations to address critical regional issues such as housing shortages, food insecurity, and family services.

Housing advocate fears removing rent control will thwart plan to end homelessness

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 19:45:44.0
Tags: [National, Housing, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

The Yukon territorial government endorsed the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's 112-page community action plan to end homelessness, titled A Place to Be, while simultaneously introducing a bill in the Legislative Assembly via Community Services Minister Cory Bellmore to repeal rent caps and reintroduce no-cause evictions. Kristina Craig, executive director of the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, expressed concern that the elimination of rent control will jeopardize housing stability for current renters and undermine progress toward the plan's 29 recommendations. Scott Kent, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, stated that the government supports the plan's vision but declined to endorse its target of reducing homelessness by 50 percent in two years, while highlighting forthcoming housing developments such as 34 units at the former Korbo apartment site in Dawson City and 184 units delivered in partnership with the Da Daghay Development Corporation.

Nunavut’s Family Services admits reporting incorrect data on children in care, to the minister's surprise

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-13 09:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Social Services, Governance, Indigenous]

Nunavut's Department of Family Services admitted that previously reported data stating 251 children and youth were in care as of June 30 was inaccurate and unverified, with actual figures reaching 440 children and youth living outside their family homes. Minister Gwen Healey Akearok stated she was unaware the department had provided incorrect numbers, which officials attributed to quality assurance capacity issues, staff summer leave, and vacancies reaching a 47 per cent rate as of March 31, 2025. The discrepancy reignited criticism from Nunavut's Representative for Children and Youth, Jane Bates, and Auditor General scrutiny regarding ongoing datakeeping failures and the tracking of vulnerable children.

What Alberta’s Education Act says about access to education — and what a yes vote could mean for non-permanent residents

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-07 11:02:15.0
Tags: [Alberta, Education, Immigration, Governance, Social Services]

Premier Danielle Smith's government in Alberta is holding an October 19 referendum featuring five immigration-related questions, targeting non-permanent residents' access to publicly funded services such as education and healthcare. The proposed changes could lead to charging non-permanent residents a "reasonable fee" for education—similar to international tuition fees ranging from $11,000 to $14,000 depending on the school board—or requiring a one-year residency before becoming eligible for public services. Under the current Alberta Education Act, children between 6 and 19 years of age whose parents are residents of Canada lawfully entitled to be in the country are entitled to education and full provincial funding, a framework that would require statutory amendments to implement the referendum's proposed restrictions. Statistics Canada data cited in the report notes that Alberta had 281,857 non-permanent residents as of December 2025, which included 45,554 temporary resident students costing the province approximately $544 million annually for the 2026 school year.

PQ leader says referendum not immediate priority as he prepares to lead minority government

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-07 09:00:19.0
Tags: [Quebec, Governance, Affordability, Social Services, Trade]

Following the Parti Québécois election victory where the party secured 59 seats, Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon announced that a sovereignty referendum is not an immediate priority for his minority government. Instead, the government will focus on pressing issues including organizing a summit on homelessness, freezing salaries for National Assembly members and Crown corporation directors, creating a secretariat to review government spending and bureaucracy, and appointing a trade team to address trade tensions with the United States. St-Pierre Plamondon will require legislative collaboration with opposition parties, including the Liberals with 40 seats, the Conservative Party with 19 seats, and Québec solidaire, to pass policy initiatives.

N.B. public advocate pitches non-profit co-ordination unit to fix social services

Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-06 16:39:34.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Social Services, Governance]

New Brunswick public advocate Kelly Lamrock has released a 50-page report proposing the establishment of a Non-Profit Opportunities Unit to bridge gaps between provincial social services and non-governmental organizations. The proposed unit aims to streamline grant applications, shift the Department of Social Development away from a rigid rules-based approach, and track human quality-of-life outcomes rather than checklist compliance. Additionally, the framework introduces social entrepreneurship contracts designed to achieve government cost savings through preventative investments in at-risk populations, such as youth recovery and addiction programs.