Four of Canada’s largest school boards are suing Meta, Snap Inc, and ByteDance for C$4.5bn, alleging their social media products harm student learning and mental health. The Ottawa-Carleton, Toronto, Peel, and Toronto Catholic district boards claim these platforms have led to increased cyberbullying and mental health issues among students. The lawsuit, filed in Ontario’s superior court, is the first of its kind in Canada. Snap defended its platform, while Meta and ByteDance have not responded.

Canada mandates that by 2035 all new cars sold must be zero-emission. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, which sets incremental sales targets for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles starting in 2026. Automakers can buy credits if they fall short of targets. The policy aims to align Canada with other nations' efforts to reduce automotive emissions. Quebec and British Columbia have already exceeded their zero-emission vehicle sales targets, while Ontario removed incentives in 2018.

Over 150 years after a treaty with the Crown promised a share of regional riches to First Nations in Canada, communities like Pays Plat First Nation have faced poverty, illness, and housing shortages. A legal battle initiated in 1998 by chiefs of the Robinson-Superior treaty against the Crown for breaking its promise to share land wealth is nearing a potential resolution. Ontario Superior Court Justice Patricia Hennessy's 2018 ruling acknowledged the Crown's failure to honor the treaty. Economist Joseph Stiglitz estimates the compensation could be around C$126bn. The affected First Nations see this as a chance to address critical needs and envision a future where they can reach their full potential.

The return of sea otters to Haida Gwaii, Canada, is seen as a conservation success but also raises concerns among local communities. Once hunted to near extinction for their pelts, otters are now returning, potentially threatening the marine ecosystem balance. The Haida people, who have coexisted with otters for thousands of years, face challenges as otters compete for shellfish resources. Marine ecologist Hannah Kobluk notes the importance of otters in maintaining healthy kelp forests and biodiversity. The Haida Nation, in partnership with Parks Canada, is working on a conservation philosophy that emphasizes coexistence within ecosystems. Discussions and planning for otter management are ongoing, with all options, including community-led hunts, considered if otter populations rebound significantly.

Over half a year after nearly C$24m in gold bars and cash was stolen from Pearson International Airport, Air Canada and Brink's are embroiled in a lawsuit over the heist, one of Canada's largest. Brink's alleges Air Canada's security failings enabled the theft, while Air Canada counters that Brink's did not declare the cargo's value or insure it. Both companies cite the Montreal Convention, which limits compensation for lost cargo, but disagree on its application. The case is currently before the federal court.

Mohamad Lilo, the ex-boyfriend and former business partner of Elnaz Hajtamiri, has been charged with first-degree murder following her abduction by individuals posing as police officers on January 12, 2022, in Ontario, Canada. Hajtamiri was forcibly taken from a property and is now presumed dead by the police. Lilo was previously charged with kidnapping in relation to her disappearance and with attempted murder from a prior assault on Hajtamiri. Two other men, Riyasat Singh and Harshdeep Binner, were charged for the parking garage attack on Hajtamiri. The family has offered a C$100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the abductors.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent decision to temporarily pause the carbon tax on home heating oil has sparked criticism and concern that it could undermine the government's climate efforts. The exemption, aimed at easing costs for lower-income Canadians, has been challenged by provincial premiers and political analysts. The Conservatives and New Democratic Party have pushed for further exemptions, while experts warn that the move could weaken the government's signature climate legislation. Trudeau has resisted additional carve-outs and defended the carbon pricing system, but the controversy has benefited Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who leads in polls and campaigns against the carbon tax.

Rodney Hodgins, a disabled man, had to drag himself off an Air Canada plane after the airline failed to provide a wheelchair when he flew to Las Vegas with his wife to celebrate their anniversary in August. Air Canada was forced to apologize for the incident.

Doug Inglis and Jenny Gusse, both 62, were killed by a grizzly bear in Banff National Park, marking the first fatal bear encounter in the park in nearly 50 years. The couple, experienced in outdoor adventures, were on a weeklong trek when they sent a distress message via a satellite device. Despite efforts to secure their campsite, they were attacked in their tent. Parks Canada's response team found the victims and their dog deceased and were charged by the grizzly, which was subsequently killed. The bear was old with poor health, and while the couple had prepared bear spray, they were ultimately unable to survive the attack. The incident is under investigation, with no witnesses to the attack.

Anthony Rota, the speaker of Canada's parliament, resigned after facing backlash for inviting a Ukrainian Nazi veteran, Yaroslav Hunka, to a special session and calling him a 'hero'. The incident, which occurred during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit, led to cross-party calls for Rota's resignation. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and other officials condemned the event as deeply unacceptable and embarrassing. It was revealed that Hunka had been a member of the Waffen-SS 'Galicia' Division. Jewish groups and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center criticized the invitation, and Poland's education minister sought Hunka's extradition. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the event as embarrassing to Canada, and there were calls to remove Rota's remarks from the official parliamentary record.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has retracted a contentious land swap deal that would have allowed development in Toronto's protected Greenbelt areas, acknowledging the decision as a mistake and apologizing for breaking his promise. The reversal follows the resignation of two cabinet ministers, critical reports from the integrity commissioner and auditor general, and public backlash. The integrity commissioner's report accused Ford's housing minister of breaching the law, while the auditor general's report suggested the plan favored certain developers. Ford's government had defended the development as a means to address the housing crisis, but critics argue there are alternative solutions.

The trial of protest leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, who led the 'Freedom Convoy' truck blockade in Ottawa, is experiencing significant delays due to legal disputes over evidence and witness testimony. The protests, which began as a challenge to COVID-19 public health measures, escalated into broader political dissent against the Liberal party. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act to end the blockades. The trial, which started in early September, was to last 16 days but may extend into November. The prosecution and defense are contesting the relevance of social media evidence, and Barber's lawyer has threatened to seek dismissal of charges over trial delays.