Residents of Iqaluit remain under a shelter-in-place alert following reports of shots being fired inside a home overnight.

According to a release from Nunavut RCMP, officers responded to a call just before 1 a.m. Saturday about a firearm being used on Tasilik Street. When police arrived, they reported hearing additional shots from inside the residence.

Roughly 25 minutes later, an emergency alert was issued, instructing residents to remain inside, lock their doors, and stay away from windows. RCMP confirmed officers are still on scene, though it has not been stated whether any arrests have been made.

Residents are being asked to avoid the 2200s area while the situation is ongoing.

Police have confirmed no injuries have been reported.

Calls for justice system reform are intensifying in Ontario’s Niagara Region after the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in Welland, allegedly by a repeat offender released early from prison.

St. Catharines city councillors this week passed a motion urging the federal government to open the national and Ontario sex offender registries to the public and implement tougher bail conditions for repeat violent and sexual offenders. The motion also called for Ottawa to provide more services and financial support for victims, addressing what councillors described as “significant gaps” in victim support and inconsistencies across provinces.

Similarly, at a meeting of the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Welland Coun. Pat Chiocchio introduced a motion calling for “more restrictive” bail, sentencing, and release conditions for repeat offenders. It also proposed long-term supervision and GPS monitoring of convicted sexual offenders.

The case at the centre of the outrage involves 25-year-old Daniel Senecal, who was already on the National Sex Offender Registry for 20 years following the 2021 sexual assault of a 12-year-old boy. Senecal was serving probation and had been released six months early from an 18-month sentence when he was arrested on Aug. 31, accused of breaking into a Welland home and assaulting a toddler.

Community anger has been widespread. Around 200 people demonstrated outside the St. Catharines courthouse during Senecal’s bail hearing, carrying signs demanding bail reform and longer sentences for violent offenders. Local leaders, including Welland Mayor Frank Campion and St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe, have both written to higher levels of government urging tougher laws. Premier Doug Ford, NDP MPP Jeff Burch, and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have also weighed in, supporting harsher penalties.

At the same time, activists are warning against reactionary measures. Saleh Waziruddin of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association told councillors that stricter bail rules could disproportionately affect racialized communities and that early detection and treatment are more effective in preventing reoffending. He also raised concerns about vigilante violence if sex offender registries were made public.

Senecal remains in custody, with his next court date set for Oct. 8.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, resources can be found through the Ending Sexual Violence Association of Canada database.

Category: Crime

Canada’s international education sector is undergoing one of its sharpest resets in years as sweeping changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program reshape opportunities for foreign students.

According to a new study by ApplyBoard, Canada is projected to approve about 143,600 PGWPs in 2025 — 30% fewer than in 2024. If current trends continue, approvals could fall below 130,000 for the full year, the lowest level since the pandemic.

The reforms include new language proficiency requirements, tighter rules for graduates of public-private partnership (PPP) colleges, and restrictions on non-degree programs. Together, these changes are narrowing pathways to work in Canada after study, reducing what has long been a key recruitment advantage for Canadian institutions.

“Ability to transition from study to work has long been a defining factor for students choosing Canada,” the report noted, warning that declining PGWP approvals may make Canada less attractive in a competitive global market.

Colleges accounted for 65% of approvals in the first half of 2025, with nearly 48,000 permits issued, though analysts caution this resilience may not last. Undergraduate approvals fell 37% year-over-year, while master’s students saw a 31% decline.

By field of study, business and management dominated with 44% of approvals, though engineering, computing, IT, and health programs recorded the steepest declines, with engineering down 53%. Analysts warn the drop could undermine Canada’s efforts to fill critical skills gaps.

Indian students, who remain the largest cohort at 59% of approvals, experienced a 29% decline. Students from China, the Philippines, and Iran saw drops of 30–44%. In contrast, Nepalese students recorded a 25% increase, with nearly all applications approved.

Experts say institutions must now align programs with labour market needs, strengthen ties with India while diversifying into emerging markets, and create clearer pathways for international graduates.

“The PGWP downturn marks a turning point,” ApplyBoard said. “How institutions respond will define Canada’s ability to compete in an increasingly complex global education landscape.”