Ottawa city council will decide today whether to roll back the municipality’s controversial return-to-office mandate for its workforce.

The motion before councillors calls for rescinding the directive that required municipal employees to return to in-person work on a set schedule. If passed, the decision would allow staff more flexibility in choosing remote or hybrid arrangements, similar to what many federal public servants have been seeking.

The return-to-office order, introduced earlier this year, has drawn criticism from some councillors, city staff, and union leaders, who argue that rigid attendance rules ignore both productivity levels and employee well-being. Advocates for rescinding the mandate say hybrid work has proven effective and that rescinding the policy could also help the city remain competitive in retaining talent.

Supporters of the existing policy argue that city services benefit from stronger in-person collaboration and that a return to offices is vital for downtown businesses struggling to recover after the pandemic.

Today’s vote will determine whether the city moves toward a more flexible approach or maintains its mandate for in-person work.

The mother of a missing Ontario teenager is pleading for answers after learning her 16-year-old son disappeared in northern Saskatchewan.

Shenice Long, from Brampton, Ont., says she never knew her son, Jaysiiah Webb-Long, had travelled to Pelican Narrows, a remote community about 400 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. The teen was last seen earlier this month, sparking concern among both his family and local residents.

“Somebody knows something,” Long told CBC News. “He’s only 16. I need to know what happened to my child.”

According to RCMP, Jaysiiah was reported missing after failing to return home, and officers are working with local searchers to locate him. Police say his disappearance is being treated as a high-priority case, and they are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Pelican Narrows, home to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, has launched community searches and distributed posters with Jaysiiah’s photo. Family and friends describe him as a kind and outgoing teen, and say his sudden disappearance is out of character.

Long says she feels helpless being so far away from the search efforts. “It breaks me that I’m here in Ontario and he’s out there. I just want answers,” she said.

RCMP confirmed that they continue to investigate, but no foul play has been determined at this stage. Authorities are urging residents of Pelican Narrows and surrounding areas to share any information that might help bring Jaysiiah home.

The case has drawn widespread attention, with advocates stressing the vulnerability of missing Indigenous and racialized youth in remote communities. Long says she will not stop pushing until she learns what happened to her son.

Businesses tied to a British Columbia ostrich farm are reporting a wave of harassment and threats as tensions rise over a government-ordered ostrich cull.

According to a CBC News report, owners and workers say they have faced online abuse, phone calls, and even death threats after provincial officials confirmed that ostriches from a Vancouver Island farm were being culled due to disease control measures.

The farm, located north of Victoria, came under scrutiny after provincial authorities ordered the destruction of its flock, citing biosecurity concerns. While details of the exact disease risk have not been made public, the order was issued under B.C.’s Animal Health Act.

Farmers and businesses linked to the ostrich industry say they are being unfairly targeted. Some report being labelled “murderers” on social media, while others have received direct threats. They argue that they are following government directives and that their livelihoods are now at risk due to both the cull and the backlash.

One farm operator said the level of hostility has been overwhelming: “We’re losing animals, our business is suffering, and on top of that we’re being harassed day and night.”

Animal rights activists have been vocal in opposing the cull, demanding more transparency from the province and calling for alternatives. But industry representatives insist that compliance with animal health rules is essential to protect other farms and food safety.

The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture has not disclosed the total number of ostriches culled but confirmed inspections and enforcement are ongoing. Officials say their priority is to prevent the spread of disease and ensure compliance with provincial and federal health standards.

The controversy has left ostrich farmers and associated businesses caught between government orders and growing public anger, raising broader questions about transparency, animal welfare, and the economic toll of disease-control culls.

NordSpace is set to make another attempt at Canada’s first commercial rocket launch this week, scheduling a Wednesday afternoon window in St. Lawrence, Newfoundland.

The aerospace startup is working to launch its six-metre Taiga rocket, designed using 3D-printed metal, in what would be a milestone for Canadian spaceflight. The mission will be live streamed for the public.

The company had originally prepared for a Wednesday morning attempt but later shifted the window to the afternoon due to weather restrictions. “Minimum ceiling is about 5,000 feet,” NordSpace said during its livestream, noting that future orbital vehicles will be less constrained by such conditions.

Tuesday’s launch efforts ended with two separate delays. The first was due to a small boat straying into the restricted launch zone. The second was stopped just 30 seconds before ignition when smoke and flames appeared near the base of the rocket. CEO Rahul Goel later explained that the fire was caused by residual propellant on the launch pad and stressed that such incidents are not uncommon in rocket testing.

NordSpace has faced multiple setbacks in recent weeks. In late August, the company came within a minute of launch before scrubbing the mission due to an ignition problem. Despite the challenges, the team remains optimistic that this week’s attempt will mark a historic breakthrough.

If successful, the suborbital launch will send the Taiga briefly into flight before it splashes down in the Atlantic Ocean — lasting about one minute in total.

The launch represents a pivotal step for Canada’s entry into the commercial space race, with Newfoundland’s south coast emerging as a new hub for private aerospace innovation.