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Written by Hanna Lee & Jane Gerster Copy Editors, Digital News
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Good morning. Canada's top general is trying to reassure Ukraine that it can still rely on the stability of NATO, as a belligerent U.S. escalates its criticisms of the military alliance. We'll get into that below, as well as the Ontario homeowners dealing with unexpected costs, and the Netherlands-based people behind some Alberta separatist YouTube channels.
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THE LATEST
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- The body of a Canadian tourist killed when a gunman opened fire from one of Mexico's most visited pyramids has been turned over to her family, Mexican officials confirmed.
- The National Transportation Safety Board published a report on last month's deadly crash involving an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia airport, concluding communication failures and a lack of transponders in the truck played roles in the collision.
- U.S. President Donald Trump is the featured guest at tomorrow's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. That he regularly attacks the media is drawing controversy, as the gala is meant to celebrate freedom of the press.
- Canada has sent negotiators, but no ministers, to the Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference, which opens today. A bit awkward, given we are the largest oil and gas producer at the table.
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FEATURED STORIES
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(Anton Holovin/CBC)
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Canada’s top general tries to reassure Ukraine as NATO tensions flare
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NATO remains a stable, vital force in spite of criticism (mostly from the Trump administration) — that's what Canada's top military commander tried to tell Ukrainians on Thursday.
What's happening: Disagreements among allies are part of the democratic process and have happened before, Gen. Jennie Carignan told CBC News after speaking on a panel at the Kyiv Security Forum. U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of the alliance in recent weeks, mainly over its refusal to support the U.S. and Israel's war on Iran.
Why it matters: While the administration is bound by law to seek congressional approval to officially exit, as it has threatened to do, officials have suggested Washington may try to bypass that provision. But Carignan said she's skeptical that the U.S. will exit. NATO solidarity is crucial for Ukraine, which has been vying to join the alliance in the face of Russian attacks. Still, there's no political consensus among member states right now to extend an invitation.
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Indigenous ancestral remains were found 20 years ago. Ontario says the new homeowners have to investigate
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A growing group of Ontario homeowners are navigating what are called burial site investigations (BSI), after discovering Indigenous ancestral remains on their properties. But experts say the process is taking responsibility away from the government in addressing the issue.
What's happening: Ontario's Registrar of Burials has the right to order a homeowner to launch a BSI through a 2002 provincial law. Among other things, it determines the site's history and whether the property should be classified as a cemetery if more remains are found. The process is expensive and lengthy, requiring meticulous work. And homeowners are on the hook for the cost of excavation. (The premier's office and related provincial departments didn't respond to or declined requests for comment.)
Why it matters: One licensed archaeologist, Terri-Lynn Brennan, who is Mohawk, Tuscarora and British, says the law mandating BSIs should be rewritten. Homeowners who have been tasked with the process also say the province should take the lead in confirming where burial sites are. While property owners can apply for financial help if they can prove the dig would cause them financial burden, it's unclear how they would qualify, or how long they'd have to wait for an answer.
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Dutch YouTube creators behind Alberta separatist videos getting millions of views
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Several YouTube channels have recently been promoting Alberta separatism — but they're fronted by hired actors, with the accounts made by people based in the Netherlands, an investigation from CBC's visual investigations team and Radio-Canada's Décrypteurs has found.
What's happening: Three people in the Netherlands have been linked to accounts that hired actors to appear on the YouTube channels. They include Daan Jurgers, a sports writer, and Marijn Masseus, a self-described digital creator, as well as someone with the username "Lisanne." (The first two denied involvement, when reached for comment.) They also hired actors based in Canada and the U.S. to feature in the videos, at least one of whom did not know about the content's separatist message beforehand.
Why it matters: Two Netherlands-based users whom CBC linked to separatist accounts attended an online course that shows people how to make "faceless" channels on YouTube to generate passive income. It claims it isn't politically motivated. But a report from the Media Ecosystem Observatory, a project analyzing Canadian media, found 20 YouTube channels that are part of a co-ordinated network focused on political issues like western separatism. The goal appears to be to profit off divisive subjects — without a personal stake in the Canadian issues at hand.
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