More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
Officials in the Northwest Territories have ordered residents of Yellowknife to evacuate as wildfires burn just outside the city's borders.
"The fire continues to advance and now burns approximately 17 kilometres outside the city," Northwest Territories Minister of Environment and Climate Change Shane Thompson told reporters at a news conference Wednesday night. "Without rain, it is possible it will reach the city outskirts by the weekend."
The order comes a day after a state of emergency was declared in the city, which is the territorial capital and home to 20,000 residents. Thompson said residents in Dettah, Ndilǫ and the Ingraham Trail should "begin evacuating in a phased approach determined by level of risk" and be out of the city by noon Friday. Residents of the city's west end, including Grace Lake, the Kam Lake industrial area and Engle business district should leave first as well, he said.
"I want to be clear that the city is not in immediate danger and there's a safe window for residents leave the city by road and by air," Thompson said.
Evacuees are advised to ensure they have enough fuel before leaving.
Thompson adds "numerous" airlines and the federal government are assisting with air evacuations, which are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. MDT Thursday.
For more information about evacuation orders, visit the territory's website.
Northwest Territories wildfire information officer Mike Westwick says there is a plan to fight the fires as they approach the city, saying, "this is a very serious situation."
"In conjunction with the city of Yellowknife, we are setting up an extensive line of sprinklers and high volume water systems surrounding the city. These systems are intended to discourage ignition and to protect structures, if wildfire does encroach," he said.
Westwick adds crews will also be on the ground laying down fire retardant across the city's perimeter.
"We'll be looking to direct attack that fire as (efficiently) as possible. We're going to be looking to slow it down and we're going to be continuing to do good work on the ground to slow the spread towards Yellowknife."
The evacuation comes during the worst wildfire season in Canadian history, with more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, including 124 soldiers, are prepared to mobilize in the territory as flames threaten communities and hundreds of civilians are airlifted to safety. One hundred soldiers are set to help with firefighting logistics, such as dousing hot spots and clearing areas.
Northwest Territories Premier Caroline Cochrane said she spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Wednesday, who assured her she has the federal government's full support.
"We're all in this together. But individually, we choose how to react. I know the situation's full of uncertainty, but we must take steps to stay calm and not make decisions that are going to put other people and yourselves in danger," Cochrane said. "When you don't evacuate, you put yourself and you put our first responders at risk."
She adds anyone who needs financial support to leave should meet at the multiplex, take a bus or plane.
"We don't want to see you broke down on the highway. Although we'll have supports, we want to make sure that everyone is safe," she said. "So again, if you are able to evacuate by the road, obey all the warning signs. Drive slowly. Watch for emergency management officials, traffic control devices and the posted speed limits. There's going to be a lot of people on the highway, and so everyone needs to take caution as you drive out. Do not make any rash decisions that will put others in danger. We're gonna get through this," Cochrane said.
With files from CTVNews.ca Writer Mitchell Consky
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has released new details about a wrong-way collision in Whitby on Monday night that claimed the lives of four people.
Tiger Woods accepted a special exemption for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, the first time the three-time champion has needed an exemption to play.
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'
William Nylander scored twice and Joseph Woll made 22 saves as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Thursday to force Game 7 in their first-round series.
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
The federal government is set to announce funding to help Toronto host six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the sheer number of passwords needed today, it may come as no surprise that over 60 per cent of Canadians feel overwhelmed, and over a third reportedly forget their passwords monthly.
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.
The lawyer for a residential school survivor leading a proposed class-action defamation lawsuit against the Catholic Church over residential schools says the court action is a last resort.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.