What we know about the wildfires burning in Canada and sending smoke to the U.S. and U.K.

Protests erupted outside Église MR in Montreal as U.S. Christian musician Sean Feucht held a permit-less concert, prompting police intervention after the city warned against the event due to safety concerns. Despite opposition from local activists and prior concert cancellations across Canada, Feucht maintained that the gathering was a church service and accused authorities of religious discrimination. Want More Context? 🔎

Asylum seekers in federally-funded hotels must vacate by September 30, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will end its funding. The department plans to assist these individuals in finding housing, but experts warn that securing accommodations may be challenging due to high demand and limited supply in many cities. Want More Context? 🔎

Donald Savoie, a Canadian public administration expert, critiques the disproportionate growth of policy-focused civil servants ("poets") in Ottawa compared to service-delivering workers ("plumbers"). With federal employment rising from 340,000 in 2014 to 445,000 in 2025, he argues for a rebalancing towards local service delivery, highlighting that no western nation matches Canada's concentration of public employees in its capital. Want More Context? 🔎

Daniel St-Louis received the shocking news that his father, Robert St-Louis, who disappeared in 1988, was found after his vehicle was discovered in the Mille-Îles River, containing human remains and personal items. The family, long grieving, is now seeking closure as authorities continue their investigation and await DNA confirmation, with early indications suggesting potential suicide. Want More Context? 🔎

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab visited a church kids camp in Halifax this summer to promote funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program, which she recommended as a long-time parishioner. While her involvement does not violate ethics rules, it raises questions about perceived conflicts of interest, especially since the church received $50,000 for ten jobs as part of the initiative to address youth unemployment. Want More Context? 🔎

A NASA study revealed that over half of U.S. astronauts experience vision changes after six months on the ISS, linked to Space-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) caused by fluid shifts in microgravity. Ongoing research with a device called the Thigh Cuff aims to mitigate these effects, potentially benefiting both space missions and medical conditions on Earth. Want More Context? 🔎