The City of Calgary and Hopewell Residential have formed an alliance to help meet Calgary’s affordable housing challenge.

Government members voted to support Bill 204, the Residential Tenancies Safer Spaces for Victims of Domestic Violence Amendment Act. The bill, introduced by independent Calgary Bow MLA Deborah Drever, allows tenants affected by domestic violence to break a lease early without financial penalty. A lease may be terminated if a statement is received from a certified professional - including a doctor, nurse, social worker, psychologist, or peace officer - verifying that domestic violence is occurring.

McMurray Métis general manager and Fort McMurray-Cold Lake Liberal candidate Kyle Harrietha has been appointed director of parliamentary affairs to Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna. “Kyle’s respect for the Métis people, and all Indigenous Canadians, is without question. While we’re sad to see him go,” said McMurray Métis Vice-President Bill Loutitt.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate released its annual report for 2014-2015 for what Advocate Del Graff says has been “one of the busiest for the office.” OCYA began work on a special report regarding the over-representation of Aboriginal children in care, which is a significant and growing concern in Alberta. The special report will make recommendations to the government, with a goal of improving the experiences that Aboriginal children and families have with the child intervention system.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman issued ministerial orders on Dec. 11 allowing more health professionals to prescribe, administer and distribute naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that can be used immediately to reverse fentanyl overdoses. The ministerial orders will expand the scope of practice for registered nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders. Hoffman is following an early recommendation made by the Mental Health Review Committee.

Fire leaves family homeless on Ermineskin Cree Nation

The provincial government has committed to a favourable process for Indigenous bids on green energy projects.

“Indigenous participation… was something we wanted to ensure we were doing throughout, the sort of the growth, of the green economy such that the new economy does not replicate the social and economic exclusions of the old,” said Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips.

Taking action to address the number of First Nations children living in poverty has been a constant battle with both the provincial and federal governments for British Columbia’s youth advocate.

“I’ve had a series of in-depth investigative reports over the years that have looked at the impact of poverty on children and families, especially First Nations children and families, and I found consistent systemic problems that give rise to child welfare issues,” said Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, who has served as B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth since 2006.

It has been decades in the making but Debbie Brisebois still can’t believe it’s officially here.

On Dec. 2, the Nunavut Media Arts Centre had its official grand opening in Iqaluit. The 8,000-square-foot building is located in the core of the business and government district.

“It feels totally amazing,” said Brisebois, executive director for the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation.

Three women stood shoulder to shoulder, each carrying eagle feathers, one wearing an “honouring our sisters” shirt, and announced that the new federal government was delivering on one of its campaign promises. Work for the national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls was beginning.