INNOCENT VICTIM IDENTIFIED

MONTREAL — Authorities in Quebec’s Nunavik region say the person who died 10 days after an exchange of gunfire involving the Nunavik Police Service on Dec. 20 was a young girl.

Maggie Emudluk, Kativik Regional Government chairperson, says in a statement the girl was an innocent victim of a sad tragedy.

Quebec’s police watchdog confirmed Tuesday that one of two civilians who were seriously injured during the Nunavik Police Service intervention in Inukjuak had died.

The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes had said officers exchanged gunshots with an individual outside a home in the community just after 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 20.

Inukjuak Mayor Bobby Epoo previously identified the injured parties as a man in his 30s and a six-year-old girl. Authorities have not said how the young girl sustained her injuries, including whether she was hit by a police bullet.

The 35-year-old man who allegedly exchanged fire with police was arrested and is facing charges that include illegally possessing a firearm.

OXFAM-QUÉBEC BARRED FROM GAZA

OTTAWA — Canadian non-profit Oxfam-Québec says it was surprised to find itself on a list of 37 organizations set to be barred from Gaza by Israel.

The country is reportedly moving to suspend more than two dozen humanitarian organizations as of Jan. 1 for failing to comply with new vetting rules for international organizations working in the enclave.

In a press release, Oxfam-Québec says its registration dates to before 2020 and is no longer active, and Oxfam affiliates are now legally represented in the Occupied Palestinian Territory under a single registered entity, Oxfam Novib, which is also on the suspension list.

The press release says Oxfam is pursuing discussions with Israeli authorities to ensure its essential humanitarian activities continue.

In a joint statement, Canada and other countries called on Israel Tuesday to boost the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensure that international NGOs are able to operate there in a “sustained and predictable way.”

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a social media post Tuesday that the joint statement was “false but unsurprising” and “blatantly ignores the significant improvement” in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

7 CANADIANS INJURED IN TRAIN CRASH

Canada’s foreign affairs minister says seven Canadians were injured Tuesday in a train crash near the Machu Picchu archaeological site in Peru.

Anita Anand says on social media that Global Affairs officials are providing consular assistance to those affected and are in close contact with local authorities.

She says Canada stands by the people of Peru and extends its sympathies to all those affected.

Two trains taking tourists to Machu Picchu crashed on Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring around 30 passengers.

The person killed was a railroad worker, according to a spokesperson with the Cuzco police department.

He told The Associated Press the railway suspended services along the line connecting Machu Picchu with the nearby city of Cuzco after the accident.

PM MAKES NEW YEAR STATEMENT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said in his New Year’s Eve message that Canada faced “challenges” in 2025, but the country is strongest when it’s united.

As Canadians prepared to ring in the new year, Carney said it’s a time to reflect on the moments that brought us joy in 2025 and the people who made our lives special.

But he also acknowledges the past year brought “more than its share of challenges” for Canada.

Carney said that despite the year’s trials, 2025 reminded Canadians that “we are fortunate to be part of one extraordinary, generous and caring nation.”

The prime minister says Canadians make Canada strong by taking care of each other.

Carney said he will resolve to carry that spirit and those values forward into 2026.

CALGARY WATER MAIN BREAKS AGAIN

CALGARY — Officials in Calgary are urging residents to save water by taking shorter showers after a major water main broke for the second time in less than two years.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas says the Bearspaw South Feeder Main remains “very much in the red zone” after it ruptured on Dec. 30, and the city is using more water than it can produce and store.

Chris Huston, Calgary’s manager for drinking water distribution, says the city of 1.6 million people needs to use below 485 million litres of water every day for several weeks.

Huston says Calgarians can do their part and save 10 to 30 litres per day by showering for three minutes instead of 10 and only running their washing machines or dishwashers when they are full.

Nicole Newton, director of climate and environment, says the city hasn’t seen a “measurable reduction” in water use since the rupture.

Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services, says it’s not clear why the water main broke for the second time after the first break in the summer of 2024 prompted months of water restrictions and advisories.

» The Canadian Press

QUAKES SHAKE YUKON

HAINES JUNCTION — Earthquakes Canada says it registered three earthquakes in the same region near the Yukon-Alaska border within minutes of each other, little more than an hour before the stroke of midnight Dec. 31.

It says the first earthquake struck with a magnitude of 5.7 in Alaska about 140 kilometres west of Haines Junction, Y.K., just before 10:47 p.m. PST.

Earthquakes Canada says the earthquake could be felt in Whitehorse, Y.K., but did not receive any reports of damage, and none were expected.

It says an aftershock with a magnitude of 5.0 struck at around 10:51 p.m. about 142 kilometres west of Haines Junction, followed by an earthquake of 5.3 magnitude about 143 kilometres west of Haines Junction just before 10:55 p.m.

Earthquakes Canada says the third and final earthquake could also be “lightly felt” in Whitehorse, but did not receive any reports of damage.

On Dec. 6, an earthquake with magnitude of 7.0 struck the near Alaska-Yukon border about 120 kilometres west of Haines Junction.

» The Canadian Press