Latest news with #CanadianRangers
Hamilton Spectator
09-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Missing man in Kuujjuaq may have been ‘victim of a criminal act,' police say
After 17 days of searching by Nunavik police officers, Canadian Rangers and volunteers, the search for Sanaak Unatweenuk, a missing man in Kuujjuaq, has been turned over to Quebec's provincial police as a 'criminal matter.' 'Based on new developments within the investigation, the case is now being treated as a criminal matter,' Nunavik Police Service said in a news release Tuesday regarding the 31-year-old Unatweenuk, who was last seen on the night of June 20 as he was leaving the Kuujjuaq Inn. In an email to Nunatsiaq News on Tuesday, deputy Chief Shaun Longstreet declined to comment further on the new development because the Sûreté du Québec has taken over the investigation Unatweenuk is described as an Inuk man, approximately five-foot-six or five-foot-seven and weighing about 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black cap and black jacket with the words 'Solidarity Co-op' on it. Nunavik police began their investigation June 24 after receiving a report that Unatweenuk had not shown up at work. The investigation so far has revealed the 'missing person may have been the victim of a criminal act,' said Nancy Fournier, spokesperson for Sûreté du Québec, in an email Tuesday. Fournier did not specify if the case is being treated as a possible homicide and offered no further comment. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
National Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Why new Canadian ranger rifles are bleeding red dye
Canadian Rangers who use their new rifles in the rain are finding their hands covered in red dye because the stocks on the weapons can't handle moisture, according to newly released military records. Article content The problem was discovered in May 2018 as the new C-19 rifles were initially being distributed to Canadian Ranger units as part of a $32.8-million contract with Colt Canada. The .308 C-19, which is equipped with a red stock, replaced the Lee Enfield .303 rifle that had been used by Canadian Rangers since 1947. Article content Article content Under the contract, the new rifles were required to withstand extremely cold temperatures in the Arctic as well as moderate-to-high humidity in the coastal and forested regions of the country. Article content Article content 'Obviously from a health and safety perspective having dye released onto the skin is not a good situation,' Arthur Hall, who is with the Department of National Defence's small arms program, noted in a May 9, 2018 email regarding the C-19. Article content Further complaints continued to come in from Ranger units who also found the stocks were cracking. Article content 'The issue is that when exposed to moisture the red dye in the stock will run, and will discolour the hands of the user,' Luke Foster of the Directorate of Soldier Systems Program Management, pointed out in a July 3, 2018 email. 'This is also an indication that the stocks are not properly protected from the elements.' Article content One report from an officer assigned to the Rangers noted he took his new rifle outside in the rain for only five minutes before returning indoors. Once back inside he noticed the weapon was dripping red dye. 'I held the weapon for approximately 5-10 mins and it stated to stain my hand,' Captain T.M. Collier wrote in a May 9, 2018 email. Article content Article content The documents, acquired by the Ottawa Citizen, were released under the Access to Information Act. Article content Article content Department of National Defence officials, however, say it will be up to taxpayers to cover the costs of replacing the stocks on the 6,800 new rifles. That cost is estimated to be up to $10 million. Article content Tétreault also noted that the issue 'only became apparent and reported after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock. This was not observed during Initial Operational Capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries.'
CBC
13-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rifles issued to Canadian Rangers in the Arctic need replacements, don't work in the cold
Rifles issued to the Canadian Rangers in Canada's Arctic don't work properly in the cold — and it's going to cost millions to fix. C-19 rifles were distributed to the Rangers, who serve the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, in 2017. Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) told CBC News in an email that extreme cold led to the stocks — a part of a gun attached to the barrel and firing mechanism that provides structural support — expanding and contracting. Something the department said Rangers noticed during testing in 2019. "Following reports from Canadian Rangers after extended field usage in extreme climatic conditions leading to cycles of expansion and contraction in the stock," Alex Tétreault, a senior communications adviser with DND, wrote. "This was not observed during initial operational capability training; it only became apparent in the last two months before the end of deliveries." Those stocks now need to be replaced and the department estimates that will cost between eight to $10 million. The department said the C-19 rifle "remains an effective and accurate weapon" and that some of the rifles are still working properly and don't need replacements. The procurement process for the new stocks is underway and the delivery of the new stocks will be phased over three years.
Montreal Gazette
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Montreal Gazette
Nunavik village faces ‘complete crisis' amid chronic water shortage
By Nellie Iqiquq Powell has had no choice but to use snow to help clean and feed her family of six due to a persistent and severe water shortage in Puvirnituq, a village in Quebec's Far North. Water has been delivered twice in the past two months but it isn't enough for her four young children, all under the age of nine. After her shift as a midwife, the 46-year-old comes home to gather snow outside. 'It's a lot of work to do that,' she said in an interview Wednesday with The Gazette. 'I work nine to five and I come home to do work with melting snow; take care of the toilets and do the dishes. And I have to cook food. But it's hard to boil food to eat.' Iqiquq Powell is among 2,100 residents in the Inuit community near Hudson Bay, which has been without consistent water deliveries since mid-March after a blizzard froze a water main. Extreme weather compounded the situation, with the village forced to bring in water by truck on roads coated in snow and ice. But the crisis worsened last weekend after a fire broke out Saturday afternoon and crews struggled to contain the flames. The municipal council of Puvirnituq declared a state of emergency after two homes were lost in the fire. In a Facebook post, Mayor Lucy Qalingo called on the federal and provincial governments to 'stop ignoring' the needs of northern communities she described as 'forgotten Canadians.' Quebec has delivered at least 100,000 litres of water in two rounds of shipments, a spokesperson for the government's Ministère du Conseil exécutif confirmed in an email Thursday. A third round 'with similar quantities, between 50,000 and 60,000 (litres), depending on the capacity of the vessels' is being prepared and expected to be shipped Friday morning. The province also requested assistance from the Canadian Rangers. Federal Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski approved the request Tuesday, saying 'the safety of Canadians is our top priority and we will always be there to help when asked.' I have approved a Request for Federal Assistance from Quebec. @CanadianForces Rangers will assist the residents of Puvirnituq w/ distribution of drinking water & provide technical support. The safety of Canadians is our top priority & we will always be there to help when asked. — Eleanor Olszewski (@Eleanor4Centre) May 21, 2025 The evolving situation also forced the gradual closure of two Puvirnituq schools this week. The academic year usually ends at the beginning of June. Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the school board for the Nunavik region, said on its website the current context meant it 'cannot ensure the continuity of educational services.' Students will still be able to write end-of-year exams. Jeannie Dupuis, assistant director general at the school board, said 'at the beginning of last week, the situation didn't seem as urgent as it became.' Both schools were partially open, she said, but the weather was among the factors making it 'difficult to keep the schools open, with having no running water for the students to be able to go use the washrooms, wash their hands.' 'The decision was difficult to take,' she told The Gazette. The school board has also implemented measures to help out, including using a school gym as a community dispensary for water, Dupuis said. About half of the teachers and staff were able to leave the community over the weekend. Alyssia Bray, who teaches seventh and eighth grades, was among those on her way home to Montreal on Wednesday after packing up her belongings. She hopes that by having fewer homes in need of water deliveries, it will alleviate the ongoing shortage. 'I just wanted to be able to leave the community, as quickly as possible, to try and give some more water to people,' she said. The scarcity of water has been 'extremely rough' for her students, who she characterized as 'brilliant and kind individuals.' At times, some of them were not able to shower for a week or more. Municipal truck and sewage crews, she said, have been working around the clock just to get the situation under control. 'We still have quite a bit of snow here,' Bray said. 'And with it starting to melt and the slush and trucks getting stuck ... it's just situation on top of situation that has made this a complete crisis and an emergency for the community members.' Hospitals and health services are also bearing the brunt of the water shortage. The provincial government has said the health centre has reported an increase in people seeking treatment for gastroenteritis. As a midwife, Iqiquq Powell said a lack of water means some patients had to be transferred as far as Montreal. 'We have to let our patients go elsewhere to give birth,' she said. The Inuulitsivik Health Centre said in a post on Facebook that nine long-term care patients and some staff were temporarily relocated to CISSS de Lanaudière. In another, it said the collective response from its teams have also helped deliver water and provide health services during the crisis.
