Indigenous

REGINA — Saskatchewan's education minister is being accused of trying to influence a teachers vote after saying he's not ruling out extending the school year should educators reject his offer and take job action.

HAMILTON — Bo Levi Mitchell and Jordan Williams made the start of Hamilton Tiger-Cats' rookie camp an eventful one. Veteran quarterback Mitchell attended Wednesday's opening session wearing a walking boot on his right foot.

VANCOUVER — Health Canada's decision to allow British Columbia to again prohibit the use of illicit drugs in most public spaces will cause more deaths, the executive director of the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users says.

SURREY, B.C. — One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.

QUILCHENA, B.C. — The Upper Nicola Band in B.C.'s southern Interior says construction crews building a new community centre have discovered human remains.

VICTORIA — Most British Columbia drivers will get a vehicle insurance rebate of $110 this year and basic renewal rates will remain frozen until at least March 2026. The Crown-owned Insurance Corporation of B.C.

VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver will host viewing parties for the Canucks' Round 2 playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers starting with Game 3 on Sunday.

MONTREAL — Power Corp. of Canada says its net earnings for the first quarter were $709 million, up from $313 million a year earlier. The Montreal-based management and holding company says net earnings per share were $1.

TORONTO — Manulife Financial Corp. says first quarter earnings were down from last year because of the effects of a major reinsurance deal.

SASKATOON — Nutrien Ltd. says it earned US$165 million in its first quarter, down 71 per cent from US$576 million a year earlier. The Saskatoon-based company says its sales totalled US$5.4 billion, down 12 per cent from US$6.