The Canadian government has defended proposed Bill C-34, which would ban children under 16 from using social media, arguing that it is consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a statement issued by Justice Minister Sean Fraser, the government acknowledged that the proposed digital safety legislation could affect freedom of expression but maintained that it falls within constitutional limits. The government argued that age-based restrictions are already in place for activities such as voting and driving, and said similar measures are justified to protect children from the

Canada’s largest federal public service union has announced a nationwide strike vote after contract negotiations with the government stalled. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents approximately 120,000 workers, including wildfire firefighters, passport officers, fisheries officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative staff. The strike vote will run from November 16, 2026, to January 22, 2027. The union and the Treasury Board have been in a dispute over a new collective agreement for the past 18 months. PSAC alleges that the federal government has repeatedly dela

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has assured that the federal government will maintain sustainable immigration levels and will not back away from its targets. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday morning, Carney said his government is consulting provincial governments on bringing immigration to appropriate levels and distributing newcomers more effectively across the country based on economic needs. His remarks came after Alberta’s referendum, in which approximately 53 per cent of voters supported giving the province greater control over immigration policies to reduce the number o

Canada’s real estate market could face renewed pressure if the Bank of Canada raises interest rates, with mortgage and lending experts warning that higher borrowing costs could discourage homebuyers and push house prices lower. The central bank has not raised interest rates since July 2023. While it is expected to keep its benchmark rate unchanged for an eighth consecutive decision, many economists and traders believe rate hikes could be on the horizon as policymakers seek to contain inflation. The Bank of Canada’s policy rate has remained at 2.25% since a 0.25-percentage-point cut in Octo

The rising cost of living in Canada is forcing more people to rely on food banks, with usage reaching an all-time high. According to Food Banks Canada’s 2026 HungerCount report, a record 2.35 million visits were recorded in March alone. The annual report shows that food bank visits increased by nearly 9 per cent compared with last year and by more than 117 per cent since 2019. It also found that one in five food bank users is employed. Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley said many people who were previously able to manage small financial setbacks are now struggling to make ends meet. She

The chances of Canada and the United States reaching a trade deal before the U.S. midterm elections on November 3 have effectively faded. Canadian government officials have reportedly told industry groups in recent weeks that no resolution is expected before the elections, as the White House remains focused on campaigning. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc also confirmed in an interview that the federal government is not expecting a deal before the midterms. However, he said he remains in regular contact with his U.S. counterpart and assured that Canada will continue exploring opportunit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will depart this evening for a three-day visit to Turkey. During the trip, Carney will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara and business leaders in Istanbul. This marks the first bilateral visit to Turkey by a Canadian prime minister. Carney’s visit comes amid growing concerns over human rights in Turkey, where LGBTQ and HIV advocacy organizations are reportedly facing systematic targeting. Members of Turkey’s LGBTQ community are said to be living in fear following violent police actions earlier this week. According to senior federal of

Canada’s federal budget will be presented on November 5, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne has officially announced. He confirmed the date during Question Period in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The budget will be the second fall budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government. The announcement comes as Canadian businesses continue to face the impact of U.S. tariffs and Canada’s retaliatory measures. Champagne indicated that the budget would include several measures aimed at strengthening Canada’s economy and making it more independent. He said the budget wo

Air Canada has introduced a new non-refundable fee of $30 for each passenger when booking tickets through the airline’s telephone call centre. The charge is applied per passenger, meaning a family of four booking a flight through the call centre will have to pay an additional $120. However, the fee does not apply to bookings made through the airline’s website or mobile app. Air Canada said the move is intended to allow call centre agents to focus on passengers who need personalized assistance with reservations, travel disruptions or other travel-related issues. The airline clarified that t