CanadaJul 29, 2024
Ottawa and Alberta match Red Cross fire donations as Jasper residents view damage map
As residents of Jasper learn more details about wildfire damage to their evacuated town, the Alberta and federal governments say they'll match donations to the Canadian Red Cross for wildfire relief in the province.
Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan and Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis say in a joint news release that the donation-matching initiative means every $1 donated will become $3 to support people most impacted by wildfires in Jasper and across the province.
It will last for 30 days, retroactive to when the 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appe
CanadaJul 29, 2024
Trudeau announces Sept. 16 byelections in ridings in Quebec, Manitoba
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a pair of byelections to fill vacant seats in Quebec and Manitoba.
Voters will go to the polls in the Elmwood Transcona riding in Manitoba and the Montreal-area riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun on Sept. 16.
The Manitoba riding was held by the New Democratic Party until MP Daniel Blaikie resigned in March to go work for the office of the province's Premier, Wab Kinew.
Blaikie had held the federal seat since the 2015 election.
The Quebec riding was held by former Liberal justice minister David Lametti, who resigned in January after being excluded from
CanadaJul 26, 2024
Recent rain, cooler weather limiting spread of wildfires in Jasper National Park
Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.
The park posted a statement on X late Thursday night saying cooler temperatures and up to 15 millimetres of rain since midnight had led to minimal fire activity.
The park says due to the rainfall, fire behaviour is likely to calm over the next 72 hours.
While more rain is expected Friday, temperatures are supposed to return to the mid 20s by Saturday, which the park says will lead to an increase in fire activity.
The townsite and park have been besieged by wildfires, with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith estimating Thursday a t
CanadaJul 25, 2024
McGill drops injunction case against pro-Palestinian camp after dismantling site
McGill University has withdrawn its injunction request against a pro-Palestinian encampment, a little more than two weeks after the school removed the collection of tents from its campus.
All parties were due at the Montreal courthouse today for a hearing, but none of the lawyers showed.
Later, lawyers for McGill and some of the protest groups confirmed the university had dropped the injunction request.
On July 10, the university hired a private security firm to dismantle the encampment that had been in place on the school's lower field since late April.
In mid-May, the university failed to se
CanadaJul 25, 2024
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality.
The social media account for Jasper National Park says the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported.
On the social media platform X Wednesday night, the account for Fairmont's Jasper Park Lodge says the flames have reached the hotel's grounds, but the extent of damage, if any, is not yet known.
As the flames consumed more fuel, officials say the air quality dr
CanadaJul 25, 2024
Poilievre says Ontario teenager's killing shows Liberal, NDP policies have failed
Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blames a national rise in crime and the recent killing of an Ontario teenager on what he calls failed Liberal and NDP policies.
Poilievre held a press conference in London, Ont., today, just one day after the community held a vigil for Breanna Broadfoot, 17, who police say was a victim of intimate partner violence.
Poilievre says the suspect had previously been arrested, but was released before the fatal attack on Broadfoot.
The Conservative leader says Broadfoot is the latest victim of radical "wacko" policies by the Liberals and NDP, and repeat
CanadaJul 24, 2024
Calgary loosening outdoor water restrictions as extreme heat continues
Calgary residents can now turn on their sprinklers for longer as the city swelters under an extreme heat warning.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek says outdoor watering restrictions may befully lifted within days, but for now residents can turn on their hoses for up to two hours twice a week to water grass and outdoor plants.
Michael Thompson, Calgary's infrastructure services general manager, says operational pump issues have been fixed, but other mechanical problems need to be resolved before the city can give the full green light.
He says the city's water system is approaching 75 per cent c
CanadaJul 24, 2024
Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate by quarter percentage point to 4.5%
The Bank of Canada delivered a widely expected interest rate cut today, marking the second consecutive time it has lowered its policy rate.
The central bank's quarter-percentage-point cut brings its policy rate down to 4.5 per cent.
The Bank of Canada says the decision was motivated by continued progress on getting inflation down as well as weakening economic conditions.
In his prepared statement, governor Tiff Macklem says as inflation edges closer to its two per cent target, the central bank is trying to avoid the risk of the economy and inflation weakening by more than expected.
CanadaJul 22, 2024
Trudeau and family head to British Columbia for vacation in unnamed location
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1.
A government official says the Prime Minister's Office is not disclosing the specific location for security reasons.
Spokesman Mohammad Hussain says in an email that Trudeau travels on government aircraft as required, and will reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for himself and his family.
Hussain says Trudeau will also pay for his family's stay.
The PMO has consulted with the Ethics Commissioner's office about the trip.
Trudeau and his family va