Canada’s reliance on food banks has soared to a grim new milestone, according to data from Food Banks Canada. The organization says it recorded more than two million visits in March 2024 – nearly double the monthly visits five years ago in March 2019, and six per cent above last year's record-breaking figure. Its annual survey of food bank use in Canada says rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are driving poverty and food insecurity. That includes outsized demand from renters, racialized groups, people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and residents across

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if his party forms government, it will scrap the federal sales tax on new homes sold for less than $1 million and push provinces do to the same. Poilievre makes the case for the cut in a six-minute video published online today, arguing governments are partly to blame for high home prices because they're charging too much in sales taxes. The Conservatives estimate the new measure will reduce the cost of an $800,000 home by $40,000 and spur construction of another 30,000 homes per year. Poilievre says he would pay for the tax cut by scrapping Liberal hou

Justin Trudeau is supposed to respond today to a group of Liberal MPs demanding his resignation as party leader, but the prime minister has already made his plans clear. At a Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday, 24 MPs delivered a letter to Trudeau asking him to resign and giving him until Monday to respond. But the prime minister told reporters the next day that he plans to stay on at the party helm. It's unclear what the dissenting MPs — most of whom have stayed anonymous to the public — plan to do in response, with one of them saying he's "moving on." The Trudeau government will be tested

Ottawa police say a Montreal man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of a woman on Thursday in front of two of her children. Fsha Tekhle, 36, was charged today for the killing of Brkti Berhe, 36, at a park near Uplands Drive in Ottawa's south end, in what police called a femicide. Berhe was a married mother of four and police say Tekhle had a domestic relationship with one of her family members. Witnesses to the stabbing tried to provide aid to Berhe and her young children, and gave police a detailed description of the suspect and his vehicle. Authorities believe Tekhle w

If Canadians could vote in the U.S. election, a majority would choose to send Kamala Harris to the White House. In a new survey from polling firm Leger, 64 per cent of Canadian respondents said if they could cast a ballot, they’d put their support behind vice-president Harris while 21 per cent would support former president Donald Trump. Fifteen per cent weren't sure what they would do. Those who intend to vote Conservative in the next Canadian election were split on where their hypothetical ballot would land. Forty-five per cent would back Trump while 42 per cent said they’d vote for Harr

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has no intention of stepping down as the leader of the Liberal party by next week. A letter signed by two dozen Liberal MPs asking Trudeau to step down was presented to the prime minister Wednesday at a tense caucus meeting in Ottawa. The letter asked for him to let the caucus know by Oct. 28 what he decides to do. Trudeau told MPs he would reflect on what was said, but when asked today if he would stay on as prime minister after that date he answered a definitive "yes." Trudeau's leadership is being challenged as the party continues to sit well back of th

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a major drop in the number of new permanent residents Canada will accept in 2025. As first reported by The National Post, the government's immigration levels are expected to drop to 395,000 in 2025, a huge decrease from the 500,000 that had previously been set as the target. The information was provided by a government official with knowledge of the plan. Trudeau and his immigration minister will also announce reduced targets for number of temporary residents for the first time. The government's goal is to reduce the number of temporary res

The Bank of Canada cut its key policy interest rate by 50 basis points on Wednesday to bring it to 3.75 per cent. Here's what people are saying about the decision: "High inflation and interest rates have been a heavy burden for Canadians. With inflation now back to target and interest rates continuing to come down, families, businesses and communities should feel some relief." Tiff Macklem, Bank of Canada governor. "Activity in Canada’s housing market has been sluggish in many regions due to higher borrowing costs, but today’s more aggressive cut to lending rates could cause the tide to tu

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says she won't run for a third term in next year's municipal elections. Plante's office confirmed the news, which the mayor will make official at an 11:30 a.m. news conference at city hall.