The federal government is suspending plans to ban the export of single-use plastics, citing economic pressures linked to tariffs and supply chain disruptions. Officials say these challenges are creating significant strain on the domestic economy. On Saturday, the government opened a 70-day public consultation on the decision through the Canada Gazette, inviting feedback from industry stakeholders and Canadians. According to the notice, the expected environmental gains from restricting plastic exports are not considered proportional to the potential economic impact. The plastics industry genera

Much of Western and Northern Canada is bracing for a bitterly cold and snowy Christmas, with Environment Canada issuing a mix of snow advisories and extreme cold warnings across several provinces and territories. Central Alberta is expected to see between 10 and 20 centimetres of snow by Christmas morning, prompting warnings for hazardous travel conditions on highways and local roads. Environment Canada is advising drivers to plan ahead and adjust travel plans where necessary as snowfall continues through Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cold warnings are also in effect across parts of Alberta

An Ontario lawyer accused by U.S. authorities of assisting a major international drug trafficking network connected to former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been granted bail while awaiting an extradition hearing. Deepak Paradkar, a 62-year-old lawyer from Thornhill, Ont., was arrested last month as part of a cross-border investigation led by the FBI. U.S. prosecutors allege Paradkar played a significant role in supporting Wedding, who is accused of leading a violent criminal organization operating across North America. Court documents allege Paradkar advised Wedding in connection with t

Canada’s real gross domestic product declined by 0.3 per cent in October, according to new data from Statistics Canada, as weakness in manufacturing and parts of the public sector weighed on overall economic activity. The federal agency said goods-producing industries fell by 0.7 per cent during the month, with manufacturing responsible for nearly the entire drop. The slowdown follows earlier signs of easing demand and supply chain adjustments across several manufacturing subsectors. Public sector activity also declined, partly reflecting the impact of Alberta’s provincewide teachers’ st

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers say they have reached tentative collective agreements that could bring an end to more than two years of labour tensions at the Crown corporation. The agreements cover both the Urban Postal Operations unit and the Rural and Suburban Mail Carriers unit, representing roughly 55,000 workers nationwide. The union’s national board has recommended members approve the deals, with ratification votes expected in early 2026. During the ratification process, both sides have agreed there will be no strike or lockout action, providing short-term labour

Surrey Police Service is asking the public for help as officers investigate a theft at a retirement residence in the city’s South Surrey area. Police say the incident happened on December 15 around 2:10 pm at a residence in the 15500 block of 16 Avenue. Investigators allege a man entered the building and gained access to an apartment by claiming he was a maintenance worker inspecting the sprinkler system. Once inside, the suspect is accused of taking the resident’s purse before leaving the building. The suspect is described as a white man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall. At the time, he was we

Prime Minister Mark Carney has named investment banker and pension fund executive Mark Wiseman as Canada’s next ambassador to the United States, placing him at the centre of upcoming negotiations with Washington on continental trade. Wiseman is set to begin the role on Feb. 15, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Wiseman will lead Canada’s engagement with the U.S. as the countries prepare for a scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, a process expected to dominate the bilateral agenda next year. The trade review is widely seen as critical for Canadian exporte

Travel by U.S. residents to Canada showed modest growth in October, marking the first year-over-year increase in eight months, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The agency says Americans made just over 1.8 million trips to Canada during the month, a three per cent rise compared with October last year. The increase comes as Canadians continued to reduce travel to the United States. Statistics Canada reports Canadian residents made about 2.34 million return trips from the U.S. in October, a sharp drop of more than 26 per cent compared with the same period in 2024. The ongoing decline

Surrey Police Service and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit are asking potential victims and witnesses to come forward following arrests in a child exploitation investigation that began last year. Investigators say the case involves alleged offences that occurred over several years and may include additional victims who have not yet been identified. Police say the investigation was launched in October 2024 by the Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit after receiving information related to alleged child sexual abuse material dating back to 2021. A man and a woman were later identifi