The Quebec government will present a budget on March 12 that is expected to have a larger deficit than originally estimated. Quebec's Finance Minister Eric Girard said today the government's priorities for the 2024-25 fiscal year will be health care and education. Earlier this week, Premier François Legault said collective agreements recently signed with workers in those two sectors mean it will take longer for the government to balance the books. Legault said that because of the salary increases for teachers and health-care workers following strikes that delayed surgeries and shut hundreds

The leader of Canada's main opposition party, Pierre Poilievre, launched a major attack on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today over his immigration policy. Poilievre said that Canada's immigration system was very good during the Conservative government, but during Trudeau's 8-year rule, it collapsed, he said, without arranging facilities for students. The doors of Canada were opened for them but upon reaching here they faced many problems related to housing, jobs and they were forced to live under bridges and in one room in large numbers. Poilievre announced that three important steps would b

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he believes "biological males" have no place in sports or change rooms that are labelled female. Poilievre was asked at a news conference about his position on whether transgender women should be allowed in spaces that are labelled for women and whether he would introduce any legislation to stop it. Poilievre told reporters he believes "female spaces should be exclusively for females, not for biological males." That is in line with a policy resolution Conservative party members voted for at their convention last fall, which says that women should have

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to make a housing announcement in Edmonton today. Trudeau is expected to be joined by Liberal cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault, who represents an Edmonton riding, and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. The three are scheduled to visit a housing development beforehand. Following the announcement, Trudeau is set to take part in a roundtable discussion with members of the LGBTQ+ community.The prime minister was in Vancouver on Tuesday to make a similar housing announcement. Trudeau said Ottawa is adding $2 billion in financing to a B.C. program aimed at fast-tracking t

Loblaw Cos. Ltd. says it will build more than 40 new stores as part of a record investment plan of more than $2 billion.The parent company of Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart says it will also expand or relocate another 10 locations. It will renovate more than 700 others. Loblaw says the company's capital investments this year are expected to create more than 7,500 jobs in Canada. The company has a network of 2,500 stores across the country. In addition to Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart, the company's banners include No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and T&T.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, will visit Canada next month. Meloni is set to visit Toronto on March 2 in her first visit since she was elected in 2022. Trudeau's office says they will discuss global challenges, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as co-operation with African partners. The two got into in a public spat last year after Trudeau criticized Italy's stance on LGBTQ+ issues in a meeting with Meloni at the G7 leaders' summit. He was reacting to her government's move to limit the recognition of parental right

Ontario police are investigating a string of extortion cases targeting local businesses, including a Caledon auto dealer who says he was ordered to pay $200,000 in December under threats of violence. The dealer told investigators he received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number demanding payment in either a Canadian or Indian account. Initially dismissing the threat, he later arrived at his lot on December 6 to find bullets scattered and 11 vehicles damaged by gunfire. A Brampton restaurant owner reported a similar case on January 19, saying threats escalated into a ransom demand backed by v

Construction of new homes in Canada fell 10 percent in January compared to December, according to the National Housing Agency, with 223,589 units started last month, down 25,379 from December, while many economists had An increase was expected. TD Bank economist Mark Arcolao said Canada needs to accelerate the pace of homebuilding to prevent a continued decline in housing affordability. He said that the prospect of interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada could boost existing home sales in the coming months, potentially resulting in an increase in new home construction. New home construction

Quebec provincial police continue to investigate after a stabbing attack west of Montreal that left two women dead and a third critically injured. Police have not released the ages of the women who were killed on Thursday in a condo tower in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. Sgt. Catherine Bernard says a 70-year-old woman was sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Bernard says a 44-year-old man was arrested and sent to hospital. She says the suspect is known to police, but wouldn't say if he was connected to the victims. Bernard says investigators will speak with the suspect when his condition