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CanadaFeb 16, 2023

Downed objects most likely benign, Biden says, vowing new rules for U.S. skies

President Joe Biden says the three unknown flying objects he ordered shot down over the U.S. and Canada earlier this month were likely no danger to national security.Biden says the objects were downed expressly because they did pose a potential risk to commercial air traffic.Biden, who spoke out after members of Congress had urged him to do so, says the U.S. and Canada worked closely together to monitor the objects before acting out of an abundance of caution.He says there's nothing to suggest they were surveillance devices, and were more likely linked to private research or recreational activ
liberals-introduce-milgaards-law-to-create-review-process-for-wrongful-convictions
CanadaFeb 16, 2023

Liberals introduce 'Milgaard's Law' to create review process for wrongful convictions

New legislation introduced in the House of Commons today would make it easier and faster for people who may have been wrongfully convicted to have their cases reviewed.The bill is dubbed "David and Joyce Milgaard’s Law," named for the man who was released in 1980 after being wrongfully imprisoned for 23 years, and his mother who fought relentlessly to free him.The government says it is rare for miscarriages of justice to occur but a formal process to review such cases is needed.The bill would establish an independent commission to review, investigate and decide which criminal cases should be
wake-up-call-flying-objects-raise-concerns-about-arctic-security
CanadaFeb 16, 2023

'Wake-up call:' Flying objects raise concerns about Arctic security

Some politicians and researchers say four flying objects that were discovered, tracked and shot down over U.S. and Canadian airspace in recent weeks highlight the need to improve security in Canada's Arctic."It should be a wake-up call for Canadians in general of the woefully inadequate capacity we have in the North in terms of our military capacity," said Opposition Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon."The fact that we rely on the American military to a huge degree is simply a fact of life in the North and that's something I don't think a lot of other Canadians would find acceptable."A high-altit
joly-ends-ukraine-visit-pledging-support-for-war-crime-tribunal-cash-to-local-groups
CanadaFeb 16, 2023

Joly ends Ukraine visit pledging support for war-crime tribunal, cash to local groups

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has ended a two-day visit to Ukraine where she met with senior officials to assess Canada's response to Russia's invasion.Ottawa tried to keep the visit under wraps for security reasons, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video Tuesday of his meeting with Joly.Joly met with her Ukrainian counterpart, as well as the country's prime minister, top prosecutor and internal affairs minister to discuss Canada's military support and attempts to bring Russia to international tribunals for war crimes.She also spoke with Ukraine's first lady Olena
CanadaFeb 16, 2023

Federal audit finds Hockey Canada did not use public funds for legal settlements

An audit commissioned by the federal government has found that Hockey Canada did not use public funds to settle sexual assault cases or pay for related legal fees.Sport Minister Pascale St-Onge called for the audit in June after several media outlets reported that Hockey Canada had settled a $3.55 million sexual assault lawsuit.She requested the investigation to ensure that public funds had only been used to support amateur hockey.A summary of the audit made several conclusions, including that funds disbursed by the federal government to Hockey Canada have been used for the intended purpose.It
canada-faces-fresh-pressure-on-military-spending-as-nato-chief-eyes-hard-target
CanadaFeb 15, 2023

Canada faces fresh pressure on military spending as NATO chief eyes hard target

The head of NATO is raising the prospect of hard targets for military spending which could put more pressure on Canada to invest billions more on defence.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg today urged the military alliance's 30 members to recommit to spending at least two per cent of their GDP on defence.He said they should set firm requirements and timelines for meeting the target, unlike when it was first set in 2014.Canada has long lagged most of its allies on spending as a share of GDP, and refused to fully commit to the target.Successive Canadian governments have instead insisted tha
percentage-of-permanent-residents-becoming-canadian-citizens-in-decline-statcan-data
CanadaFeb 15, 2023

Percentage of permanent residents becoming Canadian citizens in decline: StatCan data

StatCan numbers reveal the percentage of permanent residents who become Canadians has plummeted over the past 20 years.The Institute for Canadian Citizenship says Statistics Canada data points to a 40 per cent decline in citizenship uptake since 2001.The group's CEO, Daniel Bernhard, calls the drop alarming and says it should serve as a "wake up call" to improving the experience newcomers have in Canada.In 2021, nearly 45.7 per cent of permanent residents who'd been in Canada for less than 10 years became citizens.That's down from 60 per cent in 2016, and 75.1 per cent in 2001.The StatCan data
feds-restrict-funding-of-research-with-foreign-agencies-deemed-to-pose-security-risk
CanadaFeb 15, 2023

Feds restrict funding of research with foreign agencies deemed to pose security risk

The federal government says it is tightening its policy on bankrolling research with foreign entities that might pose a risk to national security.The government says "a sensitive research area" will not be funded if a person on the project is affiliated with a university, research institute or laboratory connected to military, national defence or state security entities of foreign powers considered to be a risk.In a statement late Tuesday, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the new policy applies to the Canada Foundation for Innovation an
quebec-premier-wants-trudeau-to-discourage-asylum-seekers-from-coming-to-canada
CanadaFeb 15, 2023

Quebec premier wants Trudeau to discourage asylum seekers from coming to Canada

A day after Quebec confirmed that asylum seekers who cross the border irregularly are being sent to other provinces, Premier François Legault called on the prime minister to discourage migrants from coming to Canada.Legault told reporters he thinks many people are claiming asylum in Canada because of a 2017 Trudeau tweet saying the country would welcome people fleeing persecution.The premier, who has maintained the province doesn't have the capacity to welcome more people, says Trudeau should post a new tweet telling migrants not to come.Quebec's immigration minister said Tuesday that only ei

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BCMar 18, 2026

Sikh organization calls for hate crime probe in fatal shooting near Leduc, Alta.

A national Sikh advocacy group is urging police to examine whether a fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man near Leduc, Alta., was motivated by hate. In a statement, the World Sikh Organization of Canada said Birinder Singh was killed on March 14 while travelling on Highway 2, south of Edmonton. According to the organization, occupants of a pickup truck opened fire on Singh’s vehicle in what it described as a daytime, unprovoked attack. Singh died at the scene. The group is calling on the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit to investigate the killing as a potential hate-motivated crime. Police have
canadas-population-declines-in-late-2025-amid-slowdown-in-non-permanent-residents-statcan
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Canada’s population declines in late 2025 amid slowdown in non-permanent residents: StatCan

Canada’s population declined in the final months of 2025, driven largely by a drop in non-permanent residents, according to new estimates from Statistics Canada. The agency reports the country’s population fell by approximately 102,000 people over the year. The decline coincides with a decrease of more than 171,000 non-permanent residents between Oct. 1, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026, including international students and temporary workers. Statistics Canada cautioned that the figures should be interpreted carefully, noting that fluctuations in work and study permit renewals could result in larger-
montreal-building-owner-charged-in-2023-old-montreal-fire-that-killed-seven
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Montreal building owner charged in 2023 Old Montreal fire that killed seven

Montreal police say they have arrested a 63-year-old building owner in connection with a 2023 fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people. Police allege Emile Benamor faces 15 charges, including seven counts of manslaughter and eight counts of criminal negligence related to the March 16, 2023 blaze at a heritage property on Place D’Youville. The allegations have not been tested in court. According to a Montreal police service news conference, investigators had previously identified traces of an accelerant at the scene, prompting a criminal investigation into the fire. Chief-Insp. David Sha
ontario-urges-b-c-quebec-to-drop-ev-sales-targets-citing-competitiveness-concerns
CanadaMar 18, 2026

Ontario urges B.C., Quebec to drop EV sales targets, citing competitiveness concerns

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on the governments of British Columbia and Quebec to eliminate their electric-vehicle sales targets, arguing the policies are undermining Canada’s economic competitiveness. According to letters sent Wednesday to the two premiers, Ford said Ontario’s auto sector employs nearly 100,000 people and remains a key economic driver. He warned that differing provincial mandates on zero-emission vehicles risk creating what he described as a “fragmented and uncompetitive” national environment. Ford’s request follows recent changes in both provinces. Quebec h
WorldMar 18, 2026

Israel claims senior Iranian intelligence officials killed in overnight strikes

Israeli authorities say a series of overnight airstrikes on Iran targeted senior intelligence leadership and key energy infrastructure, as hostilities continue between Israel and Iran. According to a statement from Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, the strikes killed Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, along with several senior officials from the ministry. The claim has not been independently verified, and Iranian authorities have not confirmed any casualties as of publication time. Israeli officials also said their aircraft struck gas infrastructure in southern Iran. The re