CanadaOct 20, 2020
Conservatives to amend motion on COVID-19 committee to avoid confidence vote
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he's willing to change the name and mandate of a proposed committee to probe COVID-19 relief programs to make it clear his party doesn't want to force an election. The Liberals have said that in pushing for an "anticorruption committee", the Tories are effectively saying they've lost confidence in the government, so the vote on setting it up ought to be one of confidence.That means if the Tories get the support of the Bloc Quebecois and NDP for the motion, they could topple the government.O'Toole says the Liberals' approach is nonsense and Canadians shoul
CanadaOct 20, 2020
Canada crosses a bleak COVID-19 milestone of 200,000 cases
Canada has marked a bleak COVID-19 milestone. The second wave of the pandemic has pushed the total case count past 200,000. This comes as tougher restrictions take effect in regions facing a surge in infections. Canada saw its first confirmed case in late January and marked 100,000 cases in mid-June, about five months later. Health experts say it's crucial to remember Canada is in the midst of the second wave and these kinds of milestones serve as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance. Today, Quebec is reporting 1,038 new cases of COVID-19 and six more deaths attributed to the novel
CanadaOct 19, 2020
More RCMP officers deployed in Nova Scotia to keep peace in lobster fishery: Blair
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says more RCMP officers have been deployed to respond to the escalating treaty dispute between commercial fishers and Mi'kmaq fishers in southwest Nova Scotia. Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, meanwhile, says negotiations to end the dispute are ongoing. But she did not provide details on what is being discussed. The RCMP is investigating several assaults that targeted Indigenous people and properties including an attack on Chief Michael Sack. The accused was arrested and released from custody with conditions to have no further contact with the chief. Ind
CanadaOct 19, 2020
Regional airlines reject prospect of government stake in carriers
Regional airlines are demanding immediate action from Ottawa to prop up the beleaguered sector, but reject the idea of a federal stake in carriers. John McKenna, president of the Air Transport Association of Canada, says the government has not responded to requests for cash over the past six months, leaving Canada as the only G7 country to hold off on pledging major financial aid for the industry. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc left the door open to a bailout, including the purchase of airline shares by Ottawa, in an interview with CTV's Question Period on Sunday. LeBlanc
CanadaOct 19, 2020
Trudeaus' speaking fees, expenses disclosed as potential confidence vote still looms
WE Charity covered nearly $24,000 in expenses for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's attendance at eight events over eight years. The dollar amount was released today as part of several documents published by WE Charity that had been sought by the House of Commons finance committee. At the same time, the minority Liberals have released a list of all paid speaking engagements taken on by Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister. That disclosure had also been sought by the Opposition, and both come as political tensions ratchet up over how deeply MPs can dive into the WE Charity issue and COVID-1
CanadaOct 19, 2020
Non-essential travel restrictions at Canada-U.S. border extended to at least Nov. 21
Restrictions on non-essential travel between Canada and the United States are being extended until at least Nov. 21.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair confirmed the news today on Twitter.
Incidental travel, vacations, day trips and cross-border shopping excursions has been forbidden since March in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions do not apply to those providing essential services in either country, including trade shipments and cross-border workers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the restrictions won't be lifted until there's clear evidence the pandemic is e
CanadaOct 17, 2020
Muslim group releases video of fatal stabbing outside Toronto mosque
Security footage allegedly showing the murder of a 58-year-old volunteer outside a Toronto mosque last month has been posted online. The grainy, 46 second security camera clip appears to show someone walking up behind a person seated outside the International Muslim Organization. There's a brief physical altercation before the seated person collapses to the ground and the other runs away. Guilherme (William) Von Neutegem has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Mohamed-Aslim Zafis. Toronto Mayor John Tory says the attack is part of a concerning trend.
CanadaOct 16, 2020
Provinces need to address racism in the health-care system: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says provinces must do more to address racism in the health-care system, saying reconciliation with Indigenous people is not up to the federal government alone.The issue of anti-Indigenous racism in health care gained new attention from outrage over the treatment of Joyce Echaquan, who used her phone to livestream hospital staff using racist slurs against her as she lay dying in a Quebec hospital last month.Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Thursday the federal government is ready to use its financial leverage over the health system to fight anti-Indig
CanadaOct 16, 2020
PM Trudeau says Canada won't stop calling out China for 'coercive diplomacy'
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government will not stop standing up for human rights in China or calling out Beijing for its coercive approach to diplomacy. Trudeau says that includes the situation in Hong Kong, where pro-democracy activists have been protesting a widely criticized national security law imposed on the territory by Beijing. On Thursday, the Chinese ambassador to Canada warned Ottawa against granting asylum to Hong Kong residents fleeing the situation, saying it amounts to interfering in its internal affairs. Cong said if Canada cares about 300,000 Canadian citizens in