Canada’s minister responsible for Canada–U.S. trade says he plans to meet with the United States trade representative in the coming weeks as both countries prepare for the scheduled review of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement. Dominic LeBlanc said he recently spoke by phone with Jamieson Greer following public remarks from Washington suggesting that Canadian trade barriers have complicated bilateral discussions. The talks come as the United States signals it may seek changes to the trilateral pact. The trade agreement, commonly known as Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement

The federal government is expanding Canada’s express entry immigration system to include new permanent residency pathways for researchers, senior managers and certain military recruits, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced this week. The changes introduce three additional streams under the federal express entry program, aimed at attracting skilled professionals to address labour shortages and support what the minister described as a strategy to bring top talent to Canada. Among those newly eligible are researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience. The transport sector wi

Alberta Member of Parliament Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor in the House of Commons, leaving the Conservative Party to sit with the Liberal caucus. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the move on social media Tuesday morning, saying he was honoured to welcome Jeneroux as the newest member of the government caucus. Jeneroux, who represents an Edmonton-area riding, had previously indicated he intended to resign his seat later this year. The decision follows recent caucus changes in Ottawa. Earlier this month, Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont also left the Conservatives to join the Liberals

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit British Columbia today, with stops in Richmond and Vancouver focused on community engagement and Liberal Party activities. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Carney will join members of the local community in Richmond to take part in Lunar New Year celebrations, an event that draws significant participation from the region’s large Chinese Canadian population. Richmond is home to one of the largest Asian communities in Canada, and Lunar New Year events are considered an important cultural and civic gathering across Metro Vancouver. Lat

Canada Border Services Agency officers have seized more than 266 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine at the Blue Water Bridge border crossing in Sarnia, marking one of the larger drug interceptions in the region this year. According to the CBSA, a commercial truck arriving from the United States on February 4 was referred for a secondary inspection at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry. During a search of the trailer, officers, assisted by a detector dog, discovered 16 duffle bags containing suspected methamphetamine. The total weight of the seized narcotics was reported at 266.4 kilograms

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a $6.6 billion defence industrial strategy aimed at expanding military production within Canada and reducing reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly the United States. The federal government says the initiative is designed to strengthen national security while building long term economic capacity. The plan outlines a 10 year framework to prioritize Canadian based manufacturers in defence procurement. According to the Prime Minister, companies that build and assemble equipment in Canada will receive preference in federal purchasing decisions. The str

Canada’s annual inflation rate slowed slightly in January, easing to 2.3 percent compared with 2.4 percent in December, according to new data released by Statistics Canada. The decline was stronger than many economists had expected, as most forecasts had predicted the rate would remain unchanged. The federal agency said a significant drop in gasoline prices played a key role in moderating overall inflation. Gasoline prices were down 16.7 percent year over year, offsetting continued increases in the cost of food and clothing. Lower energy costs helped ease pressure on transportation expenses

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to travel to India in early March as Canada and India work to advance discussions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Victor Fedeli, announced the planned visit Monday while speaking in New Delhi during an international artificial intelligence summit. According to Fedeli, the federal government has been consulting provinces, including Ontario, as part of preparations for the proposed trade negotiations. The talks are aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries and expanding co

Canadians who receive the federal GST credit will see an additional one-time payment this spring after Parliament passed legislation accelerating changes to the benefit. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit received royal assent after clearing the Senate, following earlier approval in the House of Commons. According to the federal Finance Department, the measure will deliver a top-up worth 50 per cent of a recipient’s regular GST credit. Officials say payments will be issued as early as possible this spring to eligible low and modest income households. In addition to the one-time boos