The federal government says it will not accept any new applications this year under Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program as it works to reduce processing times and manage a large backlog of existing files. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 60,500 sponsorship applications are currently being processed. The department said it expects to approve about 15,000 parents and grandparents each year over the next two years from applications already in the system. IRCC said the temporary pause is intended to improve processing efficiency. The department

The Bank of Canada has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent following its latest monetary policy decision on Wednesday, marking the sixth consecutive announcement with no change to the policy rate. According to the Bank of Canada, the Governing Council, led by Governor Tiff Macklem, decided to maintain the current rate amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding global economic conditions. The central bank cited volatility in global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East and continued uncertainty over the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as factors in

Canada Post awarded nearly $30 million in performance-based bonuses to executives and managers for 2025 despite reporting its largest annual financial loss on record. According to the Crown corporation's financial results, Canada Post posted a pre-tax loss of $1.57 billion in 2025. The disclosure comes after the federal government approved $673 million in financial support for the Crown corporation as it continues to face mounting financial pressures. The bonus payments have drawn criticism amid ongoing concerns about the organization's long-term financial sustainability. The Canadian Taxpayer

One of Prime Minister Mark Carney's key staffers says he'll be stepping away from his role as he considers running for a seat in Parliament. Braeden Caley, Carney’s deputy chief of staff, thanked the prime minister in a letter posted to social media for what he called "the honour of a lifetime." A forthcoming byelection in British Columbia will see the seat for North Vancouver—Capilano in Caley's home province up for grabs. The riding had been held by former cabinet minister Jonathan Wilkinson, who resigned this spring to become Canada's ambassador to the European Union. North Vancouver=Ca

Canada's labour market posted a net gain of 18,200 jobs in June, while the national unemployment rate declined to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey released Friday. The increase follows a stronger gain of 87,800 jobs recorded in May. According to Statistics Canada, employment growth in June was driven primarily by the services sector and part-time work. The largest job gains were reported in wholesale and retail trade, as well as accommodation and food services, with younger workers benefiting the most from the hiring. Manufacturing continued to face pressure a

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Iran's recent attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz are "unacceptable" and "unjustified," as tensions continue to rise across the Persian Gulf. Speaking to reporters in Jeddah on Thursday after meeting with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Anand said Canada stands with Gulf countries facing escalating regional security threats. She said that while ceasefires are often fragile, attacks on civilian shipping cannot be justified. According to Anand, the latest violence follows renewed military exchanges between the United States

Canada's RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme told a press conference in Los Angeles on Tuesday, in presence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation representatives, that 24 arrests have been made and several charges have been laid in connection with global organized crime networks. The RCMP released a news release after the press conference in which it named Lawrence Bishnoi, Ravinder Dhanda and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria about the crimes in Canada. The statement suggested that the groups and individuals are involved in crimes such as extortion, drug trafficking, kidnapping and violence in Canada and the US

An out-of-control wildfire burning near the community of Boston Bar in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon has grown to more than 12 square kilometres, or approximately 1,230 hectares, as of Sunday evening, according to the BC Wildfire Service. Authorities have issued an Evacuation Alert for the main part of Boston Bar, meaning residents should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice if conditions worsen. The BC Wildfire Service said the fire was first discovered on July 2. Officials believe it was likely caused by human activity, although the cause has not been confirmed and remains und

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government intends to work with First Nations on a proposed oil pipeline to British Columbia's coast, despite an ongoing legal and political dispute over the province's consultation obligations with Indigenous communities. On Thursday, Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a formal plan to pursue a new pipeline that would follow an existing corridor to the B.C. coast with the goal of increasing oil exports to Asian markets. The announcement comes as Alberta's government remains in a court dispute with several First Nations over whether it fulfil