CanadaOct 23, 2023
'Spamouflage' campaign targeting Trudeau, MPs linked to China: Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada says there's a social media campaign connected to the People's Republic of China is targeting dozens of MPs with spam.The department says a bot network known as "Spamouflage" began spreading propaganda and disinformation messages across Facebook and X in early August.Global Affairs says the bot network left thousands of comments in English and French on the accounts of MPs claiming a critic of the Chinese Communist Party in Canada accused the various MPs of criminal and ethical violations.It says the messages appeared across the political spectrum, even appearing on the a
CanadaOct 20, 2023
Saskatchewan legislature passes pronoun bill in special sitting
A controversial bill on the use of pronouns in schools has received final approval in the Saskatchewan legislature.The new law will prevent children under 16 from changing their names or pronouns at school without receiving parental consent.It uses the notwithstanding clause to override sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code.Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says he expects all school divisions to abide by the legislation.The Opposition New Democrats opposed the bill, saying it strips rights from vulnerable people.The Saskatchewan Party government
CanadaOct 20, 2023
Canada has pulled most envoys out of India due to diplomatic immunity threats: Joly
Canada has removed most of its diplomatic presence from India after New Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunities from them and their families, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Thursday. Officials said the move would slow down the processing of immigration applications, and Canada has issued a travel advisory for regions of India where it says it's been forced to reduce consular staffing. Relations with New Delhi have hit a deep freeze since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a month ago that Canadian intelligence services were investigating ``a potential link'' between In
CanadaOct 17, 2023
Sixth Canadian killed in Israel-Hamas war, two missing: Foreign Minister
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says an Israeli with ties to Canada who had been missing is now confirmed dead, amid the continued fallout from Hamas's recent surprise attacks on Israel.Joly is offering condolences to the family of Tiferet Lapidot, who she said was one of three Canadians reported missing after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people and setting off a war that has left more than 4,000 dead on both sides.The minister says that during her recent trip to Israel, she met with Lapidot's Canadian father in Tel Aviv, as well as Lapidot's uncle,
CanadaOct 16, 2023
Fifth Canadian killed in Israel-Hamas war: Global Affairs Canada
Global Affairs Canada has confirmed the death of a fifth Canadian in Israel after a series of attacks by Hamas militants, while Canadians in the besieged Gaza Strip still have no way to get out.Three other Canadians who were in Israel when the attacks happened Oct. 7 are still missing, officials said Sunday.Global Affairs did not provide details of the fifth person who died or those who are missing, citing privacy reasons.More than 6,800 Canadians are registered in Israel, and more than 450 in the West Bank and Gaza.Canada is currently assisting about 3,300 permanent residents, Canadians and t
BCOct 13, 2023
City of Surrey moves to court to block police transfer
The City of Surrey says it is filing a petition in the B.C. Supreme Court challenging the province's order to convert the RCMP into a municipal police force.The move, announced in a statement on Friday, has been a long-running dispute."My team and I were elected to stop the proposed police change," Mayor Brenda Locke said in a statement.It is worth mentioning that on July 19, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth directed the City of Surrey to replace its existing RCMP force with the Surrey Police Service.Farnworth said everyone has a right to be safe in their community and all British Co
CanadaOct 12, 2023
Canadian military flight leaves Tel Aviv with 130 people on board: Defence minister
Defence Minister Bill Blair says a Royal Canadian Air Force plane has left Tel Aviv with 130 people on board.The departures board at the airport shows that flight CFC 4169 left for Athens this afternoon local time.The federal government said Wednesday that flights could begin leaving as early as today, with up to 150 passengers on board.Officials say around 700 Canadians in Israel have asked for help to leave the country since violence broke out on Saturday.Canada does not usually provide military air transportation when commercial flights are still operating, but the government says people ha
CanadaOct 11, 2023
Canadians will be airlifted from Israel: Foreign Minister
Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed the death of two Canadians in Israel on Wednesday and said that there is a fear that a third may be killed.Along with this, the case of the disappearance of three other Canadians is being investigated.Joly said the government will airlift Canadians in the coming days using Canadian military aircraft.Other arrangements will be made for those who cannot reach the airport in Tel Aviv.The latest federal statistics show that 4249 Canadians are registered in Israel.476 Canadians are registered in Gaza and the West Bank.Joly said they know how difficul
BCOct 10, 2023
BC becomes first province to sign federal health care agreement
Health Minister Mark Holland announced today that British Columbia is the first province to sign the $196-billion Individual Health Agreement introduced by the Prime Minister.In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced that the federal government is ready to spend $196-billion dollars to revitalize Canada's health system, as a result of which all provinces except Quebec have agreed to this deal.BC will receive $1.2 billion over the next three years from the federal government.Federal Health Minister Mark Holland made the announcement Tuesday morning at Vancouver General Hospital.H