Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is not committing to meeting the $40.1-billion deficit target she set for the government last year. Freeland says she expects the fall economic statement, which she will present on Dec. 16, will show a declining debt-to-GDP ratio. When asked if she would also meet her deficit target, Freeland wouldn't answer, saying she chose her words "carefully." The finance minister announced a set of fiscal guardrails last fall in response to pressure from the Bank of Canada and economists to avoid fuelling inflation with too much spending. Freeland now appears to be ditc

With the Canada Post strike nearing four weeks, the postal service says it doesn't see an end in sight. On Monday, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers sent over its latest list of proposals, which include wage gains and job protections. But Canada Post said in a statement that the proposals don't bring the two sides any closer together in a dispute that's brought millions of deliveries to a halt. Despite calls for the government to intervene, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that the government is putting pressure on the two sides to reach an agreement. One of the key issues in barga

L-G-B-T-Q advocate organizations say they're working as quickly as possible to ask a court to stop the government from bringing into force an Alberta law they say will cause immediate harm. The law will ban doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16. Bennett Jensen of Egale (EE'-gal) Canada, says along with Skipping Stone and five Alberta families, they will call for an injunction to protect young people's access to health care while the courts decide whether the law is constitutional. In documents filed with the Court of

The Alberta government has pulled the plug on a foreign worker recruitment mission in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for early next year. Documents show the mission was part of the province's Alberta Advantage Immigration Program, which works to fast-track the permanent residency process for workers in sought after sectors. An itinerary says government resources were to be used to facilitate interviews with workers and Alberta-based employers who signed up for the trip. Provincial Immigration Minister Muhammad Yaseen says he decided to cancel the trip after reviewing its purpos

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has begun preparations for the upcoming Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council elections in Punjab. The party plans to contest on its official election symbol. To oversee the election process, SAD has appointed six observers. Senior leaders Bikram Singh Majithia and N.K. Sharma have also been assigned key responsibilities. This was confirmed by senior leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema. In related news, veteran SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has announced his decision to retire from active politics. He stated that now his age is compelling him to step back.

Crossing the Canada-US border could soon become more challenging, as the Trudeau government considers a major investment to enhance border security. This move aims to address incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s concerns about illegal crossings and mitigate the risk of tariffs on Canadian imports. Sources suggest the government may allocate over $1 billion for increased surveillance at the border. The proposal, which includes various measures, is expected to be presented to the federal cabinet soon. During a press conference in Ottawa, Treasury Board President Anita Anand confirmed the go

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, has scheduled the release of the Fall Economic Statement for December 16. Commonly referred to as a "mini-budget," it outlines the government's fiscal direction. The statement will detail fiscal priorities for 2025, following recent announcements on GST exemptions, immigration caps, and increased NATO spending outside the 2024 budget framework. These measures are expected to impact the overall budget outlook. Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has accused the government of delaying the statement to hide a potential breach

President Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria to Russia following a rebel takeover, where President Vladimir Putin granted political asylum to Assad and his family. Meanwhile, both the U.S. and Canada have welcomed the fall of the Assad government. In a social media post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the collapse of Assad's dictatorship marks the end of decades of brutal oppression. Reports suggest that the rebels had informed Turkey six months in advance of their plans to overthrow Assad. On the other hand, Iran, a key ally of the Assad government, expressed surprise at the

Cancer patients in Canada are facing significant out-of-pocket expenses, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. While hospital costs such as surgery and chemotherapy are covered by the government, the average cancer patient still pays about $33,000 over the course of their lifetime. These costs include out-of-pocket expenses for prescribed medications, transportation to and from the hospital, accommodation, and lost income during treatment. Physicians and health policy experts note that these financial burdens make coping with the disease even more difficult. The report estimates that in 20