Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for the federal government to block Royal Bank of Canada's $13.5-billion takeover of HSBC Canada as a way to help with housing affordability.Poilievre says in a statement that Canada's banking sector is overly concentrated, and that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland should stop the deal to improve competition in areas such as mortgage rates.RBC spokesman Andrew McGrath says in a statement that the takeover is in the best interest of HSBC Canada clients and that the Competition Bureau's review did not identify Competition Act concerns with the de

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada remains "firm and steadfast" in its commitment to a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.He says the Middle East, and the world, needs both a Palestinian state and Israel to exist alongside each other in peace, safety and prosperity.Canada has long called for a negotiated two-state solution in the region, and considers the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be occupied territories.Trudeau is reiterating this position in the context of the latest Israel-Hamas war, which began after militants from Hamas, which Canada considers a terrorist organiz

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

The BC government says it's changing legislation to increase access to services for victims of crime.The province says the Crime Victims Assistance Act is currently too restrictive, leaving victims, family members and witnesses without adequate support.The provincial government says it's proposing amendments to allow family members such as grandparents and grandchildren to access benefits, eliminating the need to be financially dependent on a victim for eligibility under the law.It says the province also plans to provide funding for sexual assault support service centres in Vancouver, Victoria

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal government would fight any actions that threaten the stability of the Canada Pension Plan.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government has launched a provincial debate on quitting the CPP and creating an Alberta-only pension plan.Smith says Albertans are paying in more than they're getting out the federal plan and a report the province commissioned says Alberta is entitled to more than half the assets of the $575-billion fund.Trudeau's comments in a letter to Smith come a day after the Canada Pension Plan's board asserted Albert

Israel has approved the delivery of some humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza. This decision has been taken by Israel at the request of US President Joe Biden. According to the statement issued by the PM of Israel, food, water and medicines can be sent but oil will not be sent. Along with this, all the goods will be sent only until these supplies reach Hamas. Notably, Biden has given full support to Israel, stressing the need to end a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, after which Israel also started retaliatory bombing. Yesterday, Israel attacked a hospit

The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to Mukhtiar Singh Panghali.In fact, in 2006, Panghali strangled his pregnant wife and burnt her body.Mukhtiar was sentenced to life in prison in 2011, with the possibility of non-parole for up to 15 years, for murdering his wife Manjit Panghali at their home in Surrey.In October 2006, Manjit was four months pregnant.Mukhtiar himself had reported her missing.Five days later, police found Manjit's decomposed body on a beach in B.C.'s Delta region, after which Mukhtiar was first arrested for the crime in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison in 20

Gaza's health ministry says hundreds of people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City hospital.Many hospitals in Gaza City have become refugees for hundreds of people and there is a fear that 500 people will be killed in this attack.Photographs of the hospital have also surfaced showing hospital halls, broken glass and a fire in the hospital.Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said there were no details yet on the deaths at the hospital, adding that the public would be updated once details were available.It is worth mentioning that Hamas attacked Israel on October 7

Wind and rainfall warnings cover much of the British Columbia coast as a wave of stormy weather washes over western parts of the province this week.Environment Canada says winds gusting up to 110 kilometres per hour are expected over Haida Gwaii, the central coast and northern Vancouver Island.Heavy rain is also forecast for Kitimat on the north coast, as well as most of Vancouver Island and the Howe Sound region, north of Vancouver.Rainfall accumulations of 70 millimetres in Kitimat to more than 200 millimetres on western Vancouver Island are likely before the storm eases early Thursday and t