Skip to Main content

14.98°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Oct 8, 2024 6:48 PM - Connect Newsroom – Jasmine Singh, with files from The Canadian Press

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau headed to Laos for ASEAN Summit

Share On

prime-minister-justin-trudeau-headed-to-laos-for-asean-summit

Canada and Indonesia are also working toward a trade deal that's set to be signed by the end of this year. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Laos this week to attend the ASEAN Summit, marking the first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The gathering brings together leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to discuss regional cooperation and global trade.

While Canada is not a member of ASEAN, the two sides have maintained a strategic partnership since 2022. Ottawa is working toward finalizing a free trade agreement with the bloc by the end of next year, as part of its broader Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at strengthening economic and diplomatic ties across the region.

Canada and Indonesia are also nearing completion of a separate bilateral trade deal expected to be signed before the end of this year. The ASEAN countries together represented Canada’s fourth-largest trading partner in 2023, underscoring their growing importance in Canada’s export and investment landscape.

Following the summit, Trudeau will travel to Germany on Saturday to join the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting, which will be chaired by U.S. President Joe Biden. The discussions there are expected to focus on continued support for Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Latest news

AlbertaAug 12, 2026

Alberta Could See Billions in Budget Surplus Amid High Oil Prices

The Alberta government is expected to record a budget surplus of billions of dollars this fiscal year, driven by higher crude oil prices. According to University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, the province has already accumulated a $3.8-billion surplus so far this fiscal year. He said every $1-per-barrel change in oil prices can make a difference of about $680 million to the provincial treasury. Tombe estimates that if oil prices remain above $66 per barrel, Alberta could end up with a surplus of around $6 billion, instead of the previously projected $9.4-billion deficit. Alberta

trump-says-us-will-maintain-total-control-over-strait-of-hormuz

WorldAug 12, 2026

Trump says US will maintain ‘total control’ over Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that the United States has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and said Washington intends to maintain that control. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described the U.S. Navy’s blockade as a “wall of steel” and said there was nothing Iran could do about it. His comments come as shipping traffic through the strategic waterway has dropped sharply. Only eight vessels passed through the Strait on Tuesday, compared with around 130 to 140 vessels per day before the war. Iran, meanwhile, says full maritime traffic through

19-year-old-arrested-after-knife-waving-incident-in-vancouvers-granville-entertainment-district

19-Year-Old Arrested After Knife-Waving Incident in Vancouver’s Granville Entertainment District

Vancouver police have arrested a 19-year-old man after he allegedly caused a disturbance with a knife and created a sense of fear in the Granville Entertainment District. According to police, the incident occurred at around 1:50 a.m. today. An employee at a business reportedly saw the man flipping over tables and displaying a knife toward people passing by. When the employee attempted to intervene, the suspect became angry and began striking the business’s sign with the knife. The employee then backed away and called police. Officers arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect just two blo

canada-announces-34-million-in-climate-funding-for-communities

CanadaAug 12, 2026

Canada Announces $34 Million in Climate Funding for Communities

The federal government has announced $34 million in funding to help communities across Canada deal with the impacts of climate change. The funding will support municipalities and local organizations in launching projects aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters such as floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding in Halifax today, acknowledging that Canada’s climate is changing and that communities need to be better prepared for its impacts. According to Dabrusin, the funding will support 141 climate-related projects acro

early-morning-shooting-in-surreys-cloverdale-leaves-one-injured

Early Morning Shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale Leaves One Injured

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood that left one adult male with a minor, non-life-threatening injury. Police responded at approximately 3:52 a.m. on August 12 to reports of a shooting near a residence in the area of 60 Avenue and 177 Street. Two people were reportedly shot at, with one person sustaining a minor injury that did not require medical treatment. The suspects fled the scene. SPS’s Major Crime Section has taken over the investigation, while forensic officers are processing physical and digital evidence in t

Related News

Canada Announces $34 Million in Climate Funding for Communities

Canada Announces $34 Million in Climate Funding for Communities

The federal government has announced $34 million in funding to help communities across Canada deal with the impacts of climate change. The funding will support municipalities and local organizations in launching projects aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters such as floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding in Halifax today, acknowledging that Canada’s climate is changing and that communities need to be better prepared for its impacts. According to Dabrusin, the funding will support 141 climate-related projects acro

Two Surveys Raise Concerns Over Canada’s Trade and Jobs

Two Surveys Raise Concerns Over Canada’s Trade and Jobs

Two recent surveys on Canada’s trade outlook have raised concerns about the impact on small businesses and employment. A survey released Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says small Canadian exporters could face a revenue loss of at least 50 per cent if a new 50-per-cent tariff is imposed. Meanwhile, a separate survey conducted by Oxford Economics for the Canadian American Business Council has warned about the potential impact of the CUSMA trade agreement. According to the report, if CUSMA comes to an end, around 102,000 jobs in Canada could be at risk. The

Canadian Government Invests $24 Million in Cannabis and Brain Health Research

Canadian Government Invests $24 Million in Cannabis and Brain Health Research

Canada’s federal government is investing $24 million to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, aimed at better understanding how cannabis affects the brain and overall health. Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced the funding Wednesday. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the consortium will bring together 10 research teams from across Canada to study the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use among people of different ages. Researchers will examine cannabis’s effects on conditions and areas including epilepsy, anxiety, po

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital