Trade Minister Mary Ng says it is "not going to be years" before Canada and India sign some form of trade agreement, more than a decade after negotiations began.Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Ottawa and Toronto this week, where he told media that New Delhi wants to vastly increase its trade with Canada.The two countries are negotiating a possible agreement that is limited to certain sectors, instead of a comprehensive deal that covers most of the economy.Industry groups have been urging Canada to push for a deal to be signed this year, but a former Canadian envoy to India, Nadir

Environment Canada has blanketed most of the province in special heat advisories as daytime temperatures are expected to soar up to 15 degrees above normal over the next several days.Unseasonably hot weather is expected to begin tomorrow before the daytime temperatures peak in the high 20s to low 30s Sunday and Monday.Forecasters say freezing levels will rise, leading to increased snow melt on the mountains and more possible flooding in some areas.The B.C. River Forecast Centre continues to list much of the province under flood watches, warnings or advisories.

Indian authorities have started the process to have two Canadians extradited to face charges after four members of the same family froze to death in southern Manitoba while trying to cross into the United States, says a police officer.Chaitanya Mandlik, deputy commissioner of police for Ahmedabad's crime branch in the state of Gujarat, said authorities are looking to send Vancouver residents Fenil Patel and Bitta Singh, who also goes by Bittu Paji, to face charges in India."We need to interview them and we need to get some more information," he told The Canadian Press.A spokesperson for the De

The Alberta government says fire danger continues to be extreme in most of the province except the Rockies, where lower danger levels were expected.Some areas have experienced cooler temperatures and some rain, but the government says a return to hot and windy conditions is expected in the coming days.Indigenous Services Canada said Tuesday that nine First Nations were under threat by active wildfires.One of them was Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, about 360 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, where 1,600 people were forced to leave after fire destroyed 45 structures and power infrastructure.As of ea

Canadians will now get a passport in a new look.The government has changed its design and its first look was released by the government today.Immigration Minister Sean Fraser and Families Minister Karina Gould previewed the new passports at Ottawa International Airport.Cover to cover security features have been added in the new passport.According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, the redesign of the passport was started in 2013 to add more modern security features and prevent fake passports.Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said that printing of the new Canadian passport will be

The risk of flooding has prompted more evacuation orders for residents in the Village of Cache Creek, B.C., as higher temperatures quickly melt of mountain snowpacks.In his latest order, Mayor John Ranta says about two dozen more properties have to evacuate due to the immediate danger caused by flooding of the Bonaparte River.Cache Creek, about 350 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, remains under a flood warning.Last week the community dealt with rising creek waters that flowed through its firehall, flooding several homes and businesses, and temporarily closing both highways 1 and 97.The vill

Federally regulated workplaces are expected to begin offering free menstrual products to workers starting in mid-December.Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan has announced changes to the Canada Labour Code that would ensure access to such products beginning Dec. 15.The Liberals promised in their 2021 election campaign to make free tampons and pads available in federally regulated workplaces, and set up a fund to make menstrual products available to vulnerable people.The 2022 federal budget allocated $25 million to establish a national pilot for the menstrual equity fund, which aims to help make me

After Canada expelled the Chinese diplomat from Toronto, China also issued an order to the Canadian diplomat in Shanghai to go out of the country.According to a statement issued by China's Foreign Ministry, Canadian diplomat Jennifer Lynn has been ordered to leave the country before May 13.Along with this, he also warned that China may react further.It is to be noted that Canada had announced yesterday to expel the Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei who was accused of being involved in a conspiracy to send threats to the family of Canada's Conservative MP Michael Chong in Hong Kong.Foreign Affairs Mini

The British Columbia government is restricting new funding to a major non-profit housing provider after an independent review found mismanagement by a former top executive at the province's housing corporation.The forensic investigation by Ernst and Young says the probe uncovered significant risks to public funds and lack of government oversight at BC Housing, the Crown corporation that develops, manages and administers subsidized housing. The report found mismanagement related to a conflict of interest between the former CEO, Shayne Ramsay, and his spouse, Janice Abbott, the CEO of Atira Wome