Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced plans to cut approximately 3,300 jobs over the next three years, representing about a quarter of its workforce. The department says the move is aimed at reducing costs to align with lower immigration levels and returning staff numbers to pre-COVID levels. On Monday, the department informed employees via email about the budget cuts and their potential impact on staff. However, it remains unclear which employees will be affected. Notifications to impacted employees are expected to begin in mid-February. IRCC also state

Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 1.8 per cent in December, thanks in large part to the federal government’s temporary tax break. Statistics Canada’s consumer price index report on Tuesday said restaurant food purchases, and alcohol bought from stores contributed the most to the deceleration. The federal government introduced a temporary pause on taxes to those items in mid-December, along with tobacco and cannabis products, clothing, and some toys, among others. Without the tax break, Statistics Canada said the annual inflation rate would have risen to 2.3 per cent. Growth in groce

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested his administration could move ahead with with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canadian imports on Feb. 1. He delivered the deadline on Monday evening at the White House as he signed a stack of unrelated executive orders. The February date comes after Trump officials, speaking anonymously, suggested to reporters that the Republican president would only sign a memorandum telling federal agencies to study trade issues, including alleged unfair trade and currency practices by Canada, Mexico and China. An executive order from the president late Monday

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated Donald Trump on his inauguration as President. Trudeau stated that Canada and the United States have been the world’s most successful economic partners and that there is an opportunity to work together once again to create more jobs and prosperity in both countries. Trudeau emphasized that Canada will be stronger when working together with the U.S. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with Trump. At the same time, leaders and notable figures from around the world, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have congratulated Trump on his

Donald Trump has announced several significant steps he plans to take immediately upon assuming office as President of the United States. Among these, he proposed the creation of a new federal agency, the ‘External Revenue Service’ to oversee the collection of tariffs, duties, and revenues from foreign sources. In addition, Trump pledged to intensify efforts against illegal immigration, including implementing mass deportations. He also stated his intention to declare a national emergency at the southern border to strengthen border control measures. President Trump also announced the aboli

Donald Trump has returned to the White House as the 47th President of the United States. He took the oath of office today at the Capitol in Washington, DC, with Chief Justice John Roberts administering the ceremony. Due to the bitter cold in the capital, the swearing-in ceremony was held indoors at the Capitol for the first time in 40 years, departing from the tradition of taking the oath in the open air on the National Mall. Joe Biden and Barack Obama also attended Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony. Before him, JD Vance took the oath as Vice President. JD Vance’s wife, Usha Chilukuri Vanc

There may be relief for Canada. According to several US reports, Trump will not issue a tariff order on Canada, Mexico, and China as promised on his first day in office. A Trump administration official stated that Trump will instead direct agencies to investigate the US trade deficit, unfair trade practices by other countries, and currency policies. The official added that this investigation will include Canada, Mexico, and China, but no new tariffs will be announced. Notably, Donald Trump is returning to the White House today for his second term. He will assume office as the 47th President o

Crews in downtown Vancouver are demolishing a more than century-old heritage building that the city's chief building official says is so badly damaged it is at risk of collapse. The building at 500 Dunsmuir St. was initially a hotel and also served as barracks for merchant mariners, a Salvation Army home for veterans and later social housing, but has been empty since 2013. Last month the city ordered that the building owned by Holborn Properties come down, declaring it a danger to public safety "due to severe structural deterioration." Saul Schwebs, Vancouver's chief building official, says th

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't be at U-S president-elect Donald Trump's inaugural ceremony today. She had been scheduled to attend the event, but that's not going to happen due to the ceremony being moved indoors into the Capitol Rotunda because of cold weather. Her press secretary, Sam Blackett, says in a statement that most ticketed guests will no longer be able to attend the ceremony in-person because of the move, and that includes Smith. Blackett says the premier still plans to attend an event at the Canadian Embassy today.