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canada-drops-in-global-passport-ranking-singapore-retains-top-spot
CanadaJan 08, 2025

Canada Drops in Global Passport Ranking, Singapore Retains Top Spot

Canada has been included in the top 5 "losers" in the new global passport ranking, while Singapore has maintained its position as the country with the most powerful passport in the world. According to the Henley Passport Index, Canada is ranked seventh out of 199 passports, down three places over the past decade. Canada is tied for seventh place with Malta and Poland, whose passports offer visa-free access to 188 destinations. Singapore, meanwhile, is the only country whose passport provides visa-free access to 195 destinations. Japan ranks second in the Henley Passport Index, while Finland,
trudeau-cabinet-minister-dominic-leblanc-will-not-join-party-leadership-race
CanadaJan 08, 2025

Trudeau Cabinet Minister Dominic LeBlanc Will Not Join Party Leadership Race

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced today that he will not be joining the Liberal Party’s leadership race. LeBlanc expressed his gratitude for the support he has received within the party but confirmed that he will not be a candidate in the upcoming leadership contest for the Liberal Party of Canada. This comes in the wake of Trudeau’s announcement that he will step down, prompting the party to choose a new leader. The leadership election campaign is expected to begin soon. Trudeau recently appointed LeBlanc as Finance Minister, and he had been con
two-quebec-planes-and-their-crews-helping-fight-devastating-l-a-wildfires
CanadaJan 08, 2025

Two Quebec planes and their crews helping fight devastating L.A. wildfires

A pair of Quebec water bombers and their crews are in California helping fight the massive wildfires tearing through the Los Angeles area. Stéphane Caron of Quebec's forest fire protection agency — SOPFEU — says the two planes are sent to the U.S. each fall as part of an annual contract, the length of which was extended this year because of the emergency. He says each plane is dispatched from Quebec with its own crew composed of a pilot, co-pilot and technician. Thousands of firefighters are battling at least four blazes that have killed at least two people and destroyed more than 1,000 s
police-lay-more-assault-charges-against-calgary-man-who-volunteered-to-help-newcomers
CanadaJan 08, 2025

Police lay more assault charges against Calgary man who volunteered to help newcomers

Police in Calgary have laid more charges against a man accused of sexually assaulting a newcomer to Canada whose family he was volunteering to help. The latest charges include one allegation dating back almost six decades. Police charged an 83-year-old man in November after a complainant came to a police station to report multiple sexual assaults between December 2023 and June 2024. Police said the accused had been assigned to a newcomer family through a local organization, and they allege he took advantage of the complainant's immigration status to commit the assaults. Polic
liberal-mps-gather-for-first-time-since-trudeau-announced-his-resignation-plans
CanadaJan 08, 2025

Liberal MPs gather for first time since Trudeau announced his resignation plans

Liberal MPs are meeting in Ottawa today for the first time since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will step down. The national caucus meeting, set to take place both in person and online, was originally set to last six hours to give MPs time to discuss Trudeau's previous refusal to resign. Now, the focus will be on next steps for the party as it begins a national search for a leader who can hold their own against popular Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Some from the party caucus, including cabinet ministers Jonathan Wilkinson, Steven MacKinnon and Karina Gould, are fielding ca
trump-threatens-to-use-economic-force-to-make-canada-part-of-the-u-s
CanadaJan 07, 2025

Trump Threatens to Use Economic Force to Make Canada Part of the U.S.

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to use economic force to make Canada part of the United States. Trump told reporters that he has no intention of using military force against Canada; instead, he would use economic pressure. Trump argued that the move would be beneficial for national security, stating that the issue with Canada is the billions of dollars the U.S. spends to protect it. Trump made these comments during a press conference in Florida. He also suggested he might use military force to acquire the Panama Canal and Greenland. Trump said China is using the Panama Can
canada-post-returns-to-full-service-for-domestic-parcels-letters-still-delayed
CanadaJan 07, 2025

Canada Post returns to full service for domestic parcels; letters still delayed

Canada Post says it has reinstated on-time service guarantees and returned to full service levels for domestic parcels after a strike brought deliveries to a halt last year. However, it says Canadians should continue to expect delivery delays of several days beyond its service standard for transaction mail such as letters, bills and statements. It also says it is continuing to work through the accumulated volume of international mail and that customers should expect a delivery delay of several days for incoming international items. The mail started moving again late last month after the Canada
biden-praises-trudeau-as-friend-defender-of-freedom-following-resignation-news
CanadaJan 07, 2025

Biden praises Trudeau as friend, defender of freedom following resignation news

U.S. President Joe Biden says he is proud to call Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a friend as both men now prepare for their departures from leadership. Biden says he spoke with Trudeau on the phone Monday after the prime minister announced he would resign his post as soon as a new Liberal leader is chosen. The president will also be vacating the White House later this month when president-elect Donald Trump begins a second administration. In a statement Tuesday, Biden says the U.S.-Canada alliance is stronger because of Trudeau, even as his successor threatens 25 per cent tariffs against Americ
ontario-launches-border-strengthening-operation-as-trump-tariff-threat-looms
CanadaJan 07, 2025

Ontario launches border-strengthening operation as Trump tariff threat looms

The Ontario government says it has launched an operation intended to beef up security along the border with the United States. In a news release, Premier Doug Ford says Operation Deterrence will "crack down on illegal border crossings and illegal guns and drugs." It comes as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatens to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods unless Canada tightens border security, with an emphasis on fentanyl and illegal crossings. As part of the operation, Ontario says provincial police have an "emergency response team" of 200 officers focused on boosting border secur

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bank-of-canada-holds-key-interest-rate-at-2-25-as-global-risks-weigh-on-outlook
CanadaApr 29, 2026

Bank of Canada holds key interest rate at 2.25% as global risks weigh on outlook

The Bank of Canada kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive decision to hold rates, according to its latest monetary policy report. The central bank also maintained its deposit rate at 2.20 per cent. Governor Tiff Macklem said ongoing conflict in the Middle East and evolving U.S. trade policies are reshaping global trade patterns and adding uncertainty to the economic outlook. According to the bank’s report, the Iran-related tensions have reduced growth prospects in oil-importing countries while contributing to higher inflation
federal-finance-minister-tables-2026-spring-mini-budget-with-focus-on-skilled-trades-training
CanadaApr 29, 2026

Federal finance minister tables 2026 spring mini-budget with focus on skilled trades training

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the federal government’s 2026 spring mini-budget in the House of Commons, outlining measures aimed at strengthening the national economy and addressing labour shortages in key sectors. According to the government’s budget statement, a new initiative branded “Team Canada Strong” will focus on expanding the skilled trades workforce. The plan sets a target of training 100,000 new skilled trades workers by the 2030–31 fiscal year to help meet demand in housing construction, infrastructure projects and major resource developm
WorldApr 28, 2026

Israel orders evacuations in southern Lebanon villages amid ceasefire violations claims

The Israeli military has ordered residents in more than a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately, citing safety concerns during an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. According to a statement posted on the social media platform X by Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee, civilians in the affected areas were urged to leave without delay. The military said the warning was issued for public safety, alleging that Hezbollah had violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The evacuation order comes despite the ceasefire remaining formally in effect. Isra
b-c-attorney-general-urges-ottawa-to-include-ai-chatbots-in-youth-social-media-rules
BCApr 28, 2026

B.C. attorney general urges Ottawa to include AI chatbots in youth social media rules

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma says federal plans to set a minimum age for social media use should explicitly include artificial intelligence chatbots, arguing the rules would be ineffective if such platforms are excluded. In a letter to the federal government, Sharma said tools such as ChatGPT should fall within any regulatory framework aimed at protecting children online. According to her office, the letter cites recent incidents, including a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, and references cases where AI tools were reportedly linked to harmful online behaviour. Sharma said AI system
AlbertaApr 28, 2026

Evacuation alert issued for Draper, Alta., as ice jam raises river levels

An evacuation alert has been issued for the community of Draper in northern Alberta after rising river levels linked to a large ice jam raised concerns about possible flooding. According to a notice from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, approximately 140 residents of the unincorporated community have been advised to prepare to leave on short notice. Draper is located along the southern bank of the Clearwater River, about 12 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray. Officials say a roughly 20-kilometre-long ice jam on the Athabasca River has contributed to a rapid increase in water level