CanadaOct 20, 2023
Saskatchewan legislature passes pronoun bill in special sitting
A controversial bill on the use of pronouns in schools has received final approval in the Saskatchewan legislature.The new law will prevent children under 16 from changing their names or pronouns at school without receiving parental consent.It uses the notwithstanding clause to override sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code.Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says he expects all school divisions to abide by the legislation.The Opposition New Democrats opposed the bill, saying it strips rights from vulnerable people.The Saskatchewan Party government
CanadaOct 20, 2023
Poilievre calls on Ottawa to block RBC's $13.5B takeover of HSBC Canada
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
CanadaOct 20, 2023
Canada 'firm and steadfast' in call for two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians
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
CanadaOct 20, 2023
Canada has pulled most envoys out of India due to diplomatic immunity threats: Joly
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
CanadaOct 18, 2023
Trudeau writes open letter to Danielle Smith, calls for CPP to be preserved
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
CanadaOct 17, 2023
Quebec labour unions in health care, education vote 95 per cent for strike mandate
A common front of four major Quebec labour unions has voted 95 per cent for an unlimited general strike mandate.The unions are negotiating as one and represent 420,000 public sector workers in health care, education and social services.Éric Gingras, president of the CSQ union, says the strong mandate announced today shows members are fed up and want better working conditions.François Énault, vice-president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions, says if workers choose to strike, it likely won't happen before November.The unions are seeking a three-year contract with annual increases
CanadaOct 17, 2023
Sixth Canadian killed in Israel-Hamas war, two missing: Foreign Minister
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says an Israeli with ties to Canada who had been missing is now confirmed dead, amid the continued fallout from Hamas's recent surprise attacks on Israel.Joly is offering condolences to the family of Tiferet Lapidot, who she said was one of three Canadians reported missing after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people and setting off a war that has left more than 4,000 dead on both sides.The minister says that during her recent trip to Israel, she met with Lapidot's Canadian father in Tel Aviv, as well as Lapidot's uncle,
CanadaOct 17, 2023
Digital services tax would rate $7.2 billion in federal revenues over five years: PBO
The parliamentary budget officer says the implementation of a digital services tax would raise $7.2 billion over five years.The Liberals' spring budget confirmed their intention to implement the tax, which is designed to ensure that tech giants pay their fair share of taxes in countries where they earn revenue without having a physical presence.The tax would apply to businesses with annual worldwide revenues of 750,000 euros and more, as well as annual Canadian digital services revenue of more than $20 million.The policy, which has been met with pushback from the U.S., is supposed to come into
CanadaOct 17, 2023
Canada's inflation rate decreased to 3.8 percent
Canada's inflation rate fell to 3.8 percent in September, down from 4 percent in August.This figure has been reported by Statistics Canada on Tuesday.The figures show a steeper fall in inflation than economists had expected.The data agency said that the decline in the cost of living was recorded due to decline in the prices of several goods and services, including travel, durable goods and some grocery items.Gasoline prices fell 1.3 percent during September, but were still 7.5 percent higher than last year, making fuel prices one of the biggest drivers of annual inflation.If gasoline were excl