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transgender-bill-challenger-dismayed-by-smiths-openness-to-notwithstanding-clause
CanadaDec 17, 2024

Transgender bill challenger dismayed by Smith's openness to notwithstanding clause

A lawyer challenging a new Alberta law affecting transgender youth says he is dismayed by Premier Danielle Smith's intention to use the notwithstanding clause if required. The new law bans doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16, and prohibits gender-affirming ``top'' surgeries for minors. For months Smith has dismissed the notwithstanding clause question as moot given she believes the new restrictions would withstand a legal challenge. But on her Saturday radio show Smith confirmed she would invoke the notwithstanding
chrystia-freeland-resigns-as-finance-minister
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Chrystia Freeland Resigns as Finance Minister

Chrystia Freeland resigned from her position as Finance Minister on Monday, sharing her resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media. In the letter, Freeland expressed pride in her work for Canada but explained her decision to step down after Trudeau indicated he no longer wanted her as Finance Minister and offered her a different Cabinet role. Freeland stated that a minister must have the Prime Minister's full confidence, which she felt she no longer possessed. She highlighted key disagreements with Trudeau over handling U.S. economic nationalism and potential
ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-demands-trudeaus-resignation
CanadaDec 16, 2024

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Demands Trudeau's Resignation

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. Speaking in the House of Commons, Singh stated that Canadians are struggling to afford basic necessities like groceries and are increasingly unable to purchase homes. Singh criticized Trudeau for being preoccupied with personal matters while Canada faces significant challenges, including threats to thousands of jobs from U.S. policies. Singh posed the question: "Will the Prime Minister step down?" This marks the first time Jagmeet Singh has directly demanded Trudeau's resignation in the House of Commons. Me
poilievres-wife-targets-trudeau-over-freelands-resignation
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Poilievre's Wife Targets Trudeau Over Freeland's Resignation

Anaida Poilievre, the wife of Canada's Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, has launched a strong criticism of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the resignation of Chrystia Freeland. Anaida accused Trudeau of failing to take responsibility for his government's shortcomings and claimed he sacrificed Freeland’s position to replace her with a man. She argued that positions should be filled based on merit, not gender, race, or other factors. However, she accused Trudeau of hypocrisy, stating that a leader who frequently lectures the world on equality should be called out for his ac
sean-fraser-announces-he-will-not-contest-next-federal-election
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Sean Fraser Announces He Will Not Contest Next Federal Election

Former Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced today in Ottawa that he will not contest the next federal election. Fraser explained that his role in federal politics had made it difficult for him to spend enough time with his family. He also mentioned that he had already informed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of his decision. Notably, Fraser is the sixth minister in the Trudeau cabinet to announce that they will not seek re-election. Fraser has represented the Central Nova riding of Nova Scotia in the House of Commons since 2015, the year the Trudeau government first came to power.
chrystia-freeland-quits-cabinet-the-day-of-fall-economic-statement
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Chrystia Freeland quits cabinet the day of fall economic statement

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from the Liberal cabinet on Monday, posting her resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media. Here is the letter:"Dear Prime Minister,It has been the honour of my life to serve in government, working for Canada and Canadians. We have accomplished a lot together.On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the Cabinet.Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet.To be effective, a Minister must spea
canada-post-operations-to-resume-tuesday-company
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Canada Post operations to resume Tuesday: company

Mail will begin moving again on Tuesday as Canada Post employees return to work for the first time in more than a month after the federal government pushed to end the stoppage. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the 55,000 picketing employees back to work within days if the tribunal determines a deal isn't doable before the end of the year. Canada Post said Sunday night that after two days of hearings over the weekend, an impasse was declared. It says union members have been ordered back to work under their existing contract, which has bee
alberta-premier-smith-willing-to-use-the-notwithstanding-clause-on-trans-health-bill
CanadaDec 16, 2024

Alberta Premier Smith willing to use the notwithstanding clause on trans health bill

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says using the notwithstanding clause to shield her government's transgender health restrictions is on the table as a ``last resort.'' A provincial law will ban doctors from providing gender-affirming treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy for those under 16 and halt gender-affirming ``top'' surgeries for minors. On her radio call-in show this weekend, Smith says she's willing to invoke the notwithstanding clause, a measure that allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years. Smith says she doesn't want to take the ste
canada-to-end-30-stake-limit-for-pension-fund-investments
CanadaDec 13, 2024

Canada to End 30% Stake Limit for Pension Fund Investments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government plans to end the rule limiting pension fund holdings in Canadian institutions to 30% as part of a broader strategy to boost domestic investment. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced on Friday that the limit will be removed in the mini-budget to be presented on Monday. This change would enable the Canada Pension Plan to make larger investments in Canadian institutions, which collectively hold over $3 trillion in assets. The government also intends to permit pension funds to take larger ownership stakes in municipally owned utility corporati

Just In

BCJul 15, 2026

Elderly woman distracted and robbed of gold necklace in Vancouver, police seek suspects

A 76-year-old woman was allegedly robbed of her gold necklace after being distracted by an unknown woman in Vancouver's East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive area on Tuesday, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Police said the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. while the senior was waiting for family members. An unidentified woman approached her and claimed she looked like her mother, whose birthday she said it was. The suspect then hugged the victim and, during the interaction, allegedly removed the woman's gold necklace and replaced it with a fake one. The victim reportedly discov
AlbertaJul 15, 2026

Alberta launches online bike lane complaint form ahead of planned legislation

The Alberta government has launched an online public feedback form inviting residents to report concerns about bike lanes as it prepares legislation expected this fall. According to the Alberta government, Albertans can use the online form to share concerns about bike lanes in their communities, including whether they believe a lane is underused, has reduced on-street parking, contributed to traffic congestion, affected local businesses, or delayed emergency response times. The province says the feedback will help inform future transportation policy decisions. Transportation Minister Devin Dre
canada-pauses-new-parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship-applications-for-2026
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Canada pauses new parent and grandparent sponsorship applications for 2026

The federal government says it will not accept any new applications this year under Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program as it works to reduce processing times and manage a large backlog of existing files. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 60,500 sponsorship applications are currently being processed. The department said it expects to approve about 15,000 parents and grandparents each year over the next two years from applications already in the system. IRCC said the temporary pause is intended to improve processing efficiency. The department
federal-government-names-new-members-to-independent-senate-appointments-advisory-board
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Federal government names new members to independent Senate appointments advisory board

The federal government has announced new appointments to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney named four new senators to the upper chamber. According to a federal government news release, the advisory board will continue to provide non-binding recommendations to the prime minister on Senate appointments. The board was established in 2016 to support a merit-based and independent appointments process. The government said the board will continue to include three federal members, including a chair, along with two additional members from
BCJul 15, 2026

Surrey man sentenced to nearly five years in prison in extortion-related shooting and arson case

A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced Abhijeet Kingra to nearly five years in prison for his role in a 2024 extortion-related shooting and arson targeting a Surrey home. According to court records, Kingra pleaded guilty on July 6 to charges of discharging a firearm at a residence and committing arson. The offences stem from an Aug. 10, 2024 incident in which a home belonging to a person who had reportedly received extortion threats was shot at and set on fire. The court imposed a two-year sentence for arson and a sentence of four years, 10 months and 19 days for the shooting offence. T