The well-funded Conservative Party of Canada spent more than $8.5 million on advertising last year, substantially exceeding what its political rivals dropped to get their message out. The Liberals spent just a fraction of that at around $381,000, while the NDP spent only about $42,000. The numbers are detailed in federal parties' annual financial returns for 2023, which Elections Canada posted online this week. The Conservative statement shows the party held $16 million in cash at the end of 2023, an increase of more than $3.2 million from the start of the year. The Liberal Party of Canada was

The parliamentary budget officer estimates that staffing up the new regulators in the Liberals' Online Harms Act will cost around $200 million over five years. The federal government wants to establish a Digital Safety Commission to regulate social-media companies and force them to limit harmful content online. The online harms bill also proposes creating a Digital Safety Ombudsperson for Canadians to take their concerns to, as well as a Digital Safety Office. In a new report, the PBO says the Heritage Department estimates those new entities will have 300 employees when they're fully up and ru

WestJet flight disruptions are expected to continue this week, after a deal was reached over the weekend to end a strike by its mechanics. The airline said in a statement Monday morning that "full resumption of operations will take time and further cancellations will be required over the coming days." Some 680 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan. The tentative agreement was announced late Sunday night, but the strike had already disrupted the trav

Quebec Premier François Legault says there's a risk of overreaction against newcomers if current immigration levels continue. The premier made the comments today to reporters on the Gaspé Peninsula, in response to a question about whether he feared a rise of the "right" in Quebec and Canada. He says he doesn't want to see the province end up like the United States or France, where immigration has become a toxic political debate. Legault says there has been an increase of 300,000 temporary immigrants in the province over the last two years and that while Quebecers are welcoming, they cannot a

The first debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump may not have brought the surge of excitement among voters that both leaders were looking for ahead of the November election. The matchup saw the current president and his political rival exchange personal barbs as well as criticism over their legacies in the Oval Office. But some Democratic supporters showed concern over portions of 81-year-old Biden’s uneven performance, which included a raspy voice and rambling responses. At a watch party in South Philadelphia, Danina Moore was a bit uneasy after the debate but the Democrat says she’s h

The defence chief's office says a change-of-command ceremony for the country's top military commander is set for July 18. Gen. Wayne Eyre announced plans last January to retire from the post. At the time, Eyre said he asked for his successor to be identified as soon as possible to allow for an orderly handover. The defence chief is appointed by the federal cabinet, but the prime minister has not announced who will be taking over. The Armed Forces' second-in-command is also retiring this year. The vice-chief of the defence staff, Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen, will be replaced in an early August cerem

Ottawa plans to expand eligibility for the federal dental program today to include children under the age of 18 and people who receive a disability tax credit. The government estimates 1.2 million more people will now be able to apply for the program. Critics have suggested that basing eligibility for people with disabilities on the tax credit will leave out a huge number of individuals who most need the help. Federal ministers have said eligibility will be fully expanded to include everyone who meets income criteria in January 2025, so those who are left out won't have to wait much longer to

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... WestJet cancels flights after second strike notice WestJet is cancelling flights ahead of a possible strike by its mechanics' union. The Calgary-based airline says in a statement the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has provided them with another notice of strike action. WestJet says that as a result, it has preemptively cancelled 25 flights between Thursday and Friday, affecting about 3,300 customers. This comes as the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is accusing WestJet of suing it witho

The Liberal government's changes to capital gains taxation came into effect Tuesday, despite significant pushback from business and physicians' groups. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's spring budget proposed making two-thirds of capital gains the profit made on the sale of assets such as a secondary residence or stocks taxable, rather than one-half. For individuals' capital gains of $250,000 or less, the inclusion rate would remain the same, at 50 per cent. At a time when the Liberals are looking to woo back young voters, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pitched the effective tax increase