An Indian government representative says Indian and Canadian officials have been in contact ``at various levels'' following a confrontation over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.The spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry, Arindam Bachi, declined, however, to confirm or deny media reports that the Indian and Canadian foreign ministers met in Washington two weeks ago.He reiterated that India remains determined to reduce Canada's diplomatic presence in the country.Bagchi didn't provide details of th

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is giving an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for urgent needs in Israel and the Gaza Strip.He also says the first airlift of 130 Canadians that left Tel Aviv earlier today has landed in Athens.The federal government said Wednesday that flights could begin leaving as early as today, with up to 150 passengers on board.Officials say around 700 Canadians in Israel have asked for help to leave the country since violence broke out on Saturday.Canada does not usually provide military air transportation when commercial flights are still operatin

Some Canadian police forces say they are increasing local patrols in response to the Israel-Hamas war while offering assurances they have not received any credible threats.Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw says there have been no specific credible threats locally, but the war has shaken the feelings of peace and security in the city.He says police divisions have been directed to "ensure a high visibility presence," and increased patrols announced earlier this week have now been expanded to include cultural centres, synagogues, mosques, schools and other places of worship.Police in Ottawa, Vanc

The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost the federal and provincial governments $11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years.The PBO's report released today provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28.It calculates the incremental cost of the program, taking into account current spending by governments on public drug plans as well as revenue that would be generated from co-pays under a pharmacare plan.The Liberals have promised to table pharmacare legislation this fall as part of the supply

Defence Minister Bill Blair says a Royal Canadian Air Force plane has left Tel Aviv with 130 people on board.The departures board at the airport shows that flight CFC 4169 left for Athens this afternoon local time.The federal government said Wednesday that flights could begin leaving as early as today, with up to 150 passengers on board.Officials say around 700 Canadians in Israel have asked for help to leave the country since violence broke out on Saturday.Canada does not usually provide military air transportation when commercial flights are still operating, but the government says people ha

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa says a Canadian citizen living in Israel has died.CEO Andrea Freedman gave this information to the media on behalf of Adi Vital-Kaploun's family.Adi Vital-Kaploun was 33 years old.Freedman described Kaploun as a wonderful woman.She recently completed her master's degree in chemical engineering.She worked in cyber security.She held dual citizenship and considered herself a proud Israeli and Canadian.Today is the fifth day of the Israel-Hamas war in which 2150 people have died, including three Canadians.

Two former Quebec junior hockey players have pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a minor in June 2021.Massimo Siciliano and Nicolas Daigle, both 21, are former Victoriaville Tigres players who were charged with the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl who was an employee at a hotel where the team was staying during the 2021 playoffs.Siciliano and Daigle both pleaded guilty to sexual assault, while Daigle also pleaded guilty to two charges of filming and exhibiting a video of the act.

The death toll in Israel and Hamas attacks has exceeded 2,000 and the death toll is likely to continue.Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that two Canadians have been killed during the ongoing war in Israel and there is a fear of another one being killed.According to Global Affairs Canada, in addition to the dead, three more Canadians are missing.Their families fear they are being held hostage in Gaza.Joly, however, did not reveal whether Canadians were among those held hostage by Hamas.Hamas and another Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, have claimed to have taken 130 people

The federal Liberal government says it will extend an amnesty order on guns it prohibited in the wake of the deadly 2020 Nova Scotia shooting rampage for an extra two years.Public Safety Canada quietly posted the extension on its website about the yet-to-be-developed firearms buyback program, saying the amnesty period that was set to expire at the end of the month will remain in place until Oct. 30, 2025.The amnesty applies to those who own one of the more than 1,500 models of guns that Ottawa announced it was banning, saying "assault-style" firearms, such as the AR-15, have no place in commun