A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality. The social media account for Jasper National Park says the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported. On the social media platform X Wednesday night, the account for Fairmont's Jasper Park Lodge says the flames have reached the hotel's grounds, but the extent of damage, if any, is not yet known. As the flames consumed more fuel, officials say the air quality dr

Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre blames a national rise in crime and the recent killing of an Ontario teenager on what he calls failed Liberal and NDP policies. Poilievre held a press conference in London, Ont., today, just one day after the community held a vigil for Breanna Broadfoot, 17, who police say was a victim of intimate partner violence. Poilievre says the suspect had previously been arrested, but was released before the fatal attack on Broadfoot. The Conservative leader says Broadfoot is the latest victim of radical "wacko" policies by the Liberals and NDP, and repeat

Calgary residents can now turn on their sprinklers for longer as the city swelters under an extreme heat warning. Mayor Jyoti Gondek says outdoor watering restrictions may befully lifted within days, but for now residents can turn on their hoses for up to two hours twice a week to water grass and outdoor plants. Michael Thompson, Calgary's infrastructure services general manager, says operational pump issues have been fixed, but other mechanical problems need to be resolved before the city can give the full green light. He says the city's water system is approaching 75 per cent c

The Bank of Canada delivered a widely expected interest rate cut today, marking the second consecutive time it has lowered its policy rate. The central bank's quarter-percentage-point cut brings its policy rate down to 4.5 per cent. The Bank of Canada says the decision was motivated by continued progress on getting inflation down as well as weakening economic conditions. In his prepared statement, governor Tiff Macklem says as inflation edges closer to its two per cent target, the central bank is trying to avoid the risk of the economy and inflation weakening by more than expected.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will head to British Columbia on Sunday, where he will be on vacation with his family until Aug. 1. A government official says the Prime Minister's Office is not disclosing the specific location for security reasons. Spokesman Mohammad Hussain says in an email that Trudeau travels on government aircraft as required, and will reimburse the equivalent of a commercial airline ticket for himself and his family. Hussain says Trudeau will also pay for his family's stay. The PMO has consulted with the Ethics Commissioner's office about the trip. Trudeau and his family va

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed... Interest rate cut possible this week: Economists Economists and market watchers are betting the Bank of Canada will deliver another interest rate cut this week amid mounting evidence that inflation is sustainably easing. Expectations that the bank will lower its overnight lending rate when it makes its scheduled announcement Wednesday have been high since last week's release of the latest Statistics Canada inflation report, which showed annual inflation cooled to 2.7 per cent in June. The inflation readin

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to appoint a replacement for outgoing labour minister Seamus O'Regan, whose resignation is effective today. O'Regan announced Thursday he was stepping down from the Liberal cabinet for family reasons, though he intends to continue sitting as an MP until the next federal election. Trudeau's office did not indicate whether a new cabinet member would be appointed or if other ministers would be affected. A source with knowledge of the matter, who would only speak under condition of anonymity, says a broader cabinet shuffle is not expected to take place. Th

Police say the Montreal constituency office of federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller was vandalized overnight. Outside, windows were smashed and walls were defaced with paint and graffiti. Montreal police Const. Sabrina Gauthier said there was also "major damage" inside the office, located in the city's Sud-Ouest borough. Police say they think the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict is likely at the root of the vandalism. Pro-Palestinian protesters have frequently demonstrated in front of Miller's office over the past days and weeks. Miller said on X that he condemns the criminal act, addin

Two sources with knowledge of the situation say federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is stepping down from cabinet and will not be seeking re-election. A Liberal Party source says O'Regan is expected to resign as minister at a cabinet meeting Friday. Another source with knowledge on the matter says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a replacement for the position, but a broader cabinet shuffle is not expected. O'Regan will remain the MP representing the Newfoundland riding of St. John's South Mount Pearl until the next federal election, set to take place by the fall of 2025. O'Regan