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CanadaFeb 23, 2023

Ottawa announces health funding agreements with Ontario, Prince Edward Island

The federal government is announcing it has reached agreements in principle for health-care funding with Ontario and Prince Edward Island.It comes a little more than two weeks after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered the premiers $46 billion in new money for health care over the next decade.As part of the deal, the federal government promised to negotiate bilateral agreements with each premier to target specific priority areas such as primary care, mental-health care and data sharing.In a news release today, the federal government says it has reached a 10-year deal with Ontario Premier Doug
trudeau-says-best-way-to-close-roxham-road-is-to-renegotiate-refugee-deal-with-u-s
CanadaFeb 22, 2023

Trudeau says best way to close Roxham Road is to renegotiate refugee deal with U.S.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there are no simple solutions to shutting down a rural road in southern Quebec used by thousands of asylum seekers to cross irregularly into Canada.His comments come a day after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the prime minister should shut down the rural crossing known as Roxham Road within 30 days.Trudeau says closing that road would only encourage asylum seekers to use another forested path along the thousands of kilometres of border between Canada and the United States.The prime minister says the federal government also wants to close down that
inquiry-into-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-to-release-final-report-on-march-30
CanadaFeb 22, 2023

Inquiry into Nova Scotia mass shooting to release final report on March 30

The public inquiry that investigated the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia announced today it will release its final report on March 30.The Mass Casualty Commission issued a statement saying the report will provide a detailed account of what happened as well as recommendations to improve community safety across Canada.Among other things, the report will examine the police response, access to firearms, gender-based violence, the killer's prior interactions with police and the steps taken to inform and support those affected by the murders.The inquiry heard that on the night of April 18, 2020, a
canadian-military-says-it-has-tracked-stopped-china-surveillance-in-arctic-waters
CanadaFeb 22, 2023

Canadian military says it has tracked, stopped China surveillance in Arctic waters

The Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces confirm that they are aware of recent efforts by China to conduct surveillance operations in Canadian airspace and waters.Spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said in a statement that the armed forces have tracked and stopped attempts to surveil Canadian territory since 2022 under Operation LIMPID.He said that to ensure the integrity of military operations, further information cannot be provided.Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in an interview on CNN Wednesday morning that China is an increasingly disruptive power.She said Cana
CanadaFeb 22, 2023

Ottawa revives Law Commission of Canada, announces hires for key roles

The federal government is reviving an independent commission to offer advice to cabinet on reforming Canadian laws, and has announced its picks for key roles.McGill University law professor Shauna Van Praagh will begin a five-year term as president of the Law Commission of Canada in June, and two other commissioners have been appointed to four-year terms.The Liberals' 2021 federal budget said the government would spend $18 million over five years and $4 million in ongoing annual funding on a renewed Law Commission of Canada.The government says the commission will support efforts to create an i
parliamentary-committee-looks-to-expand-its-study-on-foreign-election-interference
CanadaFeb 21, 2023

Parliamentary committee looks to expand its study on foreign election interference

A parliamentary committee is set to decide whether or not it will expand its current study on foreign election interference to include more details about the 2021 federal election.The meeting today is in response to a report last week from the Globe and Mail newspaper that said China worked in the last federal election to defeat Conservative politicians considered unfriendly to Beijing and to help ensure a Liberal minority government.The House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee will meet later today to discuss the report, which cited classified records from Canada's spy agency.Pr
legault-pitches-english-canada-for-closure-of-roxham-road-and-transfer-of-migrants
CanadaFeb 21, 2023

Legault pitches English Canada for closure of Roxham Road and transfer of migrants

Quebec's premier is making a pitch to English Canada for the closure of an irregular border crossing used by asylum seekers and for would-be refugees to be transferred outside his province.The Globe and Mail today published an English-language letter by François Legault in which he says the sooner the federal government closes Roxham Road, the better.The message is similar to one Legault wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday, but the Globe's letter plays down concerns about the French language and the costs of caring for asylum seekers.Legault's letter to English Canada instead foc
trudeau-government-mum-on-japans-invitation-to-rejoin-global-timber-treaty
CanadaFeb 21, 2023

Trudeau government mum on Japan's invitation to rejoin global timber treaty

The federal Liberal government has yet to respond to a months-old invitation from Tokyo to have Canada rejoin a global environmental organization that regulates the timber trade.A July 2022 briefing note obtained through an access-to-information request shows that Japan has asked Ottawa to be part of the International Tropical Timber Organization.The group works with producer and consumer countries to share knowledge about conservation practices and to promote the sale of sustainable timber.The organization currently includes 37 exporters of timber and 38 countries that import it, including al
alberta-saskatchewan-methane-emissions-almost-4-times-more-than-reported-research
CanadaFeb 21, 2023

Alberta, Saskatchewan methane emissions almost 4 times more than reported: Research

New research using advanced technology suggests heavy oil facilities in Alberta and Saskatchewan are releasing almost four times the amount of a powerful greenhouse gas than they report to government.The research, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, pioneers new methods of measuring methane emissions that question current industry practice, said author Matthew Johnson, an engineering professor at Carleton University in Ottawa."A lot of these (reports) are done on estimates," said Johnson. "Clearly, they're not very accurate."Methane is a gas emitted as a byproduct of

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federal-ministers-signal-possible-ai-safety-reforms-after-openai-handling-of-b-c-shooting-case
CanadaFeb 25, 2026

Federal ministers signal possible AI safety reforms after OpenAI handling of B.C. shooting case

Federal ministers say Ottawa is prepared to consider new safeguards around artificial intelligence tools following questions about how OpenAI handled warning signs linked to a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The issue has drawn national attention after reports revealed that the accused shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been removed from OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform months before the February 10 killings. According to reporting first published by The Wall Street Journal, the account was shut down over troubling posts that referenced violent scenarios, including gun use. Howe
b-c-police-step-up-enforcement-for-distracted-driving-and-seatbelt-violations-in-march
BCFeb 25, 2026

B.C. police step up enforcement for distracted driving and seatbelt violations in March

Police across British Columbia are increasing enforcement this month as part of province-wide campaigns targeting distracted driving and seatbelt compliance. BC Highway Patrol says officers will be closely monitoring drivers who use electronic devices behind the wheel or fail to properly secure themselves and their passengers. The initiative coincides with Distracted Driving Month and the Occupant Restraint Campaign, both aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on provincial roads. Inspector Brian Donaldson with BC Highway Patrol is urging motorists to eliminate distractions before s
AlbertaFeb 25, 2026

Alberta introduces bill to transition sheriffs into new provincial police service

The Alberta government has tabled legislation that would shift approximately 1,200 Alberta Sheriffs employees into a newly created provincial police agency, marking a significant step in the province’s ongoing discussion about the future of policing. If passed, the bill would establish the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service and allow it to assume local policing responsibilities currently provided by the RCMP, should municipalities choose to opt in. The proposed model is designed to give communities the option of moving away from federal policing services toward a provincially managed force. Pub
two-men-charged-after-alleged-attempted-kidnapping-linked-to-organized-crime-in-calgary
AlbertaFeb 25, 2026

Two men charged after alleged attempted kidnapping linked to organized crime in Calgary

Two men are facing criminal charges after Calgary police say officers disrupted what investigators describe as a violent attempted kidnapping in the city’s downtown earlier this month. The Calgary Police Service said a patrol sergeant witnessed an assault in progress shortly after midnight on February 17 and intervened immediately. Officers allege the incident involved an attempt to forcibly abduct an individual. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released. Police said the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle but were located and arrested a short time later. In
canada-pledges-8-million-in-food-aid-for-cuba-as-u-s-fuel-blockade-continues
CanadaFeb 25, 2026

Canada pledges $8 million in food aid for Cuba as U.S. fuel blockade continues

The Government of Canada has announced an $8 million food assistance package for people in Cuba in response to mounting shortages of basic goods aggravated by a tightened U.S. oil blockade, federal officials said Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said the funding is intended to help address urgent needs for food and nutrition among vulnerable communities on the Caribbean island. The aid will be delivered through United Nations partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, rather than through the Cuban