Canada's auditor general says COVID-19 benefits were delivered quickly and helped mitigate economic suffering, however, the federal government hasn’t done enough to recover overpayments. Karen Hogan says the programs delivered relief to workers and employers and helped the economy rebound. At the same time, the report says the Canada Revenue Agency and Employment and Social Development Canada have not followed up by verifying payments.Hogan estimates 4.6 billion dollars was paid to people who were not eligible, while another 27.4 billion dollars in payments to people and businesses should be

Major-General Dany Fortin has been acquitted of sexual assault over an allegation dating back to 1988. At the time, both Fortin and the complainant were attending a military college in Quebec. The complainant told the court that she was certain ``without a doubt'' that the perpetrator was Fortin. But Fortin's lawyer cited inconsistencies between the complainant's testimony and her previous statements to investigators last year, including details of the incident. Fortin is the former head of the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout campaign.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are celebrating the opening today of Canada's first full-scale electric vehicle manufacturing plant. Trudeau says electric delivery vans have started rolling off the line today at the General Motors CAMI production plant in Ingersoll, Ont., which has been retooled to build the company's BrightDrop all-electric vehicle brand. The prime minister was joined by Ford and the province's Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli to mark the milestone. The provincial and federal governments each invested $259 million toward GM's $2-billion pl

The jobless rate across Canada didn't budge much last month. Statistics Canada says the employment rate fell by a single basis point to 5.1 per cent in November, down from 5.2 per cent the month earlier. The agency says just 10,000 jobs were created across Canada in November, with job losses in construction, wholesale and retail trade offset by gains in industries ranging from finance, insurance and real estate to information, culture and recreation. BC's unemployment rate nudged up two basis points to 4.4 per cent in November while Abbotsford-Mission and Victoria recorded identical drops of

The pace of Canada’s economic recovery has made it hard for employers, including those in the tourism industry, to find the workers they need. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, announced that Canada is extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers. Expanding the eligibility for work permits to family members accompanying the principal applicant to Canada will help address labour shortages by assisting employers in finding the worke

A Winnipeg man who was charged earlier this year with killing a 24 year old Indigenous woman has now been accused of killing three other women. Jeremy Skibicki was arrested in May after the remains of Rebecca Contois were found in a garbage bin near an apartment building. Police said at the time that they weren't ruling out more victims. They've now charged Skibicki with first-degree murder in the deaths of 39 year old Morgan Beatrice Harris, 26 year old Marcedes Myran and a fourth victim who has not been identified.

Prime Minister Trudeau says he's not looking for a fight with Alberta but he says nothing is off the table when it comes to responding to the ``Alberta sovereignty with a united Canada act.'' New Premier Danielle Smith introduced the act yesterday giving her government broad powers. Trudeau says the new legislation is raising eyebrows even in Alberta. The bill proposes to give Smith's cabinet the power to rewrite provincial laws without legislative debate. She characterizes the bill as a way to push back against Ottawa.

The Alberta government has introduced a bill that would grant Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet broad powers to rewrite provincial laws behind closed doors in an effort to push back against Ottawa. The proposed legislation would also allow cabinet to direct public bodies, including school boards, universities and police forces, to not use provincial resources to enforce federal rules deemed harmful to Alberta's interests. The changes are proposed under the first bill of the fall legislature session, called the Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada act. In the bill, the United Conser

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has visited the graves of victims of a deadly stabbing rampage in Saskatchewan. The September 4th stabbings left 11 people dead and 18 injured in James Smith Cree Nation, as well as in the nearby village of Weldon, just northeast of Saskatoon. Trudeau, accompanied by Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, went to a church this morning where seven of the victims are buried. The prime minister is meeting with leaders and community members throughout the day.