The federal government has begun accepting applications from Ukrainians and their families fleeing Russian aggression who want to come to Canada while they decide their next steps. The program to allow an unlimited number of Ukrainians to come to Canada was first announced two weeks ago. At the time, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser suggested Ukrainian citizens would be allowed to stay for two years before deciding whether to apply to stay permanently. The government has since extended that period to three years, and extended eligibility to family members of Ukrainian nationals, regardless of

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and the rest of the G-7 ministers have issued a joint statement urging Russia to comply with an International Court of Justice order to stop attacking Ukraine. The ministers say Russian forces are making indiscriminate attacks on civilians and that President Vladimir Putin is conducting an ``unprovoked and shameful war.'' Joly and the other G-7 ministers say those responsible for war crimes, including indiscriminate use of weapons against civilians, will be held responsible and that they are prepared to further increase the pressure of sanctions on Russia

As of April 1st, vaccinated travellers will no longer need to show a COVID-19 test to enter Canada but they could still be subject to random molecular tests when they arrive at Canadian airports. Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says tourists will still need to be vaccinated to visit Canada, and must upload their information to the ArriveCan app.Unvaccinated Canadians will still need to isolate and be tested on arrival, and again eight days later.

Vaccinated travellers will no longer require a negative COVID-19 test to come to Canada as of April 1, according to a source in the federal government. The source, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the upcoming policy change, says an official announcement is expected later this week. At the end of February, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced travellers coming to Canada would be able to present a negative rapid-antigen test at the border as an alternative to a more costly and time-consuming molecular test. At the time, he said he would consider easing COVID-19 travel restri

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says NATO continues to look at ways it can help support and protect Ukrainians, and continue to prevent the war from expanding and escalating elsewhere. He says that involves making heartbreaking decisions, including turning down Ukraine's request for a no-fly zone. Trudeau says Canada is providing Ukraine with lethal weapons, humanitarian aid and refugee support. He says and there will be further talks on how to support Ukraine when he flies to Brussels next week for a NATO summit.

On April 1, 2022, the federal minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.55 per hour. For those working in provinces or territories where the general minimum wage rate is higher, the higher rate will continue to apply.The federal minimum wage, which came into force on December 29, 2021, is adjusted automatically on April 1 of every year, based on the average annual increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), as reported by Statistics Canada. This is to ensure that the federal minimum wage keeps pace with inflation. This year’s rate increase reflects the 3.4% annual average rise of the CPI

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau capped a week-long European trip by slapping sanctions on five more Russia oligarchs for their close ties with President Vladimir Putin. They include Roman Abramovich, who is a major shareholder in Evraz, a company that operates a steel mill in Regina. G-7 leaders have issued a joint statement backing Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops and promising further sanctions and economic policies targeting Russia's economy. The leaders say they're also pushing global financial institutions including the World Bank and Internation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Russian President Vladimir Putin made a mistake thinking Ukraine and NATO were weak and divided. Trudeau told reporters at a military base in Latvia that Putin has been shown how wrong he is.Article Five of the NATO treaty states that if an member is attacked, all members will consider it an act of violence against the collective. Trudeau had been asked whether a Russian attack on a NATO ally such as Latvia or Estonia or would lead Canada to declare war.

Tamara Lich, one of the principal organizers of the so-called ``Freedom Convoy'' protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for three weeks, has been granted bail on a $25,000 bond. Lich was initially denied bail on Feb. 22 after Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois deemed her detention was ``necessary for the protection and safety of the public.'' Lich's lawyer launched a bail review, arguing that decision may have been tainted by the fact that Bourgeois ran as a federal Liberal candidates in the 2011 election and expressed that her own community had been affected by the protest. On Monday, Su