The minister of Indigenous services says it's important Pope Francis is honouring his commitment to visit Canada this summer to issue an apology for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools. The Vatican says the the pontiff will be visiting Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit on a trip from July 24 to 29. Survivors and leaders were hoping a visit to the former Kamloops residential school site would be included. Patty Hajdu says the visit is welcomed but the federal government will not step in to dictate where the Pope should visit.The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says i

The Vatican says Pope Francis will stop in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut during his visit to Canada this summer. It says the capital cities of Edmonton, Quebec City and Iqaluit will act as bases for the trip from July 24 to 29. The visit comes after the Pope's historic apology last month for the Roman Catholic Church's role in residential schools in Canada. Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, general coordinator of the trip for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, says it will be another important step for healing and reconciliation. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said the

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will deploy a general and six staff officers to join NATO's multinational division. Canada leads NATO's battle group in Latvia with 695 armed forces members.Trudeau says Canada's contributions to NATO's defence will give Russian President Vladimir Putin pause about expanding aggression into NATO territory. Trudeau announced the additional resources during a joint news conference with Latvia's prime minister today in Ottawa.

All six candidates running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada will gather on an Edmonton stage tonight for the first of two official debates. And though he missed last week's unofficial sparring in Ottawa so he could sell party memberships, Patrick Brown will take part in tonight's debate. The Brampton, Ontario mayor's opponents include longtime MP Pierre Poilievre, who Brown recently criticized for offering, ``wacky investment advice'' for saying the cryptocurrency Bitcoin was a solution to inflation. Tonight, candidates will field questions on topics such as the futur

Ottawa is chartering three planes to bring Ukrainian refugees from Poland to Canada. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says seats on the flights to Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax will be available on a first come, first served basis. Thousands of Ukrainians have arrived in Canada since Russian forces attacked in late February, and Fraser says it isn't clear how many more will come. The flights are in addition to the commercial options that are being subsidized by a special fund. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the government continues to face logistical challenges in helping Ukrainians w

Some of Canada's biggest automakers say the federal government needs to be more ambitious and co-ordinated in its approach to electric vehicle charging or it won't get as many people into battery-powered cars as it wants to by the end of this decade. The Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association, which represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, is issuing a list of recommendations to Ottawa today warning that EV adoption isn't going to happen if Canadians don't have confidence in the network of charging stations available. Association President Brian Kingston says the government wants ev

Canada is giving $229 million in aid for Syria and neighbouring nations hosting refugees from the war-torn state. The aid package includes $169 million for food, clean water and hygiene and health services, as well as support for women facing sexual and domestic violence. International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan announced the funding as Canada takes part in an international conference in Brussels on finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria. The conflict, which has been waging for more than 10 years, followed a violent crackdown by the Assad regime on pro-democracy demonstr

Passenger travel companies in Atlantic Canada are feeling the pinch of rising fuel prices. The region's largest taxi company _ Casino Taxi, in Halifax _ has imposed a $1.30 fuel surcharge on each fare to help compensate drivers. Company president Brian Herman says the surcharge is paid directly to the drivers, who are facing fuel prices approaching $2 per litre. He says the surcharge will be removed after Halifax city council approves a rate increase, which is expected in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Maritime Bus has also imposed a fuel surcharge for its intercity routes, but owner Mike Cassid

The Manitoba government is offering financial aid for flood victims as wet weather threatens to raise rivers again.Infrastructure Minister Doyle Piwniuk says the province will activate a disaster financial assistance program that he expects will give out well over $10 million. The money, to be cost-shared with the federal government, covers flood damage that cannot be covered by private insurance at home properties, municipalities and businesses. Heavy snowfall and spring rain storms have left many parts of Manitoba flooded, and some 30 municipalities and First Nations are under local state