Canada's women's issues minister faced questions today after she referred to the Taliban as "our brothers" during a news conference on the escalating crisis in Afghanistan. But Maryam Monsef dismissed the criticism, noting that Canada continues to see the Taliban as a terrorist organization. Monsef issued a direct appeal to the Taliban today, calling on them to allow safe passage to Kabul airport for anyone wanting to leave Afghanistan. The Taliban has refused to allow Afghan nationals from passing their checkpoints around the airport. Under questioning from reporters, Monsef later said the "b

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole made a campaign stop in Brantford, Ontario this morning to promise that a Tory government would work with the provinces to invest in mental health initiatives. He says the mental health crisis is the epidemic within the COVID-19 pandemic. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising to raise the corporate income tax rate for big banks and insurance companies to fund programs that would help people bounce back from the hard times of the pandemic. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising to take on the big telecom companies if elected and get them to lower cellphone

The three main party leaders were talking about home ownership, putting money in the pockets of seniors and Canadian workers and long-term care on the campaign trail this morning.From his virtual broadcast studio in an Ottawa hotel, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole promised a Tory government would change the law to prevent executives from paying themselves bonuses while steering a company through restructuring unless the pension plan is fully-funded.Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau announced plans to help Canadians under the age of 40 buy their first homes.N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh is promising

The Conservatives are asking Elections Canada to investigate a tweet from Liberal Chrystia Freeland that Twitter labelled as manipulated media. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole accuses the Liberals of using American-style politics to divide Canadians.Freeland posted spliced-together clips of O'Toole answering a question about private, for-profit options in universal health coverage. In the clips, O'Toole says he wants to find public-private synergies. The Tories say the Liberals intentionally altered the original video to make it materially misrepresent the party's position.

N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh started his day off in Montreal, where he promised to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by 2030 if his party forms the government.Singh says the N-D-P would eliminate subsidies for oil and gas companies and re-direct them to renewable energy sector.In June, the Liberal government said its carbon pricing regime and other measures put Canada on track to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 36 per cent by 2030, but it has still hasn't announced how it will close the remaining gap.

Erin O'Toole says he believes doctors have the right to refuse some services if they object for reasons of conscience. But the federal Conservative leader told reporters in Winnipeg today that those doctors must then refer patients seeking services like abortion or medical assistance in dying to another provider. O'Toole had faced questions about his position on conscience rights for health professionals after a promise to uphold them appeared in his party's election platform. He accused Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau of trying to divide Canadians because of his attack on Conservatives over th

Justin Trudeau says a re-elected Liberal government would introduce 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers. At a campaign event in Winnipeg this morning, the Liberal leader said he also wants to work with lower levels of government so everyone qualifies for paid sick leave.The Liberals had previously introduced three days of paid personal leave for federally regulated workers. At a campaign event in Winnipeg this morning, the Liberal leader said no one should choose between staying safe and paying their bills.

The United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at land and ferry border crossings until Sept. 21.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says in a tweet the measures are being kept in effect to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant.It says it will keep ensuring "the flow of essential trade and travel" and keep working with health and medical experts, as well as international partners, to figure out when things can safely return to normal.The restrictions, which have been in place since March 2020, were set to expire Saturday.

The federal Conservatives are pledging to build a million homes in three years if they're elected next month.Party leader Erin O'Toole says the supply of homes has lagged behind the country's growing population and that investors abroad are parking their cash in Canadian residential properties.N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh has promised his party would build 500-thousand affordable homes in 10 years, while targeting money laundering and organized crime in the housing sector by making it harder to hide behind nameless companies.The Canadian Real Estate Association says the average home-sale price i