The Canadian government is investing up to $29 million to support the domestic production of respirators and surgical masks in order to increase the country's capacity to deal with future pandemics. The funding is part of a $38.7-million project with Montreal-based Meltech Innovation Canada Inc., which specializes in the production of safety products and personal protective equipment. Minister of Innovation Francois-Philippe Champagne says the funding will help ensure Canadian front-line health-care workers continue to have a reliable supply of the equipment they need, while creating jobs in

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says his party will force the House of Commons to vote on a motion targeting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Sajjan has been under heavy criticism since former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne revealed that he first flagged an allegation of sexual misconduct involving then-defence chief Jonathan Vance to the minister in March 2018.While Sajjan and the Liberal government say he followed all proper procedures, O'Toole says the minister has consistently failed victims of sexual misconduct in the military.O'Toole alleges Sajjan has also misled Canadians about his

International Development Minister Karina Gould says Canada will provide $115 million in aid over two years for more than 5.6 million Venezuelan asylum seekers living in countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean.A donors conference Canada is hosting today aims to raise US$1.44 billion needed to implement a response plan put together by 159 organizations across the countries that host refugees and migrants from Venezuela.Gould says the refugee crisis is having a significant impact on host countries especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Canada wants to help these countries

Annamie Paul is firing back against the party executives who sought to oust her as Green party leader, calling them out for ``racist'' and ``sexist'' accusations. Her fiery response today comes after she survived a move to push her out last night. Paul says respect for diversity is a Green value but the change she represents can be perceived as a threat to existing gatekeepers. The Canadian Press has obtained a scathing letter that accompanied a non-confidence motion signed by six of 15 federal council members. It accuses Paul of acting with an ``autocratic attitude of hostility,'' attending f

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being allowed to check out from his quarantine hotel roughly 12 hours after checking in. Trudeau's office says he received his negative COVID-19 test Wednesday morning and can now leave the three-star Ottawa lodging. Members of his delegation to Europe who landed in Ottawa around 7 p.m. were tested on arrival and received negative test results the next day at about 8 a.m. Trudeau was overseas from last Thursday until Tuesday for summits with other G7, NATO and European leaders. Air travellers landing in Canada without an exemption are currently required to boo

Statistics Canada says the consumer price index in May was up 3.6 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest yearly increase since May 2011. The reading for May compared with a year-over-year gain of 3.4 per cent in April, which at the time was the fast annual rate in nearly a decade.Part of the rise in the headline inflation barometer is due to comparing prices to the low levels seen last year at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as for gasoline, furniture and beef products.Excluding gasoline, the consumer price index in May was up 2.5 per cent compared with a year ago.However, Sta

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Ottawa is in talks with the provinces and territories about creating some type of ``passport'' containing proof of vaccination against COVID-19. LeBlanc says while health information falls under provincial jurisdiction, Ottawa's goal is to provide Canadians with a document to verify vaccinations against the coronavirus if they want to travel outside Canada. But LeBlanc says the government may provide Canadians who want to travel soon with an interim document to verify vaccinations. Non-essential travel into and out of Canada has been sev

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his last day in Europe thanking leaders and local workers for getting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada.Trudeau visited the Pfizer-BioNTech manufacturing facility in Puurs, Belgium, where Canada's vaccine supply was produced until the United States started shipping doses early last month.His main message to those at the plant was ``Thank you.''Trudeau repeated it multiple times to workers during a brief walking tour of the facility, as well as to Pfizer's managing director.He listened as officials showed the deep freezers where vaccines are stored, then walked up

Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau says his recent golfing trip with former defence chief Jonathan Vance was only an attempt to reach out and quote ``ensure his wellness.'' But Rouleau is apologizing, saying he understands how the activity could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest and controversy. Rouleau has announced he is stepping aside from his role as vice-chief of the defence staff. He will join the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, which helps members shift into civilian life. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed in the House of Commons that Lieutenant-General Mike