Canada's former chief trade negotiator, Steve Verheul, says he does not expect Ottawa and Washington to reach a tariff agreement before the U.S. midterm elections. Verheul said that while there may be a brief opportunity this fall for the U.S. administration to secure a political win through a trade deal, it is more likely that negotiations will continue into next year. He added that, so far, no proposal close to a favourable deal for Canada has been put on the table. He also questioned whether trade agreements signed by other countries with the United States would remain durable over the long

The federal government has announced the relaunch of its Green Home Retrofit Program with $500 million in funding, expanding support to British Columbia and three other provinces. The program will help more than 35,000 households receive free energy-efficient home upgrades, including heat pumps, insulation, and air sealing improvements. Previously available only to homeowners, the program has now been expanded to include low-income renters, allowing more Canadians to benefit from energy-saving upgrades. The renewed initiative is being launched in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and

Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group's Lotus brand is expected to begin delivering electric vehicles in Canada next month, according to China's ambassador to Canada, Wang Di. In an interview, Wang said the first deliveries will begin in Montreal and will be marked by a launch event. He said the move follows an understanding reached between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Wang also said other Chinese automakers, including BYD and Chery, are working through regulatory and legal processes with Canadian authorities as they prepare to enter the market. He said he expec

A man was seriously injured after a targeted shooting in Surrey's Newton neighbourhood early Sunday, and one suspect has been arrested, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said the shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. in the 14500-block of 75 Avenue. The victim was sitting in a vehicle outside a home when shots were fired. Officers from the Surrey Police Service's Project Assurance team, who were patrolling the area at the time, quickly stopped a suspect vehicle and arrested one person. The suspect remains in custody. The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is report

The Ontario government has announced major reforms to its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Under the new changes, the existing eight immigration streams will be consolidated into four, making the process clearer and easier for both applicants and employers. The first new pathway, the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, is being launched to provide eligible foreign workers with a new route to permanent residency (PR). A key feature of the new stream is greater flexibility for applicants to work in related occupations. For example, a nurse will be able to work as a Personal Support Worke

Canada's International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, says the Indo-Pacific region is critical to the country's efforts to increase exports beyond the United States and diversify its trade markets. Sidhu recently led a 300-member business delegation on a four-day visit to Japan, marking Canada's largest-ever trade mission to the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific is home to Canada's three largest trading partners in the region-China, Japan and South Korea. However, Canada's efforts to expand trade and investment ties there have not always achieved the desired results. Sidhu noted that pre

The Canada Border Services Agency says it has issued removal orders against dozens of people in the Greater Toronto Area following immigration investigations into individuals with possible links to extortion-related activities. According to the CBSA, the investigations began in August last year in the Pacific and Prairie regions and were expanded to the Greater Toronto Area in November. The agency said the initiative was carried out with support from local police services, intelligence agencies and public tips. The CBSA said nearly 200 immigration investigations were launched in the Toronto ar

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone conversation Wednesday ahead of next month's NATO summit, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the call in a one-line statement but did not disclose the topics discussed by the two leaders. Carney and Trump are expected to meet during the annual NATO summit, scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Ankara, Turkey. The meeting comes as NATO allies continue discussions on defence spending and broader security priorities. Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is also visiting Canada from Thursd

Canada plans to deploy its naval warships to the Indo-Pacific region twice this year, Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed during an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday. The move is part of Ottawa's broader strategy to strengthen military ties with regional partners in the Indo-Pacific, even as Canada continues efforts to maintain trade relations with China. Canadian warships are scheduled to arrive in the region in August and November, where they will participate in various military exercises and make port calls in Japan. McGuinty said Canada is deepening its presence and cooperation with Ja