Canada’s unemployment rate increased to 6.9 per cent in April, according to new data released Friday by Statistics Canada. The figure marks the country’s highest unemployment rate in the past six months. Statistics Canada reported a net loss of 17,700 jobs during the month. Full-time employment saw the sharpest decline, with 46,700 positions lost, while part-time employment increased by 29,000 jobs. The agency said Canada has lost a total of 112,000 jobs during the first four months of 2026. Youth unemployment continued to outpace the national average, rising to 14.3 per cent in April. Eco

The federal government says changes to refugee and asylum claimant health coverage introduced this month are expected to reduce public spending by about $140 million this fiscal year. The changes, which took effect May 1 under the Interim Federal Health Program, require refugee claimants and asylum seekers to pay part of the cost for some supplementary and prescription health services. According to federal data tabled in response to an order paper question from NDP MP Heather McPherson, the largest projected savings – about $93 million – are tied to dental care coverage. Under the revised

India has rejected allegations by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that linked New Delhi to foreign interference activities in Canada, calling the claims “baseless.” Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and described India as a responsible democracy that respects international law and the sovereignty of other nations. Jaiswal said concerns related to such matters should be addressed through established diplomatic channels rather than through public statements or political d

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is considering new measures aimed at speeding up approvals for federally regulated natural resource and major infrastructure projects, including pipelines. According to reports, an announcement could come later this week. The proposed changes would introduce a “one project – one review” approach for major projects and set a maximum two-year timeline for federal approval decisions. The move would represent a significant shift in the regulatory framework governing large-scale natural resource developments. According to reports, the federal governme

A new Leger poll suggests a majority of Canadians support banning children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots, amid growing concerns about their impact on teenagers. According to the survey, nearly 70 per cent of respondents backed restrictions on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and AI chatbots. The findings come as public debate intensifies over online safety, youth mental health and the influence of AI-driven content on minors. Concerns have increased following the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., after reports linked the suspe

Canada’s federal government is considering restricting social media access for children under the age of 16 as part of proposed online harms legislation, Immigration and Identity Minister Marc Miller told a parliamentary committee Tuesday. Appearing before the House of Commons heritage committee, Miller said the government is “seriously considering” age-based limits in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on youth. According to Miller, the proposal would be included in the forthcoming Online Harms bill. Miller told the committee that evidence on the psychological

Canada’s federal and provincial privacy commissioners have released a joint investigation report examining how OpenAI collected and used personal information to train its ChatGPT system, raising concerns about consent and transparency. According to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and counterparts in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, the company gathered more personal data than necessary during early development stages, in some cases without users’ knowledge or meaningful consent. The report states that this information could include sensitive details such as health dat

Households and farm operators across Canada will begin receiving letters this week with instructions to complete the 2026 national census, with responses due by May 12, according to Statistics Canada. The agency says Canadians are expected to complete the survey within about a week of receiving the letter, as required under the Statistics Act, which mandates a census every five years and requires participation from all households and farm businesses. Under the act, those who do not complete the census could face a fine of up to $500. The last census, conducted in 2021, collected data on popula

Prime Minister Mark Carney says former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour will serve as Canada’s next governor general, succeeding Mary Simon when her term concludes this summer. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Arbour’s appointment follows a selection process that prioritized official bilingualism and public service experience. Arbour is a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and has held senior international roles, including United Nations high commissioner for human rights and chief prosecutor for international tribunals in The Hague. Simon, who was