Stephen Lewis, a former Ontario New Democratic Party leader, Canadian diplomat and longtime social activist, has died at the age of 88. The Stephen Lewis Foundation announced his death on its website Tuesday. No cause of death was provided. Lewis served as Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations and led the Ontario NDP from 1970 to 1978, according to the foundation’s statement. He later became widely known for his advocacy on global health, poverty and environmental issues. He was the father of Avi Lewis, who was elected leader of the federal NDP on Sunday.

The federal government is set to extend its temporary cap on annual alcohol excise tax increases for another two years, according to a senior government official who spoke to The Canadian Press on background ahead of a formal announcement. Excise duties on beer, wine and spirits are normally adjusted each April 1 based on inflation. Since 2023, the Liberal government has limited those increases to a maximum of two per cent annually. That cap was scheduled to expire this year, but the official said it will now remain in place until 2028. The government is also planning to extend for two years a

Canada Post says it is proceeding with a federally mandated restructuring plan that could see the permanent end of door-to-door mail delivery across the country. In a statement to media Monday, the Crown corporation said the transformation is intended to adapt its operations to changing demand while avoiding ongoing financial pressure on taxpayers. According to the statement, the plan includes changes to delivery standards and a shift toward community mailboxes. The direction follows a federal announcement in September, when Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement J

Canadian authorities are warning residents and international visitors to be alert to fraud schemes linked to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as demand grows for tickets, travel and accommodations. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with policing partners in host cities Toronto and Vancouver, issued the advisory, saying fraudsters may attempt to exploit interest in the tournament, which Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, investigators are tracking several types of suspected scams, including fake ticket sales, fraudulent short-ter

The number of police-reported hate crimes in Canada remained largely unchanged in 2024 following several years of sharp increases, according to new data released by Statistics Canada. The agency reported 4,882 hate crimes in 2024, marking a one per cent increase over the previous year. The latest figures follow a 34 per cent rise between 2022 and 2023, and a broader trend that has seen reported incidents more than double since 2018, according to the federal data agency. Statistics Canada said incidents targeting race or ethnicity increased by eight per cent in 2024. At the same time, police-re

Air Canada says chief executive officer Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of this year, according to a company statement. The announcement follows criticism earlier this month over a video message Rousseau delivered after a deadly plane crash in New York that killed two Air Canada Express pilots. The four-minute condolence video, posted online, included only limited French, using the words “bonjour” and “merci.” Prime Minister Mark Carney said the decision to release the message primarily in English showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion,” high

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is scheduled to visit China from April 1 to April 4, according to a federal government itinerary, marking a continued effort by Ottawa to re-engage with Beijing on economic issues. The visit follows a recent trip by Prime Minister Mark Carney to Beijing, where discussions focused on easing strained relations between the two countries. Champagne is expected to meet with Chinese finance and banking officials during his stay, although details of specific agreements or outcomes have not been publicly confirmed. According to government offici

New Democrats from across Canada are meeting in Winnipeg this weekend for a federal convention that will culminate in the selection of a new party leader. According to party organizers, voting in the six-month leadership race is scheduled to close Saturday, with the results to be announced Sunday morning. The candidates include union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Alberta MP Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail. The leadership vote follows the party’s poorest federal election result on record last year. The incoming leader is expected to oversee

Canada met NATO’s benchmark of spending two per cent of its gross domestic product on defence in the last fiscal year, according to the alliance’s latest annual report. The 2025 report from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte states Canada spent approximately $63.4 billion on defence, reaching the alliance target for the first time since 1990. The two per cent benchmark is a long-standing commitment among NATO members aimed at ensuring collective security and military readiness. According to the NATO report, Canada’s increased spending reflects sustained federal investments in military cap