Prime Minister Mark Carney has named investment banker and pension fund executive Mark Wiseman as Canada’s next ambassador to the United States, placing him at the centre of upcoming negotiations with Washington on continental trade. Wiseman is set to begin the role on Feb. 15, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Wiseman will lead Canada’s engagement with the U.S. as the countries prepare for a scheduled review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, a process expected to dominate the bilateral agenda next year. The trade review is widely seen as critical for Canadian exporte

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a series of senior public service appointments, reorganizing key deputy minister roles as the federal government prepares for a busy policy agenda in the new year. Among the most prominent changes, Quebec Court of Appeal Justice Marie-Josée Hogue has been named deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada. Hogue previously led the federal public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections, which concluded earlier this year that there was limited evidence of successful interference affecting election outcomes. At the Depa

Pablo Rodriguez has resigned as leader of the Quebec Liberal Party just six months after taking on the role, saying his continued presence had become a distraction as the party prepares for the next provincial election. Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Rodriguez said he made the decision out of a sense of responsibility to the party, adding that unity will be critical if the Liberals hope to rebuild support and challenge the governing Coalition Avenir Québec next year. He said he is leaving with his head held high, despite the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure. Rodriguez, a

Quebec Liberal Party Leader Pablo Rodriguez is resigning amid growing turmoil linked to the party’s recent leadership contest, according to sources familiar with the decision. Two senior party sources confirmed to The Canadian Press that Rodriguez will step aside, though he has not yet made a public statement. His departure comes as the Quebec Liberals confront a criminal investigation by the province’s anti-corruption police, the Unité permanente anticorruption, following allegations connected to the June leadership race. Rodriguez’s campaign has been placed under scrutiny amid claims

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age

The Bank of Canada has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent in its final policy decision of the year, signalling that borrowing costs remain at a level the central bank views as appropriate for maintaining price stability. Governor Tiff Macklem said major global economies continue to show signs of resilience, even as uncertainty persists and the United States maintains a protectionist approach to trade. He noted that the current policy rate is helping keep inflation near the bank’s two per cent target, suggesting no immediate need to raise or cut interest rates. Mackle

A welfare workshop was organized by the Vaapsi Seva Society this weekend at the Khalsa School, located near 120th Street and Old Yale Road in Surrey. The aim of this workshop was to educate people about addiction and mental health. The event continued from 1 pm to around 5 pm. Audience listens to the speaker at a welfare forum organized by Vaapsi Seva SocietyDuring this, various speakers shared their views and explained to the nearly 300 people who attended the workshop, based on their knowledge and experiences, the harms of substance use and addictions and its impact on the community. Audien

Statistics Canada is expected to release its November employment report this morning, providing the last major economic indicator before the Bank of Canada delivers its final interest rate decision of the year next week. Economists say the data will help shape expectations about whether the central bank sees enough evidence of a cooling economy to justify future rate cuts. A survey of economists conducted by Reuters suggested the national unemployment rate likely rose to seven per cent in November, with a modest loss of about 5,000 jobs. Analysts at Royal Bank, however, anticipate the jobless

John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., ending a tense standoff that unfolded over the past two days between him, his caucus and the party’s executive. His departure comes less than 24 hours after he publicly rejected calls to quit, insisting he still held the mandate to lead. In a written statement released today, Rustad said the internal dispute was not the result of a hostile takeover by former BC Liberal members, responding to concerns raised by some supporters after last year’s political realignment that saw several MLAs cross over to the Conservatives. H