Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called a pair of byelections to fill vacant seats in Quebec and Manitoba. Voters will go to the polls in the Elmwood Transcona riding in Manitoba and the Montreal-area riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun on Sept. 16. The Manitoba riding was held by the New Democratic Party until MP Daniel Blaikie resigned in March to go work for the office of the province's Premier, Wab Kinew. Blaikie had held the federal seat since the 2015 election. The Quebec riding was held by former Liberal justice minister David Lametti, who resigned in January after being excluded from

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to tour the resort town of Jasper to see firsthand the devastation caused by wildfires. Smith is also expected to give an update on firefighting efforts. Cool wet weather overnight has helped fire crews, but the weekend forecast is for the heat to return. Wildfires menacing the town flared up into towering walls of flame Wednesday night, breaching defences and destroying homes and businesses. Critical infrastructure, including schools and the hospital, remain intact. About 25,000 people had to flee Jasper National Park ahead of the fires Monday, including

A fast-moving wildfire has hit Jasper, Alberta, destroying buildings and chasing some wildland firefighters away with dangerously poor air quality. The social media account for Jasper National Park says the fire has caused significant loss within the townsite, but the specific locations or neighbourhoods affected are not being reported. On the social media platform X Wednesday night, the account for Fairmont's Jasper Park Lodge says the flames have reached the hotel's grounds, but the extent of damage, if any, is not yet known. As the flames consumed more fuel, officials say the air quality dr

The Bank of Canada delivered a widely expected interest rate cut today, marking the second consecutive time it has lowered its policy rate. The central bank's quarter-percentage-point cut brings its policy rate down to 4.5 per cent. The Bank of Canada says the decision was motivated by continued progress on getting inflation down as well as weakening economic conditions. In his prepared statement, governor Tiff Macklem says as inflation edges closer to its two per cent target, the central bank is trying to avoid the risk of the economy and inflation weakening by more than expected.

Two Alberta men have been charged after death threats were allegedly directed at top federal politicians, including the prime minister. RCMP say a social media user on the platform X had allegedly posted threats in May to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Twenty-three-year-old Mason John Baker of Calgary has been charged with uttering threats. In a separate case, police say someone on YouTube allegedly posted threats in June to kill Trudeau along with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Sixty-seven-year-old Garry Belzevick of Edmonton is charged with

President Joe Biden is dropping out of the 2024 race following a disastrous debate with Republican Donald Trump, throwing the Democratic Party into chaos just months before the election. The Democrats are left with no clear candidate, a shocking development for an election many in the party argue is among the most consequential in a lifetime because of Trump's plans for a dramatic government overhaul formed around his grievances. Biden won the vast majority of delegates and every nominating contest but one, which would've made his nomination mostly a formality. Now that he's dropped out, those

A large explosion rumbled through the streets of central Tel Aviv early Friday morning, raining down shards of shrapnel and injuring at least 10 people, first responders said. Israel's military said that they were reviewing the explosion and increasing air patrols after the incident, which its initial inquiries determined was caused by “an aerial target." It was not immediately clear how the strike evaded Israel’s air defenses or how Israel might respond. Yemen's Houthis have repeatedly launched drones and missiles toward Israel throughout the nine-month-long war in sympathy with Hamas. Bu

Two sources with knowledge of the situation say federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan is stepping down from cabinet and will not be seeking re-election. A Liberal Party source says O'Regan is expected to resign as minister at a cabinet meeting Friday. Another source with knowledge on the matter says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce a replacement for the position, but a broader cabinet shuffle is not expected. O'Regan will remain the MP representing the Newfoundland riding of St. John's South Mount Pearl until the next federal election, set to take place by the fall of 2025. O'Regan

British Columbia's government has introduced new guidelines for public post-secondary education institutions, capping the number of international students at 30 per cent of their total enrolment. In a statement, the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says the new limit is meant to make sure that "international student enrolment doesn't strain an institution's ability "to provide appropriate services." The ministry says the new guidelines call for public universities and colleges to submit international education strategic plans to the government, which the provin