Hundreds of thousands of Quebec public sector workers are off the job today in the first of a series of one-day strikes.Schools, health care facilities and social services will all be disrupted as four unions representing a "common front" of some 420,000 workers go on strike to protest the province's latest contract offer.The unions are promising a historic fight to preserve their purchasing power during a time of high inflation.The government's latest offer includes a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years and a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker, a proposal the unions have desc

A fire official in Nigeria's capital says there were deaths following a blaze at Canada's high commission in Abuja today.Sina Abioye, head of operations for the fire service in the capital area says the investigation is still ongoing but ``some''were fatally injured.He could not confirm how many people died or suffered injuries, nor when exactly the fire took place. Local media reported smoke appearing midday from the building, which is located in the diplomatic quarter of Abuja.Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Data the department filed with the Senate

Premier Danielle Smith says that by 2050, Alberta could have the second-largest population of any province in the country with close to 10-million people. Her speech yesterday to delegates at the United Conservative Party A-G-M said that the province is ''in the midst of Alberta's century.''With oil and gas prices returning billions of dollars to Alberta's coffers in recent years, Smith promised to continue to reduce taxes, balance budgets, pay off debt, deliver more money to savings, increase the housing stock, and reduce high power and auto insurance bills.She also promised to eventually bui

The NDP has decided to support a Conservative motion to include all forms of home heating in the federal carbon tax exemption.Peter Julian, NDP MP for New Westminster-Burnaby, gave this information.The motion will be voted on Monday, which will now put pressure on the Bloc Quebecois to either side with the Liberals to reject the motion or join the opposition party.A federal government source called the move by the NDP, which has been "tough talking" on climate action, a surprise.Meanwhile, NDP MP Peter Julian said he sees the Conservatives' motion for home heating as an equal benefit for all C

The Alberta government is proposing changes to the Public Health Act to allow politicians to make final decisions in public health emergencies.Justice Minister Mickey Amery says elected officials have a responsibility to act in the best interest of Albertans and the amended legislation would make sure they can make decisions.In August, several health charges were dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor and church as well as a central Alberta man who hosted a rodeo in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.The cases were quashed after a court decision a month earlier found the Alberta government unde

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in the U.S. capital today to represent Canada at the inaugural Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity summit.The White House meeting, hosted by President Joe Biden, marks the first official gathering of all 12 countries in the hemispheric trade framework.The partnership, known as APEP, marks the earliest beginnings of a north-south trade corridor meant to foster economic growth and strengthen supply chains.The White House is hoping that in turn, more stability in South America and the Caribbean will help ease the pressure from irregular migration at the U

Finance ministers from across the country will meet up virtually with their federal counterpart Chrystia Freeland today to discuss Alberta’s proposal to quit the Canada Pension Plan.Freeland called the meeting amid concerns about the ramifications of Alberta leaving the federal retirement plan to set up its own standalone program.The Alberta government says its workers have contributed an oversized share to the national fund and would be in line for big savings and payouts if it were to leave the CPP.Freeland says Albertans need to know the CPP delivers among the best returns in the world an

McGill University says Quebec's $8,000 tuition increase for out-of-province students threatens the future of the renowned Schulich School of Music.Principal Deep Saini said Thursday that enrolment of Canadian students from outside Quebec could drop by between 20 and 80 per cent after the new $17,000 tuition takes effect next fall.He says such a loss would be "devastating" for the Schulich School, where nearly 40 per cent of students come from other provinces and territories.Saini also raises the possibility of cuts to varsity teams, a third of whose members come from elsewhere in Canada.McGill

According to Statistics Canada, the unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent from 5.5 percent in September.The Canadian economy added 18,000 new jobs last month.The federal agency says this is the fourth time in the past 6 months that Canada has recorded an increase in the unemployment rate.Statistics Canada reports that construction added 23,000 jobs and information, culture and entertainment added 21,000 jobs, while the retail sector lost 22,000 workers and the manufacturing sector lost 19,000 jobs.Although employers have been raising wages largely since the start of the year, the overall labor