83 new COVID-19 deaths in Quebec, total number rises to 1,682

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s next governor general will speak both of the country’s official languages, committing to a bilingual appointment when the current term ends. Carney responded “absolutely” when asked by host Patrick Masbourian whether he would ensure the next candidate is fluent in both English and French. According to the broadcaster, Carney did not provide details on potential candidates. The current governor general, Mary Simon, speaks English and Inuktitut but has faced criticism for not being fluent in French. Her 2021 appointment drew more than 1,300 compl

Statistics Canada is set to release its March labour force survey Friday, offering the latest snapshot of Canada’s job market after a sharp slowdown at the start of the year. According to a Reuters poll of economists, the economy is expected to have added 15,000 jobs in March. That would follow losses totalling more than 100,000 positions in January and February combined, based on previous labour force data. The same poll projects the national unemployment rate will edge up to 6.8 per cent. Economists at RBC, however, expect the rate to hold at 6.7 per cent, citing modest hiring conditions t

Environment and Climate Change Canada says it plans to incorporate artificial intelligence into its national weather forecasting system, combining it with traditional models to improve accuracy and speed. According to the federal department, the new hybrid model will analyze decades of historical weather data across North America within minutes, allowing forecasters to generate more precise predictions. Officials say the system is designed to address limitations in standalone AI models by retaining small-scale atmospheric details through conventional forecasting methods. Environment Canada say