Skip to Main content

8.53°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Podcast Contact Us

Feb 7, 2025 5:27 PM - Connect Newsroom

Canada to Appoint Fentanyl Czar Amid Trade Talks with US

Share On

canada-to-appoint-fentanyl-czar-amid-trade-talks-with-us

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision during last-minute negotiations with former US President Donald Trump on Monday, aimed at averting a trade war. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

Canada will appoint a fentanyl czar before the March 4 deadline for the Trump administration’s tariff freeze, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty has confirmed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision during last-minute negotiations with former US President Donald Trump on Monday, aimed at averting a trade war. Trump agreed to delay imposing tariffs on Canada, contingent on progress in border security measures.

In addition to appointing the fentanyl czar, Canada has committed $200 million to classify Mexican drug lords as terrorists and to create a joint Canada-US strike force targeting organized crime and money laundering.

McGuinty assured that the appointment will be finalized before the deadline. Sources suggest the government is considering current or former police officers for the role.

Latest news

Former B.C. NDP Ministers Admit Early Election Call Was a Major Mistake

Former B.C. NDP ministers Nikki Sharma and Ravi Parmar have expressed disappointment over the party’s election defeat, acknowledging that calling an early election was a major mistake. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party caucus meeting in Victoria, former Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the party and former Premier David Eby had clearly made the wrong decision by calling an early election. Former Attorney General Nikki Sharma said Wednesday’s virtual meeting of the outgoing caucus was highly emotional. She said Eby apologized for the decision to call the election and took f

two-arrested-in-calgary-kidnapping-and-hostage-taking-case-third-suspect-wanted

AlbertaOct 29, 2026

Two Arrested in Calgary Kidnapping and Hostage-Taking Case, Third Suspect Wanted

Calgary police have arrested two men in connection with the kidnapping and hostage-taking of a woman, while a third suspect remains at large. Police received information about the incident on October 12. The following day, the tactical unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 block of 37 Street Southeast, where officers safely rescued the victim and arrested two suspects. Calgary residents Joseph Richard Frederick Sarrazin and Jordan Barry Taylor have been charged with forcible confinement and several other criminal offences. Police believe the kidnapping was a targeted incide

AlbertaOct 29, 2026

Alberta Referendum Results Officially Released, 74.95% Vote to Remain in Canada

Elections Alberta released the official results Thursday of the October 19 referendum on immigration, constitutional reforms and Alberta’s separation from Canada. According to the results, 70.4 per cent of Alberta voters participated in the questions on requiring proof of citizenship to vote and whether the province should separate from Canada. These two questions recorded the highest voter participation. Official results showed that 74.95 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. On the remaining nine questions, a majority of voters supported several immigration-rel

50-year-old-woman-killed-in-cement-truck-collision-near-vancouver-airport

50-Year-Old Woman Killed in Cement Truck Collision Near Vancouver Airport

A 50-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a cement truck near Vancouver International Airport in Richmond on Wednesday. According to the RCMP, the incident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. in the area of Russ Baker Way and Miller Road. Emergency crews closed the roadway completely for several hours while investigating the collision. Sergeant Pak Yim expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family. Police said the truck driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with investigators. The RCMP is asking drivers who travelled through the a

melanie-joly-demands-stelco-reinstate-laid-off-workers-before-talks

CanadaOct 29, 2026

Melanie Joly Demands Stelco Reinstate Laid-Off Workers Before Talks

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has sent a strongly worded letter to Stelco President Paul Simon, demanding the immediate reinstatement of laid-off workers at the Ontario-based steelmaker. Joly said she is willing to meet with Stelco representatives and Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of its U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs. However, she made it clear that reinstating the laid-off workers would be a precondition for any discussions. Criticizing Goncalves, Joly said the company cannot use U.S. tariffs, which are hurting businesses on both sides of the border, as an excuse for the layoff

Related News

Melanie Joly Demands Stelco Reinstate Laid-Off Workers Before Talks

Melanie Joly Demands Stelco Reinstate Laid-Off Workers Before Talks

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has sent a strongly worded letter to Stelco President Paul Simon, demanding the immediate reinstatement of laid-off workers at the Ontario-based steelmaker. Joly said she is willing to meet with Stelco representatives and Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of its U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs. However, she made it clear that reinstating the laid-off workers would be a precondition for any discussions. Criticizing Goncalves, Joly said the company cannot use U.S. tariffs, which are hurting businesses on both sides of the border, as an excuse for the layoff

Masked Suspects Open Fire on Toronto Family in Home Invasion, Father and Two Daughters Seriously Injured

Masked Suspects Open Fire on Toronto Family in Home Invasion, Father and Two Daughters Seriously Injured

Three masked suspects broke into a home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighbourhood early Thursday morning and opened fire on a family, seriously injuring a father and his two adult daughters. The incident occurred at around 3:45 a.m. at a residence on Hyde Park Circle. According to police, the three suspects entered the home through the back door armed with handguns and a hammer. They targeted a couple and their two adult daughters. When the family resisted the robbery, the suspects opened fire, shooting the father and both daughters. The mother was also injured after being struck with a hammer.

Cross-Border Tobacco Smuggling Racket Busted in Canada, Four Individuals Face Serious Charges

Cross-Border Tobacco Smuggling Racket Busted in Canada, Four Individuals Face Serious Charges

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in a joint operation with the RCMP in Saskatchewan, has uncovered a cross-border tobacco smuggling operation and laid serious criminal charges against four individuals. According to the CBSA, the group allegedly used the railway network to smuggle approximately 116,000 kilograms of illegal tobacco from the United States into Canada and between different provinces between October 2020 and April 2024. All four accused are residents of Ontario: 47-year-old Harminder Grewal of Brampton, 49-year-old Avikesh Sharma of Mississauga, 48-year-old Johnny Gamboa o

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital