Federal Government

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon look on as an emotional Rechie Valdez is sworn in as Small Business Minister during a cabinet shuffle, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Ottawa. Valdez, who made history this week when she became the first Filipino-Canadian woman named to the federal cabinet, took an unusual path to high political office, transitioning from banking to baking to Parliament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Valdez becomes 1st Filipino-Canadian woman to serve in cabinet

Her promotion Trudeau’s minister of small business marked a breakthrough for Filipino-Canadians

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov.-Gen. Mary Simon look on as an emotional Rechie Valdez is sworn in as Small Business Minister during a cabinet shuffle, Wednesday, July 26, 2023 in Ottawa. Valdez, who made history this week when she became the first Filipino-Canadian woman named to the federal cabinet, took an unusual path to high political office, transitioning from banking to baking to Parliament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani poses for a photo with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Canada's new justice minister says he plans to tell his staff and department to move "expeditiously" on addressing judicial vacancies, an issue which dogged his predecessors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

New justice minister arrives amid bail debate

Arif Virani hopes a fresh set of eyes will help, plans to give ‘marching orders’ to his staff

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani poses for a photo with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Canada's new justice minister says he plans to tell his staff and department to move "expeditiously" on addressing judicial vacancies, an issue which dogged his predecessors. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A professor who studies how countries relate with authoritarian states says Canada has missed the mark in making a warm embrace of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Kagame walks along Downing Street to a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in London, Thursday, May 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Vadim Ghirda AG

Ministers’ embrace of Rwanda’s Kagame undermines democratic values: governance prof

3 MPs were pictured smiling in photos as they shook Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s hand

A professor who studies how countries relate with authoritarian states says Canada has missed the mark in making a warm embrace of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Kagame walks along Downing Street to a meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in London, Thursday, May 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Vadim Ghirda AG
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on January 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Liberals looking for input on planned law to improve safety in long-term care

The Liberals promised during the 2021 election campaign to table a Safe Long-Term Care Act

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on January 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The tech giants are continuing their battle against the Liberal government, with Google deciding against allowing its new artificial-intelligence chatbot to be used in Canada and Meta running ads opposing the Online News Act. A portion of Google’s Bard website is shown in Glenside, Pa., Monday, March 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

Google withholds AI chatbot as Meta runs ads opposing new Canadian law

Tech giants continue to push back against Canada’s new Online News Act

The tech giants are continuing their battle against the Liberal government, with Google deciding against allowing its new artificial-intelligence chatbot to be used in Canada and Meta running ads opposing the Online News Act. A portion of Google’s Bard website is shown in Glenside, Pa., Monday, March 27, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
People shop in a grocery store in Montreal, Wednesday, November 16, 2022. The picture of how the economy fared in May will become a little clearer with a pair of reports from Statistics Canada this week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week

Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the…

People shop in a grocery store in Montreal, Wednesday, November 16, 2022. The picture of how the economy fared in May will become a little clearer with a pair of reports from Statistics Canada this week.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser makes an announcement at the Cafe Ukraine in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa unveils pathway to permanent residency for Ukrainians who have fled to Canada

It comes the same day a program offering temporary emergency visas formally closed

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser makes an announcement at the Cafe Ukraine in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A protester holds a flag reading “Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times” during a demonstration in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Lee Jin-man

Canada lifts education requirement for Hong Kong immigrants

In 2021, the federal government created two immigration pathways for Hong Kong residents

A protester holds a flag reading “Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times” during a demonstration in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Lee Jin-man
BRNKL Rapid Deploy units from Barnacle Systems that will help the Canadian Coast Guard to remotely monitor abandoned vessels. (Courtesy of Barnacle Systems)

Feds using B.C. tech to monitor abandoned vessels across the country

‘I’m so proud that the products we’ve developing will actually be able to help protect our coastline’

BRNKL Rapid Deploy units from Barnacle Systems that will help the Canadian Coast Guard to remotely monitor abandoned vessels. (Courtesy of Barnacle Systems)
A construction worker works on a house in a new housing development in Oakville, Ont., Friday, April 29. 2011. Calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government to address Canada’s housing crisis are growing as affordability deteriorates and the country risks falling even further behind on building more homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan

Politicians point fingers on Canada’s housing crisis

But there are calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government

A construction worker works on a house in a new housing development in Oakville, Ont., Friday, April 29. 2011. Calls for co-ordinated action across levels of government to address Canada’s housing crisis are growing as affordability deteriorates and the country risks falling even further behind on building more homes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan
FILE - Icons for the smartphone apps TikTok and WeChat are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, in a Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo. A video posted to WeChat shows Canadian Conservative Senator Victor Oh saying he wants Chinese Canadians to set up a national foundation that would focus on raising money to fund lawsuits against “messy reporters” and politicians who “try to smear” the community. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Senator says Chinese Canadians need to fundraise to sue ‘messy reporters’

A video of Conservative Sen. Victor Oh making the remarks was uploaded to the social media platform WeChat

FILE - Icons for the smartphone apps TikTok and WeChat are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, in a Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo. A video posted to WeChat shows Canadian Conservative Senator Victor Oh saying he wants Chinese Canadians to set up a national foundation that would focus on raising money to fund lawsuits against “messy reporters” and politicians who “try to smear” the community. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his way into the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s incident response group is meeting Saturday (June 24) to discuss the latest developments in Russia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Ottawa says it’s monitoring tensions in Russia amid armed rebellion

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s incident response group plans to meet

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes his way into the West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s incident response group is meeting Saturday (June 24) to discuss the latest developments in Russia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A construction worker looks on as work continues on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project at the company’s Burnaby Terminal tank farm in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. A new report analyzing projects submitted under Canada’s environmental assessment legislation concludes the approvals process for major projects in this country continues to be slow and cumbersome. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trans Mountain pipeline expansion support up in B.C. but down in Alberta: poll

Majority of British Columbians, Albertans agree federal re-approval was the right decision

A construction worker looks on as work continues on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project at the company’s Burnaby Terminal tank farm in Burnaby, B.C., on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. A new report analyzing projects submitted under Canada’s environmental assessment legislation concludes the approvals process for major projects in this country continues to be slow and cumbersome. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An evacuation order has been lifted for the community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., nine days after more than 2,000 residents were forced out by an encroaching wildfire. The West Kiskatinaw River wildfire (G70645) in the District of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., is shown in this handout image provided by the BC Wildfire Service, Thursday, June 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*

U.S. deploys high-tech Pentagon program to help Canada detect, suppress new wildfires

The White House says the FireGuard system uses real-time data from drones and satellites

An evacuation order has been lifted for the community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., nine days after more than 2,000 residents were forced out by an encroaching wildfire. The West Kiskatinaw River wildfire (G70645) in the District of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., is shown in this handout image provided by the BC Wildfire Service, Thursday, June 8, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BC Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Liberals table ‘sustainable jobs’ bill to back up pledge to help workers transition

It is not about shutting down Canada’s oil and gas industry, he said

Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The Bank of Canada building is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. The Bank’s deputy governor Paul Beaudry delivered an economic progress report in Victoria, offering insight into the central bank’s decision to raise its key interest rate to 4.75 per cent. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Future interest rate decisions will be taken one at a time, says BoC deputy governor

‘Every decision is taken one at a time at this point’

The Bank of Canada building is pictured in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. The Bank’s deputy governor Paul Beaudry delivered an economic progress report in Victoria, offering insight into the central bank’s decision to raise its key interest rate to 4.75 per cent. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Johnston decries ‘false’ claims, as hearings on foreign meddling to begin next month

He urged all parliamentarians to focus on facts to help improve democracy for Canadians

David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, centre, Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga, and Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North, make an announcement regarding visa-free travel in the Winnipeg airport, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Known travellers from 13 more countries can skip visa to come to Canada: minister

An expanded program would allow people to instead apply for an electronic travel authorization

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, centre, Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga, and Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North, make an announcement regarding visa-free travel in the Winnipeg airport, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
A Canadian passport sits on a suitcase in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Advocates for would-be Canadians born abroad say Conservative efforts to filibuster amendments to the Citizenship Act are threatening their hopes of passing their nationality on to their children and grandchildren. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Conservative filibuster threatens potential citizenship for children born abroad

Proposed change would allow parents to pass down Canadian citizenship if they can prove they’ve spent at least 3 years in the country

A Canadian passport sits on a suitcase in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. Advocates for would-be Canadians born abroad say Conservative efforts to filibuster amendments to the Citizenship Act are threatening their hopes of passing their nationality on to their children and grandchildren. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

David Johnston expected to begin public meetings on foreign interference next month

Johnston is appearing before a parliamentary committee for a marathon 3 hours of testimony

David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, appears as a witness at the Procedure and House Affairs Committee in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick