Tag: Canada

Canadians’ Trust in Military Preparedness Declining, Federal Study Shows

As the military endeavours to boost its recruitment and retention numbers, Canadians say their overall trust in the armed forces’ preparedness is declining, with fewer than 40 percent of respondents saying they have a “high level of trust” in the military, according to internal Department of National Defence (DND) research. “More than one in three respondents,…


Nearly 1,000% More COVID Cases in Public Service After Vaccine Mandate, Labour Board Hears

Federal public service employees put on leave without pay for refusing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination told a labour tribunal that infections in the workforce rose tenfold after the mandate was implemented, citing the government’s own data. “Why did people become sick in such great numbers in the public service if they were immunized?” asked Bernard Desgagné,…


Poilievre Pledges to Speed Up Housing Approval Following CMHC Report on Slow Times for Toronto, Vancouver

Following a report by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) saying Vancouver and Toronto have the slowest approval times for building new homes, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pledged to speed up the process of building homes in Canada. “Slow permits mean higher prices. Higher prices mean Canadians can’t afford to put roof over head,” Mr….


Man Accused in Killing of Toronto Mother Has Extensive Criminal History

A 32-year-old man charged in the death of a woman killed by a stray bullet in Toronto previously served 15 months in jail after stabbing someone in the heart, one episode in a lengthy criminal history. Court documents show the accused, Damian Hudson, was found guilty of aggravated assault after stabbing a man during a…


BC Cargo Flow Should Be Back to Normal in Days After Port Strike, Says Researcher

A logistics researcher says it should take only days for cargo flow to return to pre-strike levels at B.C. ports after a 13-day work stoppage ended with a tentative deal. But Simon Fraser University Prof. Peter V. Hall says the port employers need to work with the union on significant long-term “structural changes” such as…


Canadian Rangers to Help Evacuate Quebec Cree Communities Threatened by Wildfires

Ottawa is deploying Canadian Rangers to help evacuate northern Quebec communities threatened by wildfires. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said today the government will also help fly people to safety. Quebec’s forest fire agency says there are 134 wildfires burning in the province, including 93 in the zone that includes several Cree communities. Canadian Rangers…


Government Seeking Agreement with UN to Phase Out Use of Unabated Fossil Fuels, Guilbeault Says

The federal government is eyeing the possibility of making this year’s COP28 climate-change conference the first ever to “acknowledge the need” for U.N. countries to completely phase out their use of unabated fossil fuels, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. “For COP28, we need to identify every possible opportunity to increase our collective ambition and update our climate and environmental…


Sylvain Charlebois: What Does the Latest Interest Rate Hike Mean for Your Wallet?

Commentary The Bank of Canada has once again increased its benchmark interest rate, this time by .25 basis points to five percent, amid growing apprehension from a number of financial experts regarding its potential impact on consumers. And their concerns are not unfounded. Let us examine the evidence. Undoubtedly, food and housing constitute the fundamental…


Widespread Power Outages in Quebec After Severe Thunderstorms, Tornado

There are power outages across Quebec this morning after severe thunderstorms—and at least one tornado—hit the province Thursday. Hydro-Québec says almost 170,000 customers are without electricity, down from a peak of about 300,000. Most outages are in Montreal and the regions to its south and north. The hydro utility says it could take up to…


Desmond Inquiry: Relative Says Decision to Dismiss Judge Was the Wrong Move

The Nova Scotia government should not have dismissed the judge leading the Lionel Desmond inquiry, a close relative of the former soldier at the centre of the high-profile probe said Thursday. Desmond’s sister Chantel said she and other family members wanted provincial court Judge Warren Zimmer to finish his work, which started more than five…