Category: Quebec

Quebec Minister’s Cancelling of ‘Anti-Abortion’ Event Is Discriminatory: Christian Group

A Christian organization is threatening legal action against Quebec’s tourism minister for cancelling their event, saying it was “anti-abortion” and didn’t fit with Québec’s principles. B.C.-based Harvest Ministries International says the event does not have an “anti-abortion” theme and is an overall religious, cultural, and artistic event. “Even if the theme of the Rally were ‘anti-abortion’…


As Wildfires Rage, Trudeau Says Feds Looking at Creating National Disaster Response Agency

As wildfire smoke continues to blanket much of eastern Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government is looking at creating a new national disaster response agency to deal with extreme weather events. “We need to continue to make sure we are doing everything possible to both keep Canadians safe when these extreme weather events…


Quebec Provincial Politicians Vote to Increase Base Pay by $30,000

The members of Quebec’s national assembly have voted to increase their base salaries by $30,000. The government bill was supported by the governing Coalition Avenir Québec and the Opposition Quebec Liberal Party. The province’s two smaller opposition parties, the Parti Québécois and Québec solidaire, voted against the increase. With the increase, the base salary of…


Evacuees Can Return in Sept-îLes, but More Than 160 Wildfires Still Burning in Quebec

One Quebec city that had been threatened by approaching wildfires has lifted an evacuation order, but other parts of the province continue to deal with out-of-control blazes that are taxing firefighting resources. About 6,000 residents of Sept-Îles, Que., and the nearby Innu community of Mani-Utenam had been under an evacuation order since Friday after one…


Federal Officials Warn of ‘Especially Severe’ Wildfire Season in Canada

As several provinces struggle to contain out-of-control wildfires, federal officials warned on June 5 that Canada will likely see an “especially severe” wildfire season. “Our modelling shows that this may be an especially severe wildfire season throughout the summer,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a press conference in Ottawa. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told…


Hydro One Workers Killed in 2017 Helicopter Crash Were Proud Employees, Inquest Hears

Hydro One employees killed in a December 2017 helicopter crash in eastern Ontario were remembered by their families as proud tradespeople with “lifetimes ahead of them,” as an inquest into their deaths opened Monday. Four Hydro One employees — 39-year-old James Baragar, 27-year-old Kyle Shorrock and 26-year-olds Jeff Howes and Darcy Jansen — were working…


Number of Quebec Wildfires Rises to 164, at Least 114 Are out of Control

Soldiers were set to arrive to help fight forest fires in Quebec Monday as the number of fires continued to rise. There were 164 forest fires burning in Quebec Monday, up from 155 the day before, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the minister responsible for the province’s Côte-Nord region, told a news conference. At least 114 of…


Poilievre in Manitoba Ahead of Byelection, Shoring Up Support Against Bernier

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre went after People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier while visiting Manitoba on June 2 as a federal byelection is set to be held in Portage-Lisgar later this month. Bernier has registered as a candidate in the Manitoba riding for the June 19 byelection. The riding was previously held by former interim…


Forest Fire Forces Evacuation of 500 Homes in Chapais in Northern Quebec

Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency said Thursday that two wildfires were burning out of control in the province, including one in northern Quebec that has led to the evacuation of about 500 homes. A forest fire remained out of control in Chapais, a community of just over 1,500 in northern Quebec. On Wednesday evening, the…


Bill 96: Quebec Public Servants Now Required to Make ‘Exemplary’ Use of French

Quebec’s language law reform is continuing to draw criticism and legal challenges from the province’s English community as more of its provisions come into effect Thursday, exactly a year after it received royal assent. While many elements of the law, commonly known as Bill 96, took effect shortly after it was passed, others were delayed….