QUEBEC — The federal government is giving Quebec $250 million in compensation for costs the province incurred following the influx of asylum seekers across the U.S. border. Quebec’s immigration minister said today the federal money completely covers the province’s expenses in connection with the thousands of people who crossed irregularly from the United States in 2017 and 2018....
Category: Politics
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Scheer says Liberals deflecting from scandals with abortion, same-sex marriage
OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer sought Thursday to put a pin in the question of whether his party would reopen debates on abortion or same−sex marriage, blaming the Liberals for trying to aggravate ancient divisions to distract from their own failures. Scheer has long been on the record as opposing both abortion and same−sex marriage personally, and disavowed neither of those...
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New Brunswick education minister warns against anti-vaccination message
FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s education minister says people spreading misinformation about the effectiveness of vaccines are from the “far, far fringe.” A committee of the New Brunswick legislature is hearing today from supporters and opponents of more stringent vaccine requirements for New Brunswick children. The province’s Tory government wants to pass legislation making vaccinations mandatory...
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G7 leaders reach deal to offer help to fight wildfires in Amazon rainforest
BIARRITZ, France — G7 leaders have come to an agreement to help Brazil fight the raging wildfires in the Amazon rainforest, which have erupted into a global flashpoint over the perils of climate change. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting this year’s gathering of the leaders of the world’s seven largest economies, says the G7 plans...
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Liberals unhurt, Tories not helped by scathing SNC-Lavalin report: Poll
OTTAWA — A new poll suggests a scathing ethics report on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s handling of the SNC−Lavalin affair hasn’t so far hurt the Liberals’ chances of re−election this fall — and it hasn’t helped the Conservatives. Indeed, the Leger poll suggests the two parties were locked in a dead heat, with the support of 33...
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Ethics committee to decide whether to dig deeper into SNC-Lavalin report
OTTAWA — Six Liberal MPs will be the ones to decide whether the federal ethics watchdog will speak publicly about his scathing report on how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau handled the SNC−Lavalin affair. Conservatives and New Democrats pushed for the emergency meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee to be held Wednesday in Ottawa, where MPs...
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Scheer promises EI tax credit for new parents if Conservatives form government
OTTAWA — Andrew Scheer made a pre−campaign play for parental votes Tuesday as he promised that a Conservative government would introduce a tax credit for new mothers and fathers receiving special employment insurance benefits so they can stay home with a new child. The government taxes employment insurance benefits for new parents, along with any employer top−up,...
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Trudeau repeats non-apology for ‘standing up for jobs’ in SNC-Lavalin affair
FREDERICTON — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is repeating what’s sure to be his go−to election campaign message on the SNC−Lavalin affair: he’s not about to apologize for what he calls standing up for Canadian jobs, communities and citizens. During an event in Fredericton this morning, Trudeau reiterated that he accepts Wednesday’s damning report from federal...
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Canada’s Chief electoral officer decides to stick with voting day on Oct. 21 amid religious concerns
Canada's chief electoral officer says voting day this fall should not be moved. Election day can be no later than Oct. 21 under federal law, which this year falls on the Jewish holiday known as Shemini Atzeret, meaning Orthodox Jews are not permitted to work, vote or campaign.
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Federal announcement about a threat to coming election will be a ‘last resort’
Citizens are seen as the strongest ally in combating attempts to meddle with the ballot.
"It starts and ends with Canadians," the official said. "A critically thinking electorate is less likely to fall victim to disinformation in all its forms, whether it’s deep fakes or inflammatory content that’s meant to sow division."