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Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says she is troubled to hear the Parti Québécois (PQ) leader call for a “closer relationship” with the United States if Quebec were to become an independent country. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday, she said PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon wants “to make Quebec much weaker in the face of an America that is gaining enormous power,” adding that he risks “throwing Quebec into the arms of Donald Trump.”For several weeks, St-Pierre Plamondon has been gradually unveiling his Blue Book, which lays out his vision for a sovereign Quebec. Earlier this month, he presented an overview of its section on international relations. PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon with his wife, Alexandra Tremblay, in front of a crowd of PQ supp...

The Alberta cabinet minister in charge of primary care says legislation is coming — but won’t provide details — amid reports the province plans to let doctors work in the public and private health systems simultaneously as they see fit. “I can’t speak to the specifics of legislation before it gets into the house, but I am always looking for opportunities to make sure that Albertans have increased access to the supports and the resources that they need,” Adriana LaGrange told reporters at the legislature Tuesday.“I’ll have more to share in a little while.” The Globe and Mail first reported that, according to documents it had obtained, Alberta is considering legislative changes that would permit doctors to work under the public and private health systems as they see fit.The Globe report ...

The Alberta government has invoked the Charter’s notwithstanding clause for the second time in less than a month. In this case, to protect from legal challenge a trio of laws affecting transgender youth and adults. Bill 9, the Protecting Alberta’s Children Statutes Amendment Act, will amend the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, the Education Amendment Act, 2024, and the Fairness and Safety in Sport Act.Premier Danielle Smith says the move is necessary to protect children’s health and well-being, which she added could be jeopardized if challenges to the laws are tied up in court for a long time.“This government does not turn to the notwithstanding clause unless the stakes warrant it, and in this case, the stakes could not be higher,” Smith told reporters in a news conference Monday befor...

Housing starts in Canada appear to be slowing down, according to the latest data. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported on Tuesday that the annualized rate of housing starts fell 17 per cent in October compared with September of this year.Data from the same time period last year showed housing starts increased eight per cent from September to October 2024.Last month saw construction begin on 232,765 units compared with 279,174 units in September, according to the CMHC.A housing start is defined by the CMHC as the beginning of construction on a building where a dwelling unit will be located, and begins officially when the concrete has been poured for the footing of the structure, or an equivalent stage if there is no basement. Story continues below advertisement ...