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Canada is adding another $15 million to its humanitarian aid package for Lebanon after an escalation in the conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen says the new money will help Canadian and international aid groups provide food, water, emergency health care and other assistance in Lebanon, though the exact allocations are yet to be determined.“This conflict is taking a terrible toll on civilians in Lebanon and beyond,” Hussen said at a press conference. 2:00 Israeli military won’t back down from intense attacks on Gaza and Lebanon “As of today, Canada has committed...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national security advisor said she has not seen evidence that federal politicians are “traitors” through their dealings with foreign governments. Speaking at the Hogue commission into foreign interference Wednesday, Nathalie Drouin suggested a recent report by a cross-partisan national security committee gave the mistaken impression that some MPs were betraying their country.“The fact that (the report) focused on members of Parliament and thus gave the impression that some MPs might have been aware and might have acted in a way that is close to treason makes me very uncomfortable. Because that’s not what I see,” Drouin, a longtime public servant appointed Trudeau’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor in January, said.“I’ve seen inappropriate behaviour...

OTTAWA – A former chief of staff to a Liberal public safety minister has denied suggestions she worked to stall approval of a spy service warrant in early 2021 because it directly touched the operations of the Trudeau government. Zita Astravas called the allegation “categorically false” during testimony late Wednesday at a federal inquiry into foreign interference.The inquiry has heard that it took 54 days for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warrant application to be approved by Bill Blair, public safety minister at the time.The average turnaround time for such applications is four to 10 days.Michelle Tessier, CSIS deputy director of operations during the period, has told the inquiry there was frustration with the delay.A timeline tabled at the inquiry says Astravas attended a b...