Wednesday, October 8

Politics

New Alberta rules around gender identity and amateur sports take effect
Politics

New Alberta rules around gender identity and amateur sports take effect

Starting Monday, athletes who wish to play in a female-only sports league may now be asked if they were recorded as female at birth. The province will block transgender athletes from Alberta who are 12 and older from competing in female amateur sports.It’s one of a suite of changes surrounding transgender health, education, and sport introduced last year by Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government.The policy directs organizations such as school divisions and sports leagues to create and implement regulations that align with the province’s requirements.In a statement, Edmonton Public Schools says it will send home a confirmation form for student athletes who wish to participate in a competitive female-only sport. Get daily National news ...
Most of Canada’s counter-tariffs on the U.S. have now ended – National
Politics

Most of Canada’s counter-tariffs on the U.S. have now ended – National

Most of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs against the United States came down on Monday, in keeping with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement last month. Carney announced that many of Canada’s tariffs on its biggest trading partner, on goods that comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement, will come down starting Sept. 1.He said this was after he and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to “intensify” stalled trade talks.In February, Trump signed an executive order to levy broad-based, sweeping tariffs on Canada. The Canadian government responded immediately with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing counter-tariffs against Washington.“Few other countries followed suit” in imposing tariffs on the U.S., Carney said.Carney said Canada’s move was to “match’ U.S. tariffs,...
Margaret Atwood takes aim at Alberta’s school library books ban with satirical story
Politics

Margaret Atwood takes aim at Alberta’s school library books ban with satirical story

Margaret Atwood is taking aim at Alberta’s controversial ban on school library books containing sexual content with a new, satirical short story after the famed author’s novel “The Handmaid’s Tale” was yanked from some shelves due to the province’s sweeping new rules. In a social media post on Sunday, Atwood said since the literary classic is no longer suitable in Alberta’s schools, she has written a short story for 17-year olds about two “very, very good children” named John and Mary.“They never picked their noses or had bowel movements or zits,” she said in the beginning of her story.“They grew up and married each other, and produced five perfect children without ever having sex.”Atwood said the duo paid no attention to the poor and “forgiving your enemies and such; instead, they practis...
Ottawa’s major projects office to be headed by former Trans Mountain CEO
Politics

Ottawa’s major projects office to be headed by former Trans Mountain CEO

By Kyle Duggan The Canadian Press Posted August 29, 2025 1:03 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Ottawa’s one-stop shop for industry to pitch plans for large industrial construction projects will be headquartered in Calgary. The Prime Minister’s Office provided details today about the major projects office which is part of its plan to get big national projects fast-tracked through the approval process. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. ...
Quebec wants to ban prayer in public spaces. Is it legal?
Politics

Quebec wants to ban prayer in public spaces. Is it legal?

Quebec’s announced move to ban prayer in public spaces is being condemned by civil liberties advocates, while legal experts say it could further test the limits of the notwithstanding clause in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said Thursday that he will table legislation this fall to outlaw public prayer, calling “the rise of street prayers” in Montreal and other parts of Quebec “a serious and sensitive issue.”Roberge did not say if the government would invoke the notwithstanding clause, which would allow the bill to override certain sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Last year, Premier François Legault said he was considering that possibility while calling out prayers in the streets.“The government probably feels conf...
Canada places further sanctions on Russia over Moldova interference claims – National
Politics

Canada places further sanctions on Russia over Moldova interference claims – National

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Ottawa is placing further sanctions on Russia after allegations that Moscow interfered to influence elections in Moldova, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand’s office said on Thursday. Canada is imposing sanctions against 16 individuals and two entities under the Special Economic Measures (Moldova) Regulations for their role in “Russia’s malign interference activities in Moldova,” Anand’s office said.“These individuals have actively participated in coordinated efforts aimed at destabilizing the democratically elected government in Moldova. They are associated with politician and businessman Ilan Shor, who has been sanctioned by Canada, and who fled Moldova in 2019,” the statement continue...
Canada, India name new high commissioners in step toward ‘deepening’ ties – National
Politics

Canada, India name new high commissioners in step toward ‘deepening’ ties – National

Canada and India announced Thursday they have appointed new high commissioners to each other’s countries, a step towards “deepening” diplomatic ties despite multiple allegations of foreign interference by Indian agents on Canadian soil. Christopher Cooter, a diplomat with 35 years of experience who served in New Delhi more than 25 years ago, will serve as Canada’s new high commissioner to India, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said.“The appointment of a new High Commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India,” Anand said in a statement.“This is an important development toward restoring services for Canadians while strengthening the bilateral relationship to support Canada’s economy.”India’s foreign...
Were B.C. teen’s remains missed because coroner attended site virtually?
Politics

Were B.C. teen’s remains missed because coroner attended site virtually?

When police attended a single-room occupancy building in East Vancouver three years ago, they found the body of “Jimmy” Van Chung Pham, a man with a criminal history who would later be described as a predator by the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. What police did not notice at the time were the bodies of missing Indigenous teenager Noelle O’Soup and a woman called Elma Enan, whose decomposing remains were only located months later in the tiny room that Vancouver police told the CBC was occupied by an “extreme hoarder.”The attending officer is now facing a neglect-of-duty investigation by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, B.C.’s civilian police oversight agency.But the two bodies had also gone unnoticed by a second investigator — the community coroner, or field coron...
LeBlanc says progress was made in U.S. trade talks as he leaves D.C. – National
Politics

LeBlanc says progress was made in U.S. trade talks as he leaves D.C. – National

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s office said he left Washington Wednesday with a sense that progress was made after a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. LeBlanc’s office said the minister spent around 90 minutes with Lutnick on Tuesday in a constructive meeting where they spoke about specific proposals and items that have been put on the table.Negotiations about more technical aspects will now continue between Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman — who is also Canada’s chief negotiator — and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.This weeks’ progress came after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Aug. 22 that Canada will drop some ret...
Rustad urges feds to refer Cowichan ruling directly to Supreme Court of Canada
Politics

Rustad urges feds to refer Cowichan ruling directly to Supreme Court of Canada

The leader of British Columbia’s official Opposition is calling on the federal government to refer a landmark Indigenous land claim ruling to the country’s highest court. The decision, handed down by the B.C. Supreme Court earlier this month, affirmed that the Cowichan Tribes have Aboriginal title in a 750-hectare land parcel in Richmond, which includes city and port lands, farms, golf courses and commercial properties.The B.C. government has said it will appeal the ruling, arguing clarity is needed on the matter and that the B.C. ruling could have unintended consequences for private property rights. 3:37 Cowichan Nation respond to landmark land claim victory ...