Politics

Ahead of a planned Sunday launch for her Liberal leadership bid, former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland has unveiled a flashy campaign video that pitches her as an opponent to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. The 80-second video opens with Freeland noting that “Donald Trump doesn’t like me very much,” before touting her as a “tough negotiator” who “won” the last round of trade talks with the U.S.During Trump’s last administration, Freeland led the Canadian team in negotiations to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).Join the fight for Canada. pic.twitter.com/hArOytLUSU— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) January 18, 2025 Story continues below advertisement The video goes on to cla...

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), mediator Qatar announced Saturday, as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid. The overnight approval of the deal by Israel’s Cabinet, in a rare meeting during the Jewish Sabbath, set off a flurry of activity and a fresh wave of emotions as relatives wondered whether hostages would be returned alive or dead. The names of the first hostages to be freed were expected to be released later Saturday.The pause in 15 months of war is a step toward ending the deadliest, most destructive fighting ever between Israel and the Hamas militant group — and comes more than a ye...

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted January 17, 2025 9:07 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s office has released an official itinerary outlining a five-day diplomatic trip to Washington, D.C., including the presidential inauguration on Capitol Hill on Monday. Beginning Saturday, the province says Smith is to meet with energy industry leaders and elected officials in an effort to promote “an era of partnership.” Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your ...

Israel’s security Cabinet recommended approval on Friday of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the 15-month conflict with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants there. Mediators Qatar and the U.S. announced the ceasefire on Wednesday, but the deal hung in limbo for more than a day as Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute snags he blamed on Hamas.The militants maintained they were “committed” to the deal, while residents of Gaza and families of the hostages anxiously waited to see if it would materialize.The deal now goes to the full Cabinet of ministers for final sign-off. It is expected to OK the ceasefire, which could start as soon as Sunday, even though it has drawn fierce resistan...

The popular social media platform TikTok in the United States is days away from shutting down after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday allowed the federal law forcing a nationwide ban to take effect. However, there remain questions over whether it could still be reversed.The uncertainty over the app’s future may have ripple effects in Canada, experts say, although Ottawa says what happens in the U.S. won’t impact its own moves to curtail TikTok’s business.The Supreme Court’s ruling upholds a law passed in April that sets a Sunday deadline for TikTok’s China-based owner ByteDance to sell the social media app or face a ban. TikTok’s U.S. operations are also set to wind down in light of the ban.U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News on Th...

The Ford government has begun mailing out $200 rebate cheques, the Ministry of Finance said, with the affordability measure set to arrive in mailboxes “over the coming weeks.” As part of the Fall Economic Statement in October, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy announced $200 cheques for all adults in the province who had completed tax returns for themselves and their children.The policy is expected to cost the government roughly $3 billion and will see money sent to around 12.5 million adults and 2.5 million children.“With Ontario families struggling due to the federal carbon tax, high interest rates and global economic uncertainty, our government is stepping up as part of our ongoing work to keep costs down and help families make ends meet,” said Bethlenfalvy.The measure, however, has r...

Chrystia Freeland announced Friday she will run to become the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Freeland, once a staunch ally of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced her intentions in a short post on social media.“I’m running to fight for Canada,” she said in a statement issued “regarding the Liberal Party leadership campaign.”Her official campaign launch will be Sunday.Freeland becomes one of the highest-profile candidates in the leadership contest, joining contenders including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney. 5:33 ‘An even better Canada’: Mark Carney announces leadership run for Liberal Party The Liberal Party will d...

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted January 17, 2025 7:34 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will provide an update on Canada’s efforts to stop punishing U.S. tariffs Friday morning following meetings in Washington on border security, trade and investment Thursday. Joly spent the day meeting with both Republicans and Democrats including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Idaho Sen. James Risch. 2:09 ...

Mark Carney announced his bid to lead the Liberal Party of Canada Thursday, promising a change from “politics as usual” to rebuild the economy in a way that works better for average Canadians. “I’m here to ask for your support. I’m here to earn your trust to lead that fight,” Carney told a crowd of supporters in Edmonton.“I’m back home in Edmonton to declare my candidacy for leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister of Canada.”The former central banker and economist is the highest-profile candidate so far in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced he intends to resign earlier this month.Carney said his past experience leading the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England is proof of his economic bonafides, which he said will be his primary focus if he becomes pri...

Exactly what U.S. president-elect Donald Trump plans to do with his tariff threat remains a mystery to Canadian officials and most Republicans, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Thursday. Wilkinson spent several days in Washington, D.C., this week meeting with congressional Republicans as his government tries to limit the damage from Trump’s promise to sign an executive order Monday to hit Canada with 25 per cent across-the-board tariffs on all exports to the United States.Wilkinson said a very small group of officials is crafting Trump’s plans for executive orders.“Even Republican senators and congresspeople and others who are quite close to the administration do not have a good read on exactly what the nature of a tariff might look like,” Wilkinson told report...