Politics

As the Canada Post strike nears the three-week mark, the federal labour minister called the nationwide mail stoppage “highly disrespectful” of Canadians. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday, Steven MacKinnon said he has been in regular contact with special mediator, Peter Simpson, to see where both parties stand after mediated talks were temporarily suspended last week.“I’ve been in daily discussions with … the mediator who is shuttling between the parties to see if there is a reasonable prospect that mediation, if it resumes, it will succeed. He has not yet given me that advice,” MacKinnon said.“The parties are still very far apart, and that is in my view, among other things, highly disrespectful of Canadian who are suffering through this work stoppage, small businesses, people i...

France’s far-right and left-wing forces are expected to join together Wednesday to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes. If the motion succeeds, it would mark the first time a French government has been toppled this way in more than 60 years. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027 despite growing opposition calls for his departure amid the turmoil. However, Macron will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after his party’s losses in July’s legislative elections.Macron, on his way back from a presidential visit to Saudi Arabia, said discussions about him potentially resigning were “make-believe politics,” according to French media reports.“I’m here because I’...

South Korea’s opposition parties Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking and short-lived martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers climbed walls to reenter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order. Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament, and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court would have to endorse it to remove him from office. The motion, submitted jointly by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties, could be put to a vote as early as Friday.Yoon’s senior policy advisers and Defense Minster Kim Yong Hyun offered to resign as the nation struggles to make sense of what appeared to be a poorly-thought-o...

The average number of letters people receive has dropped significantly over the years — down to just two per week compared to seven per week in 2006, according to Canada Post. Nevertheless, when you do get the odd envelope, it’s likely for a good reason: a government notice, bank update or other crucial missive that can’t be transmitted online.The ongoing postal strike is highlighting just how important that mail can be, said Marvin Ryder, a professor with McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in Hamilton.“People forgot,” Ryder suggested of the key role provided by snail mail.“They simply forgot about things like renewing a passport. There are over 80,000 passports waiting in Mississauga. They’ve been printed, they’re ready to go, but we deliver them by letter mail.” St...

The federal minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada will be one of approximately 120 guests attending Taylor Swift this weekend on the taxpayers’ dime. Harjit Sajjan, who will be attending the concert with his daughter on Saturday, was invited as a guest of PavCo. 4:40 BC Place prepares for a Swiftie invasion, what ticket holders need to know PavCo, a provincial Crown corporation, owns and operates BC Place. Swift will be performing in front of three sold-out crowds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Story continues below advertisement “Minister Sajjan was invited to attend the Eras...

By David Baxter The Canadian Press Posted December 3, 2024 4:12 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he won’t play Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s games by voting to bring down the government on an upcoming non-confidence motion. The Conservatives plan to introduce a motion that quotes Singh’s own criticism of the Liberals, and asks the House of Commons to declare that it agrees with Singh and has no confidence in the government. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking ...

Ottawa “shares” Donald Trump’s concerns about the flow of irregular migrants and illegal drugs across the world’s largest undefended border, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Tuesday, promising Canada will commit more personnel and equipment for border security before the president-elect’s inauguration on Jan. 20. “There will be additional resources, both human and equipment. We’ve said that consistently,” LeBlanc told a House of Commons committee Tuesday morning.“We will be making announcements in terms of procurement and personnel before that date. We are finalizing that as a government now based on the advice we received, the good advice from the RCMP and from the border services agency.”“I understand it’s exciting and Canadians want to understand it, (but) the good news is it...

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) continued as the strike inches closer to the holiday season. Higher wages, better medical benefits and changes to the postal service’s use of temporary workers are at the heart of the union’s demands at the bargaining table.Canada Post on Sunday said it provided the union with a “comprehensive framework for reaching negotiated agreements.”“It is our hope that these proposals will reignite discussions and, together with the support of mediators, help the parties work toward final agreements. To facilitate talks, we will not be providing further details outside the negotiations process at this time,” a Canada Post statement said on Sunday.CUPW national president Jan Sampson said in a statement that the union was...

U.S president-elect Donald Trump’s reported joke during a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should become a 51st American state in the face of tariffs was “in no way a serious comment,” Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said. In a surprise visit, Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday, where he met and had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago property. The meeting came just days after Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian products coming into the United States.Details of their discussion remain scarce, but Trump said it was a “very productive meeting” and Trudeau called it an “excellent conversation.”On Monday, Fox News, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trump suggested to Trudeau that if the tariffs would kill the Canadian economy then m...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared an “emergency martial law,” Tuesday accusing the country’s opposition of controlling the parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government with anti-state activities. Yoon made the announcement in a televised briefing, vowing to “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.”It wasn’t immediately clear how Yoon’s step would affect the country’s governance and democracy. The move drew immediate opposition from politicians, including the leader of his own conservative party, Han Dong-hoon, who called the decision “wrong” and vowed to “stop it with the people.” Opposition leader Lee Jae-my...