Politics

Ontario taxpayers will be on the hook for more than half a trillion dollars in debt by 2027, according to the Ford government’s latest provincial budget, raising questions about how the province plans to address the ballooning financial burden. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy’s 2025-26 fiscal blueprint laid out the province’s medium-term projections, which showed Ontario’s net debt is expected to reach $501.7 billion in just two years.The record-setting amount, if fully realized, also means the Ford government would be responsible for adding nearly $150 billion in debt since taking office in 2018, leading to criticism from fiscal hawks and the opposition alike.“So much for fiscal prudence,” said Nicolas Gagnon with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who said the Ford government’s polic...

The growing impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs is creating “tensions” among members of the G7 heading into a critical summit in Canada next month, the federal finance minister says. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem are chairing three days of meetings with top finance officials from the world’s largest economies in Banff, Alta., this week. The talks are expected to focus on the war in Ukraine and artificial intelligence, and how the G7 members can work together to grow the global economy.However, Trump’s aggressive trade policies are likely to dominate the proceedings, and could even impact what members can feasibly agree to.“There’s no doubt that around the table, you need to find unity, but at the same time, it’s true that ...

High-ranking officials from the world’s top economies are in Banff, Alta., this week for a three-day summit that will cover topics including the global economy, the war in Ukraine and artificial intelligence. The meeting comes during a period of heightened instability as U.S. President Donald Trump continues his tariff-driven effort to bring industry to American soil, leading many countries to reconsider their trade relationships with the United States and other trading partners.The gathering will also be a precursor to the meetings that will happen in Kananaskis, Alta., when North American, European and Japanese leaders gather for the G7 Leaders’ Summit from June 15 to 17.Kananaskis last hosted the meeting in 2002.Rookie Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Bank of Ca...

By Staff The Canadian Press Posted May 20, 2025 1:05 pm Updated May 20, 2025 2:06 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size A new Léger poll says more than half of Quebecers want the province to abolish its price on carbon. Quebec has had some of the highest gas prices in the country since Prime Minister Mark Carney scrapped the federal consumer price on carbon in April. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the...

The clock is ticking on a potential Canada Post strike that could hit later this week. Postal workers issued a strike notice on Monday for both urban and RSMC (rural and suburban mail carriers) bargaining units and said they will walk off the job at midnight local time on Friday.A strike or lockout would mark the second time the postal service ground to a halt in under six months after 55,000 employees walked off the job for 32 days in November and December.But not all services will be suspended during a strike, Canada Post said in a statement on Tuesday.Until May 23, the mail will be delivered as usual. Story continues below advertisement If a strike or lockout does happen at that point, Canada Post said some services will continue just like during the last w...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The leaders of Canada, the United Kingdom and France are condemning Israel’s expansion of military operations and actions in Gaza and the West Bank, threatening in a joint statement Monday to take concrete actions, including sanctions. The statement called Sunday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza “wholly inadequate” and said the level of human suffering is “intolerable.”“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” the statement said. “If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”The statement said the t...

Prime Minister Mark Carney had a brief audience with Pope Leo XIV Sunday afternoon at the Vatican following the pontiff’s inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square. Carney was seated in the second row with his wife Diana for the mass, in a section amongst other world leaders and heads of state.The prime minister, who is a devout Catholic, was one of the few world leaders to kneel during the blessing of the Eucharist, and was spotted at two instances taking a picture of the Pope on his phone to mark the occasion — before the mass started and after it had concluded.After the mass, he briefly met the Pope inside St. Peter’s Basilica, alongside his wife and their daughter Cleo. 20:24 Global National: Ma...

By Nick Murray The Canadian Press Posted May 18, 2025 10:34 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Prime Minister Mark Carney says the Liberal government plans to table a federal budget this fall. Speaking to reporters in Rome, Carney defended his decision not to present a budget this spring, saying there is little value in rushing the process.Carney says there will be more clarity in coming months on Canada’s defence spending plans, the overall economic outlook and how to make the federal government more efficient. Get daily National news Get the day's top news...

By Nick Murray The Canadian Press Posted May 17, 2025 9:04 am 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Rome Saturday morning where he will meet with Italian leadership later in the day. Carney is in the Italian capital to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.He was greeted on the tarmac by Canadian Ambassador to Italy Elissa Goldberg and Canada’s Ambassador to the Holy See Joyce Napier as well as other officials. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alert...

Some outdoorsy Canadians are planning to build their tents with elbows up this summer as the season unofficially kicks off this long weekend. Sally Turner says she and her husband plan to do their camping, canoeing and biking this year in Canadian national parks, including at Jasper National Park this weekend, because of the U.S. trade war and U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls to make Canada a 51st state.“I have, in the past, camped in the United States, but that’s not going to happen in the near future,” Turner said while shopping for camping gear in Edmonton.“Most of the people I know are very much choosing to camp in Canada. Elbows up.” Many Canadian campers say Donald Trump’s tariffs and his comments about making Canada the 51st state have convinced them to ca...