Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

Workers reinstall a statue of Queen Elizabeth that was toppled on Canada Day 2021 on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg on Friday June 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert

Queen Elizabeth statue fixed, back in place

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 12:18 PM CDT

WINNIPEG - A bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth that was toppled on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature has been repaired and put back in place.

The three-metre-high statue was one of two monuments hauled to the ground on Canada Day in 2021 by demonstrators following the discovery of suspected unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

The statue landed face-first when it was toppled and was damaged in several areas, but remained intact.

Charles Brunet, the owner of the company that restored the statue, says it was a lot of work but he is happy the queen is back where she had stood.

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Poilievre in Manitoba to battle Bernier's PPC

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Poilievre in Manitoba to battle Bernier's PPC

Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 11:26 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally Conservative supporters ahead of a byelection that Maxime Bernier is hoping will send him back to Parliament.

The far-right People's Party of Canada leader lost his Quebec seat in the 2019 federal vote and lost again in the 2021 election.

The riding of Portage—Lisgar came up for grabs after longtime Conservative MP Candice Bergen, who served as the party's interim leader before Poilievre took over, decided to resign. Bernier will test his luck in the rural Manitoba riding that delivered his fledging party its best result in 2021, with slightly more than 20 per cent of the vote.

Numbers like that spooked Conservative MPs, especially those in the West who saw their typically rock-solid support slipping to a more populist party.

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Updated: 11:26 AM CDT

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre takes part in the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Pierre Poilievre is off to Manitoba to rally supporters in a byelection, where Maxime Bernier is hoping social conservatives send him back to Parliament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Poilievre says Pride month a symbol of freedom

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Poilievre says Pride month a symbol of freedom

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 11:04 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is wishing LGBTQ people a happy Pride month, linking it with his platform's focus on freedom, but he is not saying whether he'll be attending any Pride events.

The Opposition leader also joined a weeklong chorus of condemnation of Uganda's plan to jail gender and sexual minorities.

"I wish everyone a happy Pride month, because our freedom is something in which all of us can take pride," Poilievre told reporters in Winnipeg on Friday morning.

LGBTQ groups across North America celebrate June as Pride month, although festivals and parades happen throughout the summer in different Canadian cities.

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Updated: 11:04 AM CDT

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre takes part in the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is wishing LGBTQ people a happy Pride Month, saying it marks a symbol for freedom, but he has not specified whether he'll be seen at any Pride events. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada open to idea of cutting plastic production

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canada open to idea of cutting plastic production

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 11:48 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says he is not opposed to cutting back on how many plastic products are made as the world works toward a global treaty to eliminate plastic pollution.

But he says that may become one of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations, which are supposed to conclude at the end of next year.

The second round of those talks wrap up in Paris today and Guilbeault says Canada is going to host the next round about a year from now.

Environment groups say the only true way to eliminate plastic pollution is to make less plastic in the first place.

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11:48 AM CDT

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault responds to a question during a news conference following meetings Friday May 26, 2023 in Ottawa. Guilbeault says he is not opposed to cutting back on how many plastic products are made as the world works towards a global treaty to eliminate plastic pollution.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Halifax residents to be shown destroyed homes

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Halifax residents to be shown destroyed homes

Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 12:19 PM CDT

HALIFAX - Scores of Halifax-area residents whose homes have been destroyed by wildfires boarded buses Friday to get a look at what little remains of where they used to live.

Bill Moore, the region's executive director of community safety, told a news conference that about 200 people would be part of the grim tour through subdivisions northwest of the downtown, which fire officials said would be safe to enter for a short time.

About 200 structures, including 151 homes, have been destroyed in the Halifax area, though those numbers could change. In all, more than 16,000 people were evacuated from homes and businesses there.

“We’re very sensitive to the trauma this may cause people,” Moore said, adding that the first people admitted back into the evacuation zone around Upper Tantallon and Hammonds Plains would be those whose homes were gutted by the flames. Next, residents whose properties suffered less damage will be invited into the area to see their residences.

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Updated: 12:19 PM CDT

A helicopter drops water on a hot spot at a wildfire in Tantallon, N.S. in this Thursday, June 1, 2023 handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Communications Nova Scotia *MANDATORY CREDIT*

A look at what's In The News for June 2

The Canadian Press 10 minute read Preview

A look at what's In The News for June 2

The Canadian Press 10 minute read 3:15 AM CDT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of June 2 ...

What we are watching in Canada ...

As fire bans continue in many provinces, businesses selling camping gear and firewood are seeing a shift in demand.

Fire bans began rolling in after hot, dry weather took over much of Canada early in the season — starting in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, now expanding to the Maritimes. While Saskatchewan and Alberta have lifted the bans in some regions, people in the Prairies have been monitoring the wildfire season closely.

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3:15 AM CDT

A crew works to cut trees and make fire barriers for the wildfires in Drayton Valley, Alta. on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Fire bans began rolling in early in the season after the hot, dry weather took over most of Canada -- starting in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, now expanding to the Maritimes. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Publishers torn over Meta move to block news

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Publishers torn over Meta move to block news

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 11:04 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Independent publishers across Canada are expressing mixed feelings about Meta's decision to temporarily block news on Instagram and Facebook for some Canadian users.

The company says it's a response to the Liberal government's Bill C-18, which would require tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing news content, and it plans to block news in Canada completely if the bill passes in the Senate.

Kerry Benjoe, president of Eagle Feather News Media in Saskatchewan, says she relies on Facebook to grow her newspaper's audience, which she uses to grow her ad revenue.

She says her team of four heavily relies on social media as a tool to reach people they wouldn't otherwise reach, especially in remote Indigenous communities.

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11:04 AM CDT

Kerry Benjoe, editor of Eagle Feather News, poses for a photo at First Nations University of Canada in Regina on Wednesday March 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

Hundreds more firefighters coming to Canada

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Hundreds more firefighters coming to Canada

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 11:36 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Almost 700 firefighters from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are set to arrive in Canada over the next two weeks to help with the unusually severe start to the wildfire season.

There are already more than 500 international firefighters, incident commanders and other workers in Alberta, which has been battling multiple severe fires since early May.

Most of the additional help will also go to Alberta, though some are being sent to Nova Scotia where out-of-control fires have been wreaking havoc since last weekend.

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says the Canada Interagency Forest Fire Centre ensures that crews from across the provinces and from other countries are sent to areas that need the most help.

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11:36 AM CDT

Department of Natural Resources and Renewables firefighter Kalen MacMullin of Sydney, N.S., works on a fire in Shelburne County, N.S., in a Thursday, June 1, 2023 handout photo. Almost 700 international firefighters from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are set to arrive in Canada over the next two weeks to help with an unusually severe start to wildfire season across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Communications Nova Scotia **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Meta to test blocking news on Facebook, Instagram

Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Meta to test blocking news on Facebook, Instagram

Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:25 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Meta is preparing to block news for some Canadians on Facebook and Instagram in a temporary test that is expected to last the majority of the month.

The Silicon Valley tech giant is following in the steps of Google, which blocked news links for about five weeks earlier this year for some of its Canadian users in response to a controversial Liberal government bill.

Bill C-18, which is currently being studied in the Senate, will require tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.

Meta said it's prepared to block news permanently on Facebook and Instagram if the bill passes, which the government said could happen this month.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:25 PM CDT

Pipeline opponents fear Mountain Valley precedent

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Pipeline opponents fear Mountain Valley precedent

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 10:57 AM CDT

WASHINGTON - The U.S. has narrowly averted another debt ceiling crisis, but environmentalists say the solution comes at too steep a price for the planet.

Once signed by President Joe Biden, the bill passed late Thursday in the Senate will also fast-track a controversial pipeline project in West Virginia.

The Sierra Club says that creates a "dangerous precedent" for similar projects, including a stalled underwater tunnel for Enbridge-owned Line 5 in Michigan.

Michigan's attorney general is in court trying to get the cross-border pipeline shut down, fearing an ecological disaster in the Great Lakes.

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10:57 AM CDT

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chairs a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the health of the electrical power grid, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-J. Scott Applewhite

Trudeau standing by Johnston amid calls for ouster

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Trudeau standing by Johnston amid calls for ouster

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 12:10 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to keeping David Johnston in place as Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference, despite a majority of MPs voting in favour of his stepping down from the gig.

Trudeau said in Toronto today that he looks forward to public hearings the governor general is expected to hold "across the country" over the coming months before he releases a final report by the end of October.

The House of Commons passed an NDP motion earlier this week, with the support of Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs, that urged Johnston to step aside and asked the government to call a public inquiry.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in Winnipeg today that Johnston has to go but wouldn't name a potential replacement, saying all parties must work together to agree on a new watchdog with a track record of objectivity.

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12:10 PM CDT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to keeping David Johnston in place as Canada's special rapporteur on foreign interference, despite a majority of MPs voting in favour of his stepping down from the gig. Trudeau is committed to keeping David Johnston as Canada's special rapporteur into foreign interference despite a majority of MPs voting to oust the former governor general from the gig. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Rare legal tool lets firms avoid bribery charges

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Rare legal tool lets firms avoid bribery charges

Darryl Greer, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT

It's been five years since Canadian prosecutors were given the tools to cut deferred prosecution deals with companies accused of corruption, but only two have been approved by the courts since then.

The legal tool known as a remediation agreement in Canada was added to the Criminal Code in 2018 and allows companies to avoid charges in exchange for admissions of wrongdoing, co-operation with investigators, payment of penalties and other commitments.

But University of Ottawa law professor Jennifer Quaid said the lengthy delays between a company's wrongdoing and resolution via an agreement raise questions about how effective the deals are at curtailing corruption.

The delays, she said, were "striking."

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Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT

Crown prosecutor Patrice Peltier-Rivest, centre, arrives at the courthouse with members of his team in Montreal on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. The RCMP charged two former SNC-Lavalin executives for allegedly paying bribes to obtain a contract. Former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould claimed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau inappropriately pushed her to cut a remediation agreement with SNC-Lavalin over its alleged corrupt dealings in Libya, but she refused. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

B.C. drug rehab worker faces sex-assault charges

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

B.C. drug rehab worker faces sex-assault charges

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 6:03 PM CDT

NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. - Police in New Westminster, B.C., say a 50-year-old man who worked at a drug recovery organization has been charged with three counts of sexual assault.

The New Westminster Police Department Major Crime Unit says Adam Haber of Vancouver was arrested on May 30.

The department says 11 alleged victims have come forward during their investigation of Haber, which began early this year.

Police say the victims connected on social media, and believe there may be more who have yet to contact investigators.

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Yesterday at 6:03 PM CDT

A police car with flashing lights is shown in Philadelphia, Penn., Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Police in New Westminster, B.C., say they've arrested a 50-year-old man who works at a drug recovery services organization after a lengthy sexual-assault investigation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke

Man arrested after threats to mayoral candidates

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Man arrested after threats to mayoral candidates

The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 10:39 PM CDT

Toronto police say they have arrested a suspect after a man allegedly threatened to shoot mayoral candidates, which prompted a debate to be cancelled and some leading contenders to pause their campaigns.

Police say a 29-year-old man from Toronto is in custody. They say investigators are also aware of an online threat and believe it's linked to the same person.

Police say they were called to the area of Mortimer and Greenwood avenues in the city's east end around 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Police say a man "entered a location," allegedly threatened to shoot mayoral candidates and then brandished what looked to be a gun.

Police said it was a "blanket threat," not naming any specific candidate, and provided no further details about the location. The man was considered armed and dangerous, police said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 10:39 PM CDT

Toronto mayoral candidates Josh Matlow, left to right, Olivia Chow, Mitzie Hunter, Brad Bradford, Mark Saunders and Ana Bailao take the stage at a mayoral debate in Scarborough, Ont. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. A leading Toronto mayoral candidate has paused public events and another has closed his campaign office after a man allegedly threatened to shoot those running in the election. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Campers seek alternatives with fire bans in place

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Campers seek alternatives with fire bans in place

Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 3:00 AM CDT

EDMONTON - Jade Najam was getting excited about camping during the May long weekend, sitting around the campfire late into the night with his family and sipping hot chocolate.

"Camping is all about the campfire. Just surfing the fire and sitting around the fire," said Najam. "Sitting around the campfire is the most important part of our evening."

But Alberta's fire ban, which was put in place in early May, still hadn't been lifted. Najam called off the plans to go camping in the wilderness, deciding it was better to stay home instead.

Fire bans began rolling in after hot, dry weather took over much of Canada early in the season — starting in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, now expanding to the Maritimes. While Saskatchewan and Alberta have lifted the bans in some regions, people in the Prairies have been monitoring the wildfire season closely.

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3:00 AM CDT

Blairmore area wildfire warning signage is shown in this handout image provided by the Government of Alberta Fire Service. As fire bans continue in many provinces, businesses selling camping gear and firewood are seeing a shift in demand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Government of Alberta Fire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT **

Halifax blaze shows complexity of urban wildfires

Hina Alam, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Halifax blaze shows complexity of urban wildfires

Hina Alam, The Canadian Press 5 minute read 3:00 AM CDT

As more people build houses on the fringes of wooded areas, the approach to firefighting is getting more complex -- and the out-of-control wildfire near Halifax is one stark example, experts say.

The fast-moving wildfire that broke out Sunday destroyed an estimated 150 homes and forced about 16,000 people from their homes in subdivisions northwest of Halifax.

Roger Collet, wildfire management officer with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, said such "interface" fires require teams from municipal fire departments to work alongside wildland firefighters.

"Where the forest meets the urban area — the subdivisions where people are living in there — it's still quite wooded, so we have to work together," he said in an interview.

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3:00 AM CDT

Firefighters arrive at a command centre within the evacuated zone while taking a break from battling the wildfire burning in Tantallon, N.S. outside of Halifax on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Fighting wildfires in forested areas is a different exercise than battling blazes in urban dwellings, although experts say more places are seeing a crossover as people build houses on the fringes of wooded zones. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Canada silent on Polish policies as PM visits

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Canada silent on Polish policies as PM visits

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 3:00 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is welcoming Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to Canada Friday as the federal Liberals keep quiet about a democratic backslide in his country.

"There is too much silence, and I think we are on the edge in Poland," said Marcin Gabrys, a political scientist with Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

"How can you have a shared commitment to democracy when there is a clear threat to the electoral process?"

Gabrys, who specializes in Canadian studies, said Canada and Poland have been undertaking an unprecedented amount of collaboration since the ruling Law and Justice party, locally known as PiS, took power in 2015.

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3:00 AM CDT

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki speaks during a media conference during the European Political Community Summit at the Mimi Castle in Bulboaca, Moldova, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is welcoming Morawiecki to Ottawa today, as Canada increases economic and military ties but keeps quiet on democratic backsliding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andreea Alexandru

Firefighters among those losing homes in N.S. fire

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Firefighters among those losing homes in N.S. fire

Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:26 PM CDT

HALIFAX - As volunteer firefighter Mark Zawidzki battled eye-stinging smoke and flying embers to save homes from the Halifax wildfire, he realized its flames were headed to a neighbouring subdivision — and his own residence.

But he kept working.

"It was important to stay with my crew and work on the assignments we were given," the 50-year-old said. "The fire was raging at such an incredible pace that I just wanted to save somebody else's house while I could."

As the winds shifted, Zawidzki took a minute to text his wife and post on a Facebook group in the Highland Park subdivision where the flames were heading, before continuing to lead his team in the community of Westwood.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:26 PM CDT

Firefighters' helmets and water bottles rest against the windshield of a truck at a command centre within the evacuated zone of the wildfire burning in Tantallon, N.S., outside of Halifax on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Delaying gun regs could 'cost lives': advocates

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Delaying gun regs could 'cost lives': advocates

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Two prominent gun-control groups are urging the Liberal government to proceed without delay in drafting regulations that will flesh out firearm legislation being reviewed by the Senate.

They say in a letter to Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino that it could "cost lives" if the government allows the process to drag on for years.

The letter, dated May 29, is signed by Heidi Rathjen, co-ordinator of PolySeSouvient, and Ken Price, spokesperson for Danforth Families for Safer Communities.

The groups also lay out several detailed recommendations for crafting regulations on the future classification of firearms, a ban on large-capacity magazines, a national handgun freeze and protection orders to assist victims of domestic violence.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:23 PM CDT

A restricted gun licence holder holds an AR-15 at his home in Langley, B.C. on May 1, 2020. Two prominent gun-control groups are urging the Liberal government to proceed without delay in drafting regulations that will flesh out firearm legislation being reviewed by the Senate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Forest fires: Emergency declared in Sept-Îles

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Forest fires: Emergency declared in Sept-Îles

The Canadian Press 1 minute read 11:04 AM CDT

MONTREAL - A city on Quebec's north shore has declared a state of emergency as forest fires rage in the vicinity.

Sept-Îles Mayor Steeve Beaupré says certain sectors of the city have been ordered to evacuate by 4 p.m. today as a preventive measure, with an emergency shelter set up in nearby Port-Cartier.

Earlier this week, another out of control forest fire in northern Quebec forced the evacuation of about 500 homes in Chapais, east of Chibougamau.

Chapais Mayor Isabelle Lessard said today would be decisive in determining whether residents can return home, and she warned that even without visible signs of fire, there can still be danger.

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11:04 AM CDT

Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel speaks during a news conference on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the legislature in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Government funds Indigenous clean energy projects

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Government funds Indigenous clean energy projects

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 7:27 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - The minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada has announced the government is giving nearly $6 million for Indigenous communities in British Columbia to develop clean energy projects.

Harjit Sajjan says the funding shows Canada is committed to working with First Nations to help them grow their economy and take advantage of opportunities in the technology sector.

He says more than $3.9 million of the funding, provided by PacificCan and Indigenous Services Canada, will be given to the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative to help 14 communities develop clean energy projects.

Sajjan says the agency is also providing another $2 million for the Digital Horizons technology employment training program, which will be offered by the First Nations Technology Council.

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Yesterday at 7:27 PM CDT

International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan addresses media on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 27, 2023. The minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada has announced the federal government is giving nearly $6 million for Indigenous communities in British Columbia to develop clean energy projects. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Report makes 135 recommendations for Montreal ER

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Report makes 135 recommendations for Montreal ER

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 3:26 PM CDT

MONTREAL - A report into problems plaguing a suburban Montreal hospital emergency room makes 135 recommendations for improving the situation, chief among them accelerating the building of a replacement for the aging critical care unit.

The report into the Lakeshore General Hospital was ordered by Health Minister Christian Dubé in February after a series of articles published in the Montreal Gazette about six deaths since 2019 that health-care workers had described as preventable.

The independent report released today was prepared by Francine Dupuis, a retired executive at one of Montreal's regional health boards.

Her mandate was to identify ways to improve the Pointe Claire, Que., emergency room and she met with 70 people at all levels of the hospital's management and staff.

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Yesterday at 3:26 PM CDT

MONTREAL - A report into problems plaguing a suburban Montreal hospital emergency room makes 135 recommendations for improving the situation, chief among them accelerating the building of a replacement for the aging critical care unit.

The report into the Lakeshore General Hospital was ordered by Health Minister Christian Dubé in February after a series of articles published in the Montreal Gazette about six deaths since 2019 that health-care workers had described as preventable.

The independent report released today was prepared by Francine Dupuis, a retired executive at one of Montreal's regional health boards.

Her mandate was to identify ways to improve the Pointe Claire, Que., emergency room and she met with 70 people at all levels of the hospital's management and staff.

Contract extended for CBC head Catherine Tait

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Contract extended for CBC head Catherine Tait

Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:07 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The head of Canada's public broadcaster will remain in her role for another 18 months, after her contract was extended by the federal heritage minister.

Catherine Tait was appointed CEO and president of CBC/Radio-Canada in July 2018 but instead of wrapping her five-year term this summer, the Canadian Heritage Department said Thursday she will remain until Jan. 2, 2025.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said Tait agreed to stay on to deliver on several files, including the review of the public broadcaster's license renewal, the launch of the corporation's first national Indigenous strategy and preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

He added that continuity in the role is important over the next year-and-a-half because of heritage-related bills being passed by the Liberal government.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:07 PM CDT

President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada Catherine Tait speaks during a panel discussion in Ottawa, on Thursday, Dec., 1, 2022. The head of Canada's public broadcaster will remain in her role for another 18 months, after her contract was extended by the federal heritage minister. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Government evaluating return of Han Dong to caucus

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Government evaluating return of Han Dong to caucus

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 12:26 PM CDT

OTTAWA - A senior government official says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is leading a process to determine Independent MP Han Dong's possible return to the Liberal caucus.

The Canadian Press is not naming the source because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the process.

Han Dong, a Toronto-area MP, resigned from the government caucus in March saying he wanted to clear his name following allegations published in media reports.

Global News reported, citing unnamed national security sources, that Dong told a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 that releasing Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor would benefit the Conservatives.

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Yesterday at 12:26 PM CDT

Provincial Liberal candidate Han Dong celebrates with supporters while taking part in a rally in Toronto on Thursday, May 22, 2014. A senior government official says Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is leading a process to determine Independent MP Han Dong's possible return to the Liberal caucus. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

MPs seek honorary citizenship for Russian activist

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

MPs seek honorary citizenship for Russian activist

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:24 PM CDT

OTTAWA - A cross-party group of MPs and senators is hoping to grant honorary Canadian citizenship to Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza in the coming weeks.

"He embodies the movement for a democratic Russia," Ontario Sen. Ratna Omidvar said a Thursday press conference, joined by representatives from most parties and Senate groups.

Kara-Murza is a prominent Russian journalist and activist who has helped lead a political party in Russia.

In April 2022, Russian authorities detained Kara-Murza and charged him with "spreading deliberately false information" about the invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow prohibits calling a war.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:24 PM CDT

June 2, 2023

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