Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre delivers a speech to the Canadian Club of Toronto in Toronto on Thursday, April 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Poll suggests more Conservative voters now want to replace Poilievre as leader

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 4:12 PM CDT

OTTAWA - A new poll from the Angus Reid Institute suggests a growing number of Conservative voters want to replace Pierre Poilievre as the party's leader, even though he still has the backing of a majority of party supporters.

The poll surveyed 1,646 Canadians, including 590 who voted Conservative in last year's election.

Among the Tory voters polled, 57 per cent said Poilievre should stay on as leader into the next election, down from 68 per cent last August.

Another 30 per cent said Poilievre should be replaced — almost double the 18 per cent who said they believed the party needed a new leader in August, when he was running in a byelection to earn a new seat in the House of Commons after losing his old riding in April's election.

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Canada Post reports record $1.57-billion loss in 2025

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canada Post reports record $1.57-billion loss in 2025

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: 5:30 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Canada Post has released its annual report, detailing a $1.57-billion loss before tax for 2025.

The Crown corporation said in a news release the record loss highlights the need to transform and move away from cash injections.

The report said the company’s annual loss widened by $728 million, or 86.7 per cent, compared to a loss of $841 million the year before.

Revenue for the year declined by $315 million, or 4.7 per cent, compared to 2024, as parcel volumes fell "sharply" in large part due to labour uncertainty throughout 2025.

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Updated: 5:30 PM CDT

Canada Post reports record $1.57-billion loss in 2025

Provinces on track to allow cross-border alcohol sales by next month, Ottawa says

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Provinces on track to allow cross-border alcohol sales by next month, Ottawa says

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The federal government says 10 provinces and the Yukon are on track to allow consumers to buy Canadian alcohol directly from producers by next month.

Pierre-Alain Bujold, a spokesperson for the Privy Council Office, says provinces and territories are continuing to work toward the May 2026 deadline.

He says each participating province and territory will decide how to implement the policy within their jurisdictions.

All 10 provinces and the Yukon signed an agreement last year to allow consumers to order Canadian wine, spirits, beer and other alcoholic beverages for personal consumption directly from producers.

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Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

Bottles of British Columbia wine are displayed at a liquor store in Cremona, Alta., on Feb. 7, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Ottawa unveils $25M to boost advanced manufacturing at trade fair in Germany

The Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Ottawa unveils $25M to boost advanced manufacturing at trade fair in Germany

The Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 6:12 AM CDT

OTTAWA - The federal government is unveiling $25 million to support 14 projects meant to boost advanced manufacturing in Canada.

The new spending adds to $38 million allocated by industry, for projects ranging from more efficient battery production to using artificial intelligence in packaging cosmetics.

Other projects include converting methane gas into stored energy and automated manufacturing for small nuclear reactors.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says the funding will help Canada expand trade, and shift research into commercially viable projects.

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Updated: 6:12 AM CDT

Industry Minister Melanie Joly rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, April 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Kenneth Law to return to court next month, expected to plead guilty to aiding suicide

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Kenneth Law to return to court next month, expected to plead guilty to aiding suicide

The Canadian Press 2 minute read 4:34 PM CDT

NEWMARKET - An Ontario man accused of selling lethal substances online to people who later used them to take their own lives will return to court on May 29, when murder charges against him are expected to be withdrawn as he pleads guilty to aiding suicide.

A Newmarket, Ont., court heard Monday that the case against Kenneth Law is set to be resolved during that court appearance.

Law's lawyer, Matthew Gourlay, had said over the weekend that murder charges against his client will be dropped and he is set to plead guilty to 14 counts of the lesser charge of aiding suicide.

Law was due to stand trial this month on 14 counts each of first-degree murder and aiding suicide.

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4:34 PM CDT

A photo of Kenneth Law, an Ontario man accused of selling a deadly substance online, is shown during a press conference, in Mississauga, Ont, on Aug. 29, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Eby ‘moving forward’ with First Nations after latest climbdown on Indigenous law

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Eby ‘moving forward’ with First Nations after latest climbdown on Indigenous law

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 8:34 PM CDT

VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby said that "moving forward together" with First Nations leaders is now his top priority, explaining why he withdrew plans to table legislation to suspend key parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act on Monday.

Eby, who previously angered First Nations leaders by saying that changing DRIPA was "non-negotiable," told reporters that he takes "responsibility" for taking the province in "different directions" on the Indigenous law.

"Well, I certainly would have liked to have been right the first time — I was not," he said. "This is challenging work. This is one of the hardest files that I have ever worked on."

Trevor Halford, interim leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., said Monday the premier made an "absolute mess of the situation," and B.C. residents and First Nations are suffering because of it.

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Updated: 8:34 PM CDT

B.C. Premier David Eby, speaks during an announcement for new funding to support victims of crime, in Surrey, B.C. on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Poilievre says Carney ‘pushing fear’ in address to Canadians on U.S. relations

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Poilievre says Carney ‘pushing fear’ in address to Canadians on U.S. relations

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 6:51 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of "pushing fear" in a recent address to Canadians on the relationship with the U.S.

In a 10-minute video posted to social media on Sunday, Carney said Canada's deep economic ties with the U.S. used to be a major strength, but are now a source of weakness.

The prime minister said it would be wrong to wait for the U.S. to resume the co-operation of decades past and Ottawa must instead push forward with a plan to diversify its trade.

In his own video posted to social media Monday, Poilievre argued Carney's address was "strangely timed" and aimed at distracting Canadians from issues like inflation.

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Updated: 6:51 PM CDT

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre delivers a speech at the Canadian Club of Toronto in Toronto on Thursday, April 16, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

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Drugs, puppies seized from Hamilton business, police say

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Drugs, puppies seized from Hamilton business, police say

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

HAMILTON - Hamilton police say three people have been arrested in an investigation involving the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons, and the discovery of an illegal dog breeding operation.

Police say they received information last month that a business on King Street East was allegedly involved in the illegal sale of cannabis and other substances.

A search warrant led to the seizure of drugs including cocaine and meth, and police say officers also found 10 dogs believed to be part of illegal breeding.

Police say Hamilton Animal Services took custody of eight puppies and two adult dogs.

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Updated: 3:12 PM CDT

Eby called changes to Indigenous law ‘non-negotiable,’ but series of backdowns ensued

Canadian Press Staff, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Eby called changes to Indigenous law ‘non-negotiable,’ but series of backdowns ensued

Canadian Press Staff, The Canadian Press 3 minute read 1:40 PM CDT

The British Columbia government's efforts to mitigate the impact of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has resulted in a series of climbdowns in the face of opposition from First Nations.

Here's how it has played out:

Nov. 28, 2019: The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, known as DRIPA, is unanimously adopted by the B.C. legislature. It is intended to reflect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which says governments should obtain "free, prior and informed consent" from Indigenous peoples on legislation that affects them.

Nov. 23, 2021: Then-attorney general David Eby introduces changes to the Interpretation Act, which governs how legislation is implemented in B.C. The changes say "every act and regulation must be construed as being consistent with the declaration (DRIPA)."

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1:40 PM CDT

Premier David Eby is joined by fellow MLAs as he speaks during a press conference following the throne speech in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Ex-Mountie, accused of helping China, pleads not guilty to security offence

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Ex-Mountie, accused of helping China, pleads not guilty to security offence

Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: 8:06 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - The trial of a former RCMP officer got underway in British Columbia Supreme Court Monday, with prosecutors alleging William Majcher prepared to coerce a resident of the province to return to China, where he was wanted for financial crimes.

Majcher stood as he pleaded not guilty to one count of committing "preparatory acts" for an offence under Canada's Security of Information Act.

The prosecution alleges his actions in May and June of 2017 were done for the benefit or at the direction of the Chinese government as he prepared to induce Hongwei Sun, also known as Kevin Sun, by "threat, accusation, menace or violence."

The court also heard testimony that shed light on how RCMP initially tried to assist Chinese authorities as they sought to get in contact with Sun.

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Updated: 8:06 PM CDT

The Law Courts building, which is home to B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, is seen in Vancouver, on Monday, January 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Alberta’s government says it will do away with twice-a-year time change

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Alberta’s government says it will do away with twice-a-year time change

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 3:59 PM CDT

EDMONTON - Premier Danielle Smith's government says Albertans will soon be ditching twice-a-year clock changes.

Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally confirmed Monday the province plans to stick with daylight time year-round.

"We'll be moving forward with having an extra hour of daylight in the evenings," he told reporters in the legislature.

That means Albertans would stay on the current time and no longer move their timepieces back an hour in the fall or forward in the spring.

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Updated: 3:59 PM CDT

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, and Dale Nally, minister of Service Alberta, announce a voting period for Alberta's new licence plates in Edmonton, on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amber Bracken

Deputy minister says immigration department fixing integrity issues cited by auditor

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Deputy minister says immigration department fixing integrity issues cited by auditor

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 2:37 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada should not allow budget constraints to limit how many investigations are done when a student visa is flagged for potential violations, the deputy minister told a House of Commons committee on Monday.

Ted Gallivan was at the immigration committee following a March 23 report by the auditor general which found "critical weaknesses" in integrity controls of student visas.

"In our management action plan, we are making a commitment to review all of the cases. Where it's confirmed that it's not a discrepancy but actual fraud, we need to take action and we'll have to sort out the budget implications after the fact," Gallivan said.

Auditor General Karen Hogan's report found thousands of potentially problematic student visas were not being investigated, including more than 150,000 cases between 2023 and 2024 of international students potentially not complying with the terms of their visa. In many cases that means not attending the school they were accepted to, for which the visa was issued.

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Updated: 2:37 PM CDT

Auditor general Karen Hogan waits to appear at the Public Accounts committee in Ottawa, Monday, April 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Jongwon Ham, accused of killing B.C. Mountie, is found mentally unfit for trial

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Jongwon Ham, accused of killing B.C. Mountie, is found mentally unfit for trial

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 1:22 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - The man accused of killing RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang in a Burnaby, B.C., park is "clearly overwhelmed by delusional thinking," which would prevent him from making rational decisions during trial, a B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled.

Justice Michael Tammen said Monday that Jongwon Ham is mentally unfit to stand trial.

"Although Mr. Ham possesses a very good understanding of the court processes and the basic role of the participants, his delusions prevent him from making rational decisions in navigating that process," Tammen said during the ruling on the Ham's fitness.

"Mr. Ham is currently very clearly overwhelmed by delusional thinking, which prevents him from making the fundamental decisions that all accused must make in criminal proceedings. For those reasons, I make the finding in declaration that Mr. Ham is not fit to stand trial."

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Updated: 1:22 PM CDT

Pallbearers in red serge carry RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang's casket to a hearse after her regimental funeral, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Ottawa announces ‘incremental increase’ in direct flights to China

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Ottawa announces ‘incremental increase’ in direct flights to China

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press 2 minute read 10:58 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Ottawa has announced an increase in the number of direct flights permitted to bring passengers and cargo to and from China.

Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says there will be "an incremental increase" in flights between the countries in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney's outreach visit to Beijing in January.

Canadian and Chinese airlines will be allowed to boost the number of direct passenger flights and to conduct up to 20 cargo flights per week, he says, with "reciprocal access to all points in each country."

Ottawa says this should help promote trade diversification and tourism as Canada looks to increase exports to China by 50 per cent by 2030.

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10:58 AM CDT

A traveller wearing a face mask sits in a concourse near parked jetliners from China Southern, China United and Air China at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Decades-old temperature records fall in B.C. as four communities reach record highs

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Decades-old temperature records fall in B.C. as four communities reach record highs

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: 11:37 AM CDT

CACHE CREEK - Four British Columbia communities set or matched their daily high temperature records on Sunday as warm weather swept across parts of the province.

Among those that broke the daily record for April 19 was the Interior community of Cache Creek, which hit a high of 27.1 degrees, breaking a record set more than four decades ago.

The new record is more than two degrees higher than the previous mark of 25 degrees, set in 1981.

Other communities that hit new highs include Clinton, where the temperature reached 21.1 degrees, edging out the old record of 20.7 degrees set in 2010.

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Updated: 11:37 AM CDT

People enjoy the sunny but windy weather in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, April 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

‘The people don’t want it,’ Ford says about decision to sell jet days after purchase

Allison Jones and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘The people don’t want it,’ Ford says about decision to sell jet days after purchase

Allison Jones and Liam Casey, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: 3:30 PM CDT

TORONTO - Taxpayers flooded Ontario Premier Doug Ford's cellphone over the weekend with complaints about the province's purchase of a $29-million jet to fly him around the province, he said Monday.

By Sunday morning, he had acquiesced to their demands and reversed the decision.

Ford said he should have made the case to the public as to why he needed a jet before buying it.

"The people don't want it, that's fine with me," the premier said Monday in Ottawa, where he travelled for an unrelated event.

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Updated: 3:30 PM CDT

April 20, 2026

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