Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as

Porter becomes latest Canadian airline to restart service to Mexico

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:01 PM CST

Porter Airlines is resuming service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Tuesday after cancelling flights because of widespread violence.

The announcement follows similar moves by Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat on Monday.

A social media post on Monday from Air Canada said full operations from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta will start up again on Tuesday.

WestJet and Air Transat have both said they're restarting service to and from Puerto Vallarta on Tuesday, with WestJet also doing the same for Guadalajara and Manzanillo.

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Immigration Department helping Canadian military recruit foreign military members

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Immigration Department helping Canadian military recruit foreign military members

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 9:12 PM CST

HALIFAX - The head of Canadian Armed Forces says a policy aimed at attracting specialized foreign military members is getting a boost from the federal Immigration Department as the military scrambles to fill jobs amid a protracted personnel shortage.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of defence staff, says the military already has a program in place to attract military members with specialized skills, including pilots who already know how to fly F-35 fighter jets, which Canada is buying from the United States.

Carignan gave the example of a fighter pilot from the Netherlands who wants to move to Canada, saying the federal Immigration Department would help by putting “a bit of a spotlight” on the capabilities the military is looking for.

The general, who was in Halifax on Monday to visit military sites, also highlighted the military’s need to attract more maritime technicians as the Royal Canadian Navy is poised to expand its fleet with the introduction of new, river-class destroyers.

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Updated: Yesterday at 9:12 PM CST

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan waits to appear before the Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Ex-B.C. school trustee to fight $750,000 penalty for ‘insidious’ anti-SOGI campaign

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Preview

Ex-B.C. school trustee to fight $750,000 penalty for ‘insidious’ anti-SOGI campaign

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:04 PM CST

VANCOUVER - A former British Columbia school trustee will be going to court to challenge a $750,000 penalty imposed by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, which ruled that he poisoned the workplaces of LGBTQ+ staff members with a public campaign against classroom resources on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lawyer James Kitchen said in an interview Monday that his client, Barry Neufeld, will be seeking a judicial review in the B.C. Supreme Court after the tribunal last week ordered the payment to members of the Chilliwack Teachers Association who identify as LGBTQ+.

Critics of the ruling have included federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who called it "Orwellian," and British comedian John Cleese, who said he would avoid performing in B.C. as a result. But it has been applauded by the B.C. human rights commissioner and the BC Teachers' Federation.

Kitchen said he was not surprised by the outcome, noting that he and his client, a former trustee of the Chilliwack Board of Education, were discussing a judicial review and appeals before the hearing started.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:04 PM CST

The office which houses the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal is seen in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, March 28, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nono Shen

Canada-Ukraine Foundation calls on feds to match donations as war hits four-year mark

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Canada-Ukraine Foundation calls on feds to match donations as war hits four-year mark

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:30 PM CST

OTTAWA - The Canada-Ukraine Foundation has asked Ottawa to match donations to support humanitarian work in the country as the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches.

Executive director Valeriy Kostyuk said while his organization has collected more than $100 million for Ukraine, demand for food and water, medical equipment and power generators continues to grow.

The foundation is asking the federal government to match all private donations it receives in 2026.

"If Ukraine stops fighting back, Ukraine will cease to exist," Kostyuk said. "The bottom line is Russia can make that decision to stop the war."

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:30 PM CST

Pro-Ukrainian demonstrators take part in a rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. Tuesday marks four years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Eby says it looks like OpenAI could have prevented ‘horrific’ Tumbler Ridge killings

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Eby says it looks like OpenAI could have prevented ‘horrific’ Tumbler Ridge killings

Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:09 PM CST

VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier David Eby said it "looks like" OpenAI had the opportunity to prevent the recent mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in which nine people died, as pressure piled on the artificial intelligence firm over its handling of interactions with 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar.

The firm has been summoned to Ottawa on Tuesday to explain why it didn't go immediately to police after its internal safeguards flagged worrisome interactions between the shooter and its ChatGPT chatbot at least seven months ago.

Eby — who is also calling for national standards for AI companies on reporting potential threats — said Monday there would be a public accounting by the company to explain why it only reported its concerns to police after the Feb. 10 killings by Van Rootselaar, who shot dead her mother, half-brother, five school pupils and a teacher's aide, then herself.

"From the outside, it looks like OpenAI had the opportunity to prevent this tragedy, to prevent this horrific loss of life, to prevent there from being dead children in British Columbia," he said. "I'm angry about that."

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Updated: Yesterday at 7:09 PM CST

Chat GPT's landing page is seen on a computer screen, Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Conservatives calling for probe into asylum seekers’ access to health care

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Conservatives calling for probe into asylum seekers’ access to health care

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:13 PM CST

OTTAWA - The Conservatives plan to put a motion before the House of Commons on Tuesday aimed at reviewing health benefits provided to asylum seekers and restricting who has access to those services.

The proposed motion also includes language calling for the immediate deportation of foreign nationals convicted of a crime in Canada.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre shared his party's position in a social media video Monday morning.

"Enough is enough. We can't allow foreign criminals to take advantage of our system, false refugee claims to overwhelm the services that you pay for," Poilievre said in his video.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:13 PM CST

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Fact File: Viral video of Ghislaine Maxwell in Quebec City made with AI, creator says

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Fact File: Viral video of Ghislaine Maxwell in Quebec City made with AI, creator says

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:34 PM CST

A video of someone approaching a woman on a Quebec City street and asking if she is "Ghislaine" went viral after viewers noticed the woman's resemblance to Ghislaine Maxwell. The Instagram account that posted the video last week says it used artificial intelligence to place Maxwell's face on the woman. The account is known for posting prank videos that use AI-generated faces, including the late Jeffrey Epstein.

THE CLAIM

A video posted to Instagram Wednesday sparked conspiracy theories about a convicted sex trafficker supposedly surfacing in Canada.

In the video, someone walks up to a man and woman standing in front of a Snack Québ store. The Canadian Press geolocated the store to 1045 St-Jean St. in Quebec City, based on the storefront and facade of the building seen in the reflection of the store's window.

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Yesterday at 3:34 PM CST

A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, photographed Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, shows a photo of Ghislaine Maxwell in 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jon Elswick

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Canadian Union of Postal Workers set to vote on tentative deals in spring

Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Canadian Union of Postal Workers set to vote on tentative deals in spring

Canadian Press staff, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Yesterday at 4:55 PM CST

OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says its members will hold a ratification vote on tentative agreements with Canada Post between April 20 and May 30.

The deals with two bargaining units were reached in late December, after nearly two years of labour strife.

Workers were out on the picket line multiple times as the negotiations dragged on, with the two sides at odds over pay and structural changes to the postal service.

The union has previously said it is recommending its 55,000 members vote in favour of the agreements.

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Yesterday at 4:55 PM CST

Canada Post trucks are seen in a distribution centre in Montreal on Friday, Dec.13, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Quebec government sued after it cancelled Christian event over anti-abortion concerns

Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Quebec government sued after it cancelled Christian event over anti-abortion concerns

Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 4:50 PM CST

QUÉBEC - A Quebec government cabinet minister has taken the stand in a civil case over her decision to cancel an event in 2023 because she thought it would promote anti-abortion views.

British Columbia-based Harvest Ministries International is suing the provincial government for $80,000 and seeking a declaration from the Superior Court that the Christian group's Charter rights were violated by the cancellation.

Housing Minister Caroline Proulx defended her decision to block the "Faith, Fire, Freedom Rally" at Quebec City's provincially owned convention centre in 2023, when she was responsible for the tourism portfolio.

She says she was shocked to discover anti-abortion "misinformation" on the group's website.

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Yesterday at 4:50 PM CST

Quebec Minister Responsible for Seniors Caroline Proulx responds to the Opposition during question period at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Sarnia, Ont., teacher charged with sexual offences against multiple students: police

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Sarnia, Ont., teacher charged with sexual offences against multiple students: police

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:03 PM CST

SARNIA - Sarnia police say a teacher has been charged with sexual offences against multiple students at a local secondary school.

The allegations against the 33-year-old teacher include sexual assault, sexual exploitation and making child pornography.

Police say they involve multiple students who were under his authority as a teacher at Ecole Secondaire Catholique St. Francois Xavier in 2023 and 2024.

Police say they executed a search warrant last week at a Sarnia residence to seize additional evidence and have notified the school board of the arrest.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:03 PM CST

In this file photo, police tape is shown on May 2, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

B.C. police release photo of now-deported extortion suspect in appeal for information

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

B.C. police release photo of now-deported extortion suspect in appeal for information

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 2:45 PM CST

SURREY - Police in Surrey, B.C., have released the image of a foreign national suspected of involvement in a wave of extortion gripping the region.

The Surrey Police Service says 22-year-old Lovebir Singh has been removed from Canada, but they've released his image as they appeal to the public for any information about his associates and activities while he was in the country.

They say Singh had been in Canada since the fall of 2023, and police identified him as a suspect in extortion-related criminal activity early this year.

Police say they shared information with the Canada Border Services Agency, whose immigration investigation led to Singh's removal from the country.

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Yesterday at 2:45 PM CST

Police in Surrey, B.C., have released the image of a man suspected of involvement in the ongoing extortion crisis. Surrey Police Service says Lovebir Singh, a 22-year-old foreign national, shown in this handout photo, has been removed from Canada, but they've released his image as they appeal to the public for any information about his activities while he was in the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Surrey Police Service (Mandatory Credit)

Inquest to be held into 2019 death of man shot by police in Kingston, Ont.

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Inquest to be held into 2019 death of man shot by police in Kingston, Ont.

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:37 PM CST

A coroner's inquest will be held into the death of a 22-year-old man who was shot by a police officer in Kingston, Ont., more than six years ago.

Dr. Armita Rahmani, the supervising coroner for the region that includes Kingston, says the inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Evan Freeman.

Freeman died on Sept.12, 2019, after he was shot by a police officer who attempted to arrest him.

Ontario's police watchdog has said the incident occurred after police encountered a man assaulting another person.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:37 PM CST

‘I killed people:’ Ex-girlfriend of accused mass killer tells trial he confessed

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

‘I killed people:’ Ex-girlfriend of accused mass killer tells trial he confessed

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:17 PM CST

WINNIPEG - In the days following a mass shooting at a Winnipeg rooming house, the accused shooter fled to his grandmother's home, smoked crack at a motel and confessed to his then-girlfriend that he pulled the trigger that killed five, the woman testified on Monday.

The jury trial for Jamie Felix began its second week with emotional testimony from his former girlfriend, who told court about their three-year relationship, his chronic seizures that worsened with his addiction to drugs and alcohol, and the moment that he admitted to being at the scene of the shootings.

The woman, who can't be identified due to a publication ban, said the day after the November 2023 shootings occurred she went to speak with Felix at his grandmother's house.

"(Felix) immediately melted into my arms … he was crying and he was shaking as I was holding him," said the woman.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:17 PM CST

Police vehicles are shown outside the scene of a shooting at a home in Winnipeg on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. Officers were called shortly after 4 a.m. to a home where they found five people wounded. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Carney travelling to India, Australia, Japan on 9-day trade mission

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

Carney travelling to India, Australia, Japan on 9-day trade mission

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:57 PM CST

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Mark Carney is travelling to India, Australia and Japan later this week and next, his office announced today.

Carney, whose government is looking to reduce Canada's reliance on trade with the United States, will head to the Indo-Pacific region to discuss trade ties with three leading economies.

Carney will first visit Mumbai on Thursday for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business leaders.

During a stop in Canberra, Carney will address both houses of Australia's Parliament, making him the first Canadian prime minister to do so in 20 years.

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Updated: Yesterday at 12:57 PM CST

Prime Minister Mark Carney takes part in a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Complainant in Stronach trial breaks into tears as she describes alleged sex assault

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview

Complainant in Stronach trial breaks into tears as she describes alleged sex assault

Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:52 PM CST

TORONTO - Frank Stronach turned into a "different person" inside his hotel suite, growing more aggressive the more she pleaded with him to stop, a woman tearfully told the billionaire businessman's sexual assault trial Monday.

The woman, who is the fifth complainant to testify in the case, said she first encountered Stronach in the early 1980s, when she went to his restaurant, Rooney's, with a friend who was dating him.

She ran into him again when she went to Rooney's with that same friend in the summer of 1990, and alone at a hotel restaurant in late October or early November of that year, she said.

Stronach informed her that he and her friend had broken up, and asked for the woman's phone number, which she gave him despite her initial hesitation, she said. He called the next day to invite her out to lunch at the same restaurant and they met up a day later, she said.

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Updated: Yesterday at 4:52 PM CST

Frank Stronach, centre, arrives at a Toronto Court on Tuesday February 3, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on ‘regulatory sandboxes’

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on ‘regulatory sandboxes’

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:15 PM CST

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals accepted a Conservative proposal Monday to put guardrails around proposed new cabinet powers as they debated the government's omnibus budget bill.

The finance committee tackled 606 clauses in the budget implementation legislation over five-and-a-half hours Monday as MPs faced a tight timeline to review the fast-tracked Bill C-15.

That legislation proposes to give federal ministers the ability to temporarily exempt individuals or corporations from some non-criminal federal laws — an approach the government refers to as "regulatory sandboxes."

Some members of Parliament have expressed discomfort with the idea of granting such sweeping powers to cabinet in the interest of boosting competitive or economic forces.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:15 PM CST

February 24, 2026

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