In the news today: Justice minister to talk tougher bail, Canada-China revisited

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Liberals set to introduce bail reform bill today

The Liberal government is expected to pitch tougher bail and sentencing standards for violent crime in legislation today.

A news release says Justice Minister Sean Fraser will speak to reporters about the bill in the afternoon.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week the legislation would make bail more difficult to get for violent and organized crime offences.

The bill would impose a reverse onus on bail for certain offences, he said, moving the burden of proof from the prosecutor to the accused, meaning they would have to justify being granted bail.

Anand touts ‘pragmatism’ in China strategy

Just three years after Canada called China a “disruptive global power,” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Canada now views Beijing as a strategic partner in a dangerous world.

Anand told The Canadian Press on Monday that a strategic partnership with China means going beyond allowing individual irritants to strain the entire relationship and permitting Canada to advance its economic and security interests.

“It’s necessary for us to lay the foundation, if we are going to find areas where we can further co-operate,” she said.

She spoke after visiting senior officials in China, India and Singapore — and just days before Prime Minister Mark Carney departs on his first visit to Asia since taking office, with stops in Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

Alberta legislature to return with throne speech

Alberta’s legislative assembly is set to return today with a throne speech kicking off the fall sitting.

The assembly will return just as a provincewide teachers strike nears the end of its third week, and teachers are expected to rally outside while members take in the speech.

The government is expected to table back-to-work legislation, with Premier Danielle Smith previously saying it could happen as soon as next week if the strike goes on.

Government house leader Joseph Schow has said the government will introduce at least 15 bills this sitting, including new rules to prevent long ballot protests during provincial elections.

N.S. long-term care workers prepare to strike

Long-term care workers across Nova Scotia are preparing for a strike. 

Workers gathered for a rally Wednesday outside Premier Tim Houston’s office in Westville, N.S.

They say they are the lowest paid long-term care workers in Atlantic Canada.

Contracts across the province expired in 2023, and each of the 52 bargaining units is in negotiations with the government.

The bargaining units started strike votes last week with two units already voting in favour of a walkout. 

Part-time faculty at Saint Mary’s going on strike

The union representing part-time faculty at Saint Mary’s University says it will go on the picket line this morning, joining its peers from Mount Saint Vincent University, who went on strike a day earlier.

CUPE says the strike at Saint Mary’s will begin at 8:30 a.m. after bargaining hit an impasse on Wednesday evening.

More than 150 part-time instructors and teaching assistants at Mount Saint Vincent walked off the job at 12:01 p.m. that day after talks with the Halifax school failed.

The union says key issues for both groups include job security and compensation.

Jays, Dodgers prepare for World Series showdown

The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers meet the media today ahead of Game 1 of the World Series at Rogers Centre on Friday night.

Both clubs will work out and face the cameras before the championship begins.

The matchup features two contrasting approaches — the big-spending Dodgers against a Blue Jays roster built on balance and development.

Toronto’s contact bats and steady defence will be tested by Los Angeles’s power hitters and deep rotation, led by left-hander Blake Snell in Game 1.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct.23, 2025