Canada

  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    Quebec firefighters who died in 2023 flood lacked training, equipment: safety board

    MONTREAL — Quebec's workplace safety board says a lack of training and equipment contributed to the deaths of two firefighters during a flood northeast of Quebec City last May. The volunteer firefighters were using an amphibious vehicle equipped with tracks and an outboard motor in an attempt to reach residents of a house that was surrounded by floodwaters in the small community of St-Urbain, Que. The board says the current of the swollen Gouffre River swept the vehicle off course and into a tre

    1 min read
  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    Canada Post releases new stamp celebrating Muslim festival

    TORONTO — Canada Post has released a stamp featuring Middle Eastern cookies to commemorate an annual festival that marks the end of a holy month for Muslims. The Crown corporation said Thursday that Canadians can use the stamps to send greetings ahead of Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic festival in April that follows Ramadan, a holy month many Muslims spend fasting from sunrise to sunset and volunteering for charities. The stamps feature cookies called maamouls that are baked and consumed by Muslims acro

    1 min read
  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    On pre-budget charm offensive, Trudeau announces plans to expand $10-a-day child care

    SURREY, B.C. — The federal government's pre-budget charm offensive is back for a second straight day — this time aimed at parents and child care providers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government plans to provide more than $1 billion in low-cost loans, grants and student loan forgiveness to expand child care across Canada. Trudeau made the announcement in Surrey, B.C., part of the Liberal government's effort to win back support among younger voters and middle-class families. He says an

    1 min read
  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    Four Ontario school boards sue Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok

    TORONTO — Four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, alleging the social media platforms are disrupting student learning, contributing to a mental health crisis and leaving educators to manage the fallout. The Toronto District School Board, the Peel District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board filed four separate but similar cases in Ontario's Superior Court

    5 min read
  • BusinessThe Canadian Press

    Native Women's Association forced to lay off half its staff amid funding shortfall

    OTTAWA — The Native Women's Association of Canada says it was forced to lay off roughly half its workforce due to a major shortfall in federal funding. The advocacy organization said it received grants totalling $48 million last year as part of Canada's national apprenticeship program and other initiatives. This year, revenue dropped to $10 million, with funding for staff falling from $11 million to $3 million. As a result, the organization said it was forced to lay off 75 contract and permanent

    1 min read
  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    Chief electoral officer expresses confidence in integrity of last two elections

    OTTAWA — Canada's chief electoral officer, Stéphane Perrault, is telling a federal inquiry he has confidence in the integrity of the last two general elections with respect to his mandate. As head of Elections Canada, Perrault is responsible for ensuring Canadians can exercise their democratic rights to vote and be a candidate. Perrault is testifying at a commission of inquiry into foreign meddling allegations and how the government responded to them. The hearings are delving into possible inter

    1 min read
  • NewsThe Canadian Press

    Higgs champions NB shale gas development as a better climate plan than carbon pricing

    OTTAWA — New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs says his province's alternative to the federal carbon price will be to ship liquid natural gas to Europe as an alternative to coal. Higgs says he has a business case to do it, although there's just one problem: he doesn't currently have any gas to send. Higgs is appearing virtually in front of a House of Commons committee, where Conservatives invited Higgs and his Alberta and Saskatchewan counterparts to testify about their dislike of the carbon price.

    2 min read