Elizabeth Thompson

Elizabeth Thompson

It's time to act on foreign interference, attacks on dissidents, say opposition MPs

Critics call for Carney government to implement foreign agents registry, commissioner. Opposition parties are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney's government to quickly implement key provisions of the law adopted last year to counter foreign interference following new revelations that attacks on Chinese dissidents living in Canada and around the world are on the rise. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael...

Elizabeth Thompson

Followed, threatened and smeared — attacks by China against its critics in Canada are on the rise

CBC/ICIJ investigations reveal increasing transnational repression here and around the world. For Yao Zhang, the news came as a shock. Sexually explicit, deepfake images of her were circulating widely online — an attack that Ottawa blamed on the Chinese government. It wasn't the first time Zhang had been targeted by China. Shortly after the Quebec-based accountant-turned-influencer travelled to Taiwan in...

Elizabeth Thompson

The economy, housing, pipelines: Not all claims in the federal election campaign were true

In an election campaign plagued by misinformation, exaggerated claims and even lies, how can voters tell what's true? CBC's Election Fact Check Unit has looked into dozens of statements made by the leaders of the four largest federal parties. It found that each of the leaders — some more than others — has at times made statements or cited facts...

Elizabeth Thompson

5 things federal party leaders keep getting wrong

In the cut and thrust of an election debate, it's not uncommon for a political party leader to get a number or a fact wrong. But sometimes they repeat those erroneous statements — both on the campaign trail and the debate stage. The CBC News fact-checking team looked into some of the inaccurate claims that leaders have made more than...

Elizabeth Thompson

These are the assets disclosed by Canada's party leaders, and the rules that govern them

It's an election centred on U.S. President Donald Trump's threats, Canada's sovereignty and the cost of living. From the start, however, Liberal Leader Mark Carney's past work in the private sector and the rules that govern the assets of political leaders have also been in the spotlight.

Elizabeth Thompson

Non-sufficient funds fee will be limited to $10 in Canada starting next year

In one of its last acts in office, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government decided to give Canadians a break at the bank. According to an order-in-council dated March 12, two days before Trudeau resigned, banks won't be allowed to charge more than $10 if someone doesn't have enough money in their personal accounts to cover a cheque or a...

Elizabeth Thompson

Opposition parties slam Trudeau cabinet's future appointments to government agencies

88 appointments take effect after former prime minister stepped down. Prime Minister Mark Carney should review a series of future appointments made by his predecessor's government and shouldn't automatically accept them, Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May said Friday. In an interview with CBC News, May said appointments have to be filled but it was "a huge mistake" to make so...

Elizabeth Thompson

Trudeau government made dozens of appointments after announcing he'd resign

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has stacked agencies and Crown corporations with dozens of "future appointments" and early appointment renewals, many of which would only go into effect weeks and months after the next election. A CBC News analysis of order-in-council appointments made since Jan. 6, when Trudeau announced he would step down as prime minister, found 88 future appointments...

Elizabeth Thompson

Transition process to replace Justin Trudeau is quietly underway

Swearing-in date unclear, but work done now will speed up the timeline. Far from the political spotlight and prying eyes, the process has already begun. When the next Liberal leader is announced on March 9, it will mark the end of the leadership campaign triggered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to resign.

Elizabeth Thompson

Canada on Capitol Hill: Inside the fight against Trump's tariffs

Ambassador Kirsten Hillman leading campaign to persuade Trump, U.S. lawmakers. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds has said some unkind things about Canada. But when the Trump ally welcomed Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman into his Capitol Hill office, it started out all smiles. "I hear that you have just announced that you're running for governor," Hillman enthused. "Congratulations!"

Elizabeth Thompson

Why Canada can't strip Elon Musk of Canadian citizenship

An online petition calling on the Canadian government to revoke Elon Musk's citizenship is on track to become one of the most popular in the history of the House of Commons. There's just one problem — Canada can't revoke Musk's citizenship.

Elizabeth Thompson

Violent extremists are using antisemitism to recruit in Canada: CSIS report

Report says antisemitic commentary is used to gain both support and new members. Ideologically motivated violent extremist groups are using antisemitism in a bid to recruit followers and inspire violence, according to a report from Canada's spy agency. The report dated May 2024, released under the access to information law by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said the extremist...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canadian residents are racing to save the data in Trump's crosshairs

The call to Angela Rasmussen came out of the blue and posed a troubling question. Had she heard the rumour that key data sets would be removed from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website the next day? It's something Rasmussen had thought could never happen. "It had never really been thought of before that CDC would actually...

Elizabeth Thompson

Trump's tariffs could make sending a package or crossing the border costlier — and more complicated

It could get more complicated — and potentially more expensive — for Canadians to cross the border or send packages to the United States, if President Donald Trump's executive order on tariffs goes into effect. Businesses that export products to the U.S. have warned that Trump's plan for 25 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods could lead to losses...

Elizabeth Thompson

Green Party leader wants Parliament to adopt foreign interference changes before election

Federal political parties should work together to quickly adopt recommendations made by Justice Marie-Josée Hogue's inquiry into foreign interference before the next election, says Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. In her report made public Tuesday, Hogue made 51 recommendations — 24 of which she said should be adopted before the next federal election.

Elizabeth Thompson

NDP MP Angus calls for investigation into Elon Musk over potential election interference

MP says Musk has the power to 'easily impact our electoral integrity.' New Democrat MP Charlie Angus is calling on Elections Canada to launch an investigation into Elon Musk and his social media platform X, saying he is concerned about potential interference by the tech billionaire in the next federal election. In a two-page letter to Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canada bracing for possible influx of asylum claimants after Trump immigration orders

Canadian refugee advocates, federal government departments and immigration lawyers are bracing for a potential influx of asylum claimants following U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders this week.

Elizabeth Thompson

Chrystia Freeland — the minister with the mile-wide mandate — leaves a massive hole in cabinet

Speaking to journalists in Toronto on Friday, Chrystia Freeland didn't want to talk about the whispers around Parliament Hill that tensions between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were running high. "I'm proud and grateful to be able to serve in the cabinet of the prime minister," Freeland said. "I really don't spend a lot of time focusing on Ottawa...

Elizabeth Thompson

Did Justin Trudeau's meeting with Donald Trump break a 225-year-old U.S law?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump last week likely violated a 225-year-old U.S. law, but experts say it's highly unlikely that Trump will face any consequences. On Friday, Trudeau surprised Canadians by making an unannounced trip to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over dinner, Trudeau, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc and the prime...

Elizabeth Thompson

MPs call on owner of pulp and paper firm to testify on links to controversial company

Parliament's Natural Resources committee voted unanimously Monday to call on Paper Excellence owner Jackson Wijaya to testify, following news that he is assuming sole control of controversial pulp and paper giant Asia Pulp and Paper from his father. New Democrat MP Charlie Angus said he wants the committee to hear from Wijaya as well as Canadian government officials who said...

Elizabeth Thompson, Zach Dubinsky,

Canadian government will monitor pulp and paper giant's promises, minister says

The Canadian government will monitor Canada's largest pulp and paper company to ensure it respects the promises it made the federal government as the company's owner takes over his family's controversial Indonesian-Chinese pulp and paper conglomerate, Natural Resource Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told a parliamentary committee Wednesday.

Elizabeth Thompson

Canadian MPs among social media users pivoting from X to Bluesky in the wake of U.S. vote

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus decided he had enough. "I have tried three times to get off X because it is a dismal, toxic, hole of disinformation," said Angus, who used to regularly post to his 47,200 followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. "After seeing what went down with the Trump election, the belligerent role of Elon Musk in...

Zach Dubinsky,, Elizabeth Thompson

'We got completely played for suckers,' MP says of recent takeovers in Canadian forestry

Opposition MPs are expressing concern that after buying up two major Canadian companies, the foreign owner of one of Canada's biggest forestry businesses is now also formally taking over an Indonesian-Chinese pulp and paper conglomerate from his family — a company he has long denied operating in tandem with. A half-page notice quietly published by the European Union on Monday...

Elizabeth Thompson

RCMP plans to go undercover online to trap violent extremists

Internal document says Mounties will use fake online profiles to pursue extremist activity. The RCMP is planning to conduct undercover surveillance online using fake personas to investigate ideological extremists in Canada, says an internal strategy document. Experts in ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE) in Canada say the strategy is overdue at a time when online extremism threatens to spill over...

Elizabeth Thompson

Staffing at Canada's embassy in Moscow falls to 'bare bones' level

Staffing at Canada's embassy in Moscow has dropped to a level so low that if Canada were to expel any Russian diplomats from this country, it could result in the Moscow embassy's closure. Documents made public by the inquiry into foreign interference in Canada reveal that, as of July, Canada had only 17 diplomats left at its embassy in Russia...

Elizabeth Thompson

Trudeau tells inquiry some Conservative parliamentarians are involved in foreign interference

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has the names of Conservative parliamentarians who are involved in foreign interference. In explosive testimony before the foreign interference inquiry today, Trudeau said he has instructed the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to warn Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and protect the party's integrity.

Elizabeth Thompson

All party leaders should get security clearances to fight foreign interference: Trudeau's chief of staff

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre still has not obtained clearance. One of the best ways to fight foreign interference in Canadian politics is for all party leaders to be security-screened so that intelligence that could affect their parties or candidates can be shared with them, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's chief of staff said Tuesday. Testifying before the inquiry into foreign interference...

Elizabeth Thompson

China's foreign interference goes beyond elections, intelligence expert says

China's foreign interference extends beyond elections to other key areas of Canadian society, the public inquiry on foreign interference was told Monday.

Elizabeth Thompson

Federal government plans to warn foreign ambassadors not to interfere in next election

The federal government plans to convene a meeting of foreign ambassadors next month to warn them not to interfere in the next election. Testifying before the inquiry into foreign interference in Canada, David Morrison, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, said his department is preparing for the next federal election and wants to make sure that diplomats from other countries know...

Elizabeth Thompson

RCMP official won't say whether Chinese 'police stations' are still operating in Canada

An RCMP official appearing before the foreign interference inquiry today refused to say whether any Chinese government "police stations" are still operating in Canada. Asked by lawyers and later by journalists whether any of the so-called police stations are still active here, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn cited an ongoing investigation. "That again falls into part of our ongoing investigation...

Elizabeth Thompson

CSIS unveils new examples of foreign interference in Canadian politics

A foreign government tried to get a Liberal candidate defeated and a former MP is suspected of having worked to influence parliamentary business on behalf of a foreign government, the public inquiry into interference in Canadian politics was told Friday. Officials from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) unveiled two new examples of such foreign interference, in addition to...

Elizabeth Thompson

Loopholes could allow foreign money into elections, Perrault says

Loopholes in election financing rules could allow money from foreign countries to influence Canadian elections, the chief electoral officer told the inquiry probing foreign interference Tuesday. Stéphane Perrault noted that, under the law, only citizens and permanent residents are allowed to donate to a party or candidate and that those donations are supposed to be made from personal funds. Foreign...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canada needs to do a 'stronger job' of curbing misuse of visitor's visas, Miller says

The federal government needs to do more to prevent misuse of visitors visas by people coming to Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said. "We've taken a number of measures throughout the summer, particularly to deal with the flow of people coming into the country," Miller told CBC News last week.

Elizabeth Thompson

Liberal national director on the hot seat over foreign interference

Three months after it was tabled in Parliament, the Liberal Party of Canada's national director says he still hasn't read a bombshell report that concluded one of his party's nomination races had been affected by foreign interference by China. Testifying before the public inquiry into foreign interference Friday, Azam Ishmael initially told the inquiry he didn't think the Liberal Party...

Elizabeth Thompson

O'Toole says he considered expelling a Conservative senator over foreign influence concerns

Former Conservative leader says he was told senator was advocating for a Chinese state-controlled company. Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said Wednesday he contemplated expelling a Conservative senator from his party's caucus over concerns that the senator was involved in foreign influence.

Elizabeth Thompson

China tried to drive voters away from Conservative candidate, inquiry hears

The Chinese government tried to influence Chinese Canadian voters in the last election but its actions didn't violate elections law, the office charged with policing Canada's elections has concluded. In a report dated Aug. 19 and made public Tuesday by the inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics, investigators for the Commissioner of Canada Elections concluded that the Chinese government...

Elizabeth Thompson

U.S. border patrol reports record number of encounters with migrants at the Canadian border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it recorded a record-high number of encounters with migrants between border posts on the Canada-U.S. border between October 2023 and July of this year. It's a pattern experts say could be a problem for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government as the question of illegal immigration heats up in a close-fought U.S. election.

Elizabeth Thompson

Canadian residents face the longest waits in the world for U.S. visas

Canadian residents who require a visa to visit the United States face the longest wait times in the world. A CBC News analysis of wait times for appointments to obtain U.S. tourist visas shows that while wait times in countries like India and Mexico have been improving since November 2022, wait times in Canada have been getting worse.

Elizabeth Thompson

New border rules for dogs were triggered by spike in fraud, forgery cases: U.S. document

A controversial American government decision to impose new requirements on dogs entering the U.S. was prompted by a "dramatic increase" in falsified documents and fraud — including cases of people using Canada to bring dogs from countries with high rates of rabies into the U.S. A lengthy notice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the...

Elizabeth Thompson

Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec's controversial language law Bill 96. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Blanchet said records that show the U.S. Trade Representative's office has discussed possible sanctions don't correspond with what the...

Elizabeth Thompson

U.S. officials discussed hitting Canada with trade sanctions over Quebec's language law

U.S government officials have discussed behind closed doors the possibility of imposing trade sanctions on Canada over Quebec's controversial Bill 96 language law, CBC News has learned. Documents obtained by CBC News under the U.S. freedom of information law also reveal that American government officials are being told that the implementation of Bill 96 could result in fewer American products...

Elizabeth Thompson

Parole Board failed to deal with board member who made 'unwanted advances' at work: report

A former member of the Parole Board of Canada breached government codes of conduct by making "unwanted advances" toward female employees, Canada's public sector integrity commissioner has ruled. In a report tabled in Parliament Tuesday, Commissioner Harriet Solloway said that the Parole Board committed gross mismanagement and endangered the health and safety of employees when it failed to respond to...

Elizabeth Thompson

House of Commons launches study of controversial travel spending rule

Clause in rules has allowed MPs to bill Parliament for $538,314 over the past year. The House of Commons has launched a study of a clause in its spending rules that has allowed MPs travelling to caucus meetings connected to party conventions to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses over the past year. Officials are also being asked...

Elizabeth Thompson

House of Commons committee should close loophole on MPs' travel, Liberal MP says

Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen is calling on the House of Commons to close a loophole that allowed MPs travelling to political party conventions to expense hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel costs in the past year. In a letter to Speaker Greg Fergus obtained by CBC News, Gerretsen said the loophole is allowing some MPs to bypass a House...

Elizabeth Thompson

Watchdog groups call on House of Commons to close spending loophole

Two advocacy groups are calling on the House of Commons to close a loophole that has allowed members of Parliament travelling to party conventions to expense more than half a million dollars over the past year. They are also calling for the money billed to the House of Commons through the loophole to be reimbursed, in whole or in part.

Elizabeth Thompson

Loophole leaves taxpayers picking up tab for MP travel

Commons picked up $84,000 tab for travel by 'designated travellers,' often MPs' spouses. A loophole in the House of Commons' spending rules has allowed MPs travelling to party conventions to bill taxpayers for more than half a million dollars over the past year — even though House of Commons rules normally prohibit MPs from charging expenses linked to partisan political...

Elizabeth Thompson

The conflict in the Middle East could be affecting the next federal election already

Fareed Khan sometimes becomes overcome by grief when he talks about the growing death toll in the Israel- Hamas war. When he talks about how Canadian politicians have reacted to the conflict, grief gives way to anger. "I will never help another Liberal in this government," said Khan, a human rights activist and founder of Canadians United Against Hate. In...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canada Revenue Agency gets more teeth to catch potential tax cheats

The federal government is cracking down on potential tax cheats by introducing new measures to track cryptocurrency transactions and giving the Canada Revenue Agency more teeth to penalize taxpayers who refuse to disclose information it wants. The budget tabled Tuesday also includes provisions to hold tax planners who help clients engage in tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance as well...

Elizabeth Thompson

Poilievre wades into Middle East conflict during speech to Montreal-area synagogue

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should convene an emergency meeting with the country's premiers to discuss the federal carbon price, Conservative Pierre Poilievre wrote in a letter Tuesday. Poilievre circulated the letter following the $15-per-tonne increase to the consumer carbon price that kicked in on Monday.

Elizabeth Thompson

Trudeau's Jamaica vacation cost far more than same trip the year before

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's controversial vacation to Jamaica last Christmas cost Canadian taxpayers far more than his trip to the same destination a year earlier, CBC News has learned. According to the government's answer to questions posed by Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer, tabled this week, Trudeau's 10-day vacation with his family to Prospect Estate near Ocho Rios cost taxpayers...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canada faces a series of 'crises' that will test it in the coming years, RCMP warns

The "crises" rocking national and international affairs are likely to get worse over the next few years and could have a significant effect on the federal government and Canada's federal police force, says an internal report prepared for the RCMP. "The global community has experienced a series of crises, with COVID-19, supply-chain issues, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine all...

Elizabeth Thompson

Federal government is running out of time to name a new ethics commissioner

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government says it has started a process to name a new ethics commissioner — but it's not clear whether a new commissioner can be appointed before the current one leaves office. Interim commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein's mandate will end Thursday. It has been a year since Canada's previous ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, retired. Conservative ethics critic...

Elizabeth Thompson

Senators receive panic buttons in response to rising concerns about security on Parliament Hill

Canada's senators have been issued panic buttons as concerns about the safety of members of Canada's upper house pile up, CBC News has learned. Senators have been targeted by online harassment campaigns and threatening phone calls in recent weeks. In November, Conservative Sen. Don Plett's car was surrounded by pro-Palestinian protesters who banged on the windows and climbed onto the...

Elizabeth Thompson

Parliament spent nearly $600,000 on luxury hotel rooms it never used

Parliament spent nearly $600,000 on luxury hotel rooms it didn't use when nearly half of the listed delegates for a conference of European parliamentarians it hosted either didn't show up or chose less expensive hotels. Parliament expected 700 delegates to attend the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which took place in Vancouver...

Elizabeth Thompson

Trudeau's holiday travel didn't break the rules, ethics commissioner tells MPs

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to Jamaica didn't break the rules that govern gifts and travel for elected officials because the stay was a gift from a longtime family friend, Interim Ethics Commissioner Konrad Von Finckenstein told MPs Tuesday. Speaking to members of the House of Commons ethics committee, Von Finckenstein confirmed that Trudeau's office consulted with his office prior...

Elizabeth Thompson

Cost to taxpayers of protecting members of Parliament hits a record high

The cost of keeping Canada's members of Parliament safe has hit a record high, CBC News has learned. During the first nine months of this fiscal year, the RCMP spent $2.5 million on security for MPs. If spending continues at the same pace, the cost of MPs' security for this fiscal year could hit $3.4 million — almost double what...

Elizabeth Thompson

NDP calls for public consultations on plan that could station Canadian border guards on U.S. soil

The federal government should do more to consult Canadians on its plan to set up preclearance posts at the border that could see Canadian border guards posted on U.S. soil, says NDP public safety critic Peter Julian. Julian told CBC News that if the government doesn't improve the consultation process and answer questions raised by groups like the guard's union...

Elizabeth Thompson

Canadian customs officers could soon be based in the U.S. for the first time

Canadian customs officers could soon be posted to U.S. border posts on American soil for the first time in history, and American officers could be assigned to work from border posts in Canada, CBC News has learned. "It's a fundamental shift," said Mark Weber, president of the union that represents Canadian border officers. "You're working in another country … It's...

Elizabeth Thompson

Prime minister's plane breaks down in Jamaica during family holiday

The Canadian Armed Forces was forced to send a second plane to Jamaica this week after the military aircraft that brought Prime Minister Justin Trudeau down to the Caribbean island for a family vacation became "unserviceable," CBC News has learned. Andrée-Anne Poulin, spokesperson for the Department of National Defence (DND), confirmed that two Royal Canadian Air Force CC-144 Challengers travelled...

Elizabeth Thompson

Meet Oscar, the Canadian-built, AI-driven recycling system helping governments go green

Standing in the middle of a cafeteria at Global Affairs, Soren Antosz was testing Oscar, a new, high-tech tool popping up in federal government buildings. Antosz holds up a paper napkin. That's compostable, flashes the message on Oscar's screen. Next is a plastic bottle. Oscar tells him to empty the liquid then drop it into the recycling section.