A surprisingly strong May jobs report has reinforced many economists' views that the Canadian economy is not in a recession. Statistics Canada reported Friday that the economy added 88,000 jobs in May, topping economists' expectations for a gain of 10,000 positions. The agency said the unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent last month, down from 6.9 per cent in...
Sunwing Vacations and WestJet Vacations will indefinitely suspend operations in Cuba “until further notice.” Sunwing Vacations Group, which includes Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and WestJet Vacations Québec, announced it would cut Cuban operations temporarily back in April but said they would resume in October. In a statement to CTV News, media representatives did not provide specifics as to why they...
Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith has sent an email to supporters confirming he will resign his seat in the House of Commons and inviting volunteers to an event to celebrate his decade of public service. He was elected in Beaches-East York in 2015 and briefly served as housing minister in Justin Trudeau's final cabinet and Mark Carney's first cabinet. Erskine-Smith's email...
First up this week, Prime Minister Carney summed up a critical week in the Canada-US trade discussions with the phrase, "some progress". So what does that mean? Plus the AI strategy. Then both Bruce Anderson and Chantal Heebert discuss the fall of an iconic broadcast network -- CBS and the "60 Minutes" debacle.
Support for Alberta separatism has declined since the beginning of 2026, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted for Global News. The survey conducted between May 28 to June 1 found 19 per cent of Albertans said they would vote this fall to hold a separate binding separation referendum, while 72 per cent would check off the box to remain...
The labour market rebounded with a surprise gain of 88,000 jobs in May, partially offsetting a bigger drop in employment since the start of the year, Statistics Canada said Friday. The agency said the unemployment rate fell to 6.6 per cent in May, down from 6.9 per cent in April. StatCan said May’s gains were the first significant increase in...
The unofficial authority on recession calls in Canada says it's too soon to use that word to describe the sluggish economy. Debate has raged on Parliament Hill over whether the country is in a recession since Statistics Canada reported last week that the economy contracted for two quarters in a row. The C.D. Howe Institute's Business Cycle Council is traditionally...
Announcements are coming fast and furious from the Liberal government, on everything from major projects to immigration to foreign trade and defence. But Canadians want to see actual action. We look at Mark Carney’s promises and progress in 16 areas, plus where the Trudeau government left things. And we’ll be checking in periodically to see how much progress has been...
When the Trump administration took aim at free trade last year, Ryan Zoehner felt like he was under fire. "Our supply chain got caught in the crosshairs," said the CEO of Algo, a Vancouver-area manufacturer whose 165 employees make speakers, strobe lights and intercoms for use in schools, hospitals and airports. The maze of tariff walls thrown up by U.S...
When half a dozen industry and business representatives from Manitoba walked inside the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) office Tuesday, the province’s man in Washington jokingly called them the Avengers. “This has never happened before,” Manitoba Senior Representative to the United States Richard Madan told CTV News after their meeting with USTR staff. The Avengers left feeling optimistic, despite known...
Advisory committee member says talks with U.S. are progressing. Prime Minister Mark Carney said his negotiating team made "some progress" during trade talks in Washington this week, but there's "lots more to do" to land an overall agreement. Carney's comments on Thursday came as Canada-U.S. Trade minister Dominic LeBlanc and the country's chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, briefed a special...
Former Liberal cabinet minister Stéphane Dion says he would not change a word in the Clarity Act—which he wrote and tabled in 2000—as the legislation is once again in the spotlight over separatist movements in Alberta and Quebec. Speaking to The Hill Times on June 3, Dion, the intergovernmental affairs minister under then-prime minister Jean Chrétien, called the legislation “perfect,”...
Ottawa wants to increase Canadians' use of artificial intelligence -- and it plans to do so through free AI training and legislation to tackle concerns like surveillance pricing and chatbot safety. Announcing the government's new AI strategy in Toronto on Thursday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said "globally, Canada ranks near the bottom of countries in AI training, in literacy and...
The federal government is going to take more time to consult on its proposals to change how major projects are reviewed. Ottawa last month released two discussion papers which proposed, among other things, approving major projects before they're reviewed and exempting certain projects from laws meant to protect species at risk. Critics, including Green Party Leader Liz May, have said...
Liberal MP David Myles (Fredericton–Oromocto, N.B.) will stay on as parliamentary secretary for Canadian Identity Minister Marc Miller after cabinet approved an order-in-council shuffling him out of the position last week. Myles is currently listed as parliamentary secretary to Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin (Toronto–Danforth, Ont.), as well as secretary of state for nature Nathalie Provost (Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville, Que.)...
Former Liberal leader and minister Stéphane Dion is not calling on Canada to become a member of the European Union (EU) — but rather a “full and integral member” of the European Political Community (EPC) to reinforce ties with the continent. Dion, who until recently served as Canada’s ambassador to France and Germany and special envoy to the EU, made...
The federal finance minister is standing by his government's projections after Ottawa's budgetary watchdog cast doubt on Ottawa's ability to hit a key fiscal anchor. Parliamentary Budget Officer Annette Ryan on Thursday released her office's first economic and fiscal update since she assumed the role in April. Ryan predicts annual deficits will average $4.6 billion higher than Ottawa projected in...
When Conservative MPs opposed to the federal government’s anti-hate bill in the Commons, they brandished Bibles to accentuate their argument that the proposed law could stymie religious freedom. Now, as Bill-C9 nears the end of its parliamentary journey in the Senate, Conservatives are raising the alarm that hundreds of thousands of postcards protesting the bill, have not been delivered by...
The B.C. Prosecution Service says Independent MLA Jordan Kealy, who represents Peace River North, has been charged with one count of sexual assault in Fort St. John. The service says the alleged offences occurred between Jan. 1 and Sept. 20, 2024. Court documents indicate the alleged offences took place in Cecil Lake, a rural area where Kealy farms north of...
The Postmedia-Leger survey also found that Canadians think Alberta’s separation would have a greater economic impact than Quebec's. Fewer than half of Albertans are certain that they would continue living in their newly independent province should it separate from Canada, according to a new Postmedia-Leger poll, as a referendum later this year is set to decide if the province wants...
TORONTO -- Prime Minister Mark Carney says he has not formed an opinion on Ontario Premier Doug Ford's plan to expand Toronto's island airport.
The federal government has announced a new industry-led alliance aimed at growing the skilled workforce for Canada's mining industry. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu made the announcement today in southwestern Nova Scotia, saying the new alliance is part of the prime minister's drive to build a more independent economy. The government's mining and minerals workforce alliance is the first...
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is once again pushing back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s “51st state” rhetoric, suggesting Canada’s sovereignty is not for sale and that the province is outperforming its American counterparts in job creation. “President Trump’s back on his high horse, saying we’re going to be a 51st state. I can tell President Trump that will never, ever...
The federal government's budget watchdog says Ottawa has less than a one per cent chance of maintaining the key fiscal anchor of shrinking the deficit as a share of the economy every year. Parliamentary Budget Officer Annette Ryan today released her office's first economic and fiscal update since she assumed the role in April.
After months of delay, the federal government is unveiling its AI strategy that outlines a vision focused on job creation, sovereignty and increased AI adoption. But the plan lacks details on how Canadians will be protected from the technology’s potentially adverse effects. Prime Minister Mark Carney is making the announcement alongside Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon in Toronto on Thursday...
New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon says he plans to step down after 14 years in the role. Coon says he plans to remain the MLA for Fredericton Lincoln. He said he's resigning as leader to give the party time to choose a successor before the next election.
Perhaps, we’ll soon call it Mark Carney’s democratic deficit. The prime minister has a penchant for centralizing power — one explored a few times in this column — and now the edict to his Liberal MPs is that he does not want to be challenged. Over the course of several caucus meetings now, Grit MPs report Carney lashing out at...
Energy executives and analysts are warning that oil and gas prices will likely rise significantly as reserves deplete and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. The price of Brent crude futures was $98.20 US a barrel midday Wednesday. But experts say it could balloon to $150 US or more in the coming weeks, largely due to fading hopes for a...
A new analysis shows the Carney government's pipeline deal could lead Canada further from its climate targets, even with an agreement on carbon pricing. The independent Canadian Climate Institute modelled the impact of the new deal between Alberta and Ottawa on carbon pollution. Compared with the emissions trajectory before the deal was signed, the institute's analysis found Canada's emissions would...
Canada is facing the prospect of entirely new tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after Washington claimed Ottawa has a poor track record on preventing importation of products of forced labour. The move comes as Canada's biggest free trade pact, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, is up for renewal.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that lower immigration under his government helps to explain why Canada's economy has declined for the last two quarters, pushing it into recession territory. While Carney has not said the word "recession" himself when asked about the decline -- and while economists citing broader economic indicators argue Canada is not in a true recession...
Ottawa's new national artificial intelligence strategy says Canada has a major AI adoption gap and looks to build trust through legislation that tackles concerns about surveillance pricing and chatbot safety. The strategy being announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in Toronto today plans to increase use of AI through free training for all Canadians.
The Department of National Defence kept secret how much it paid for a contract with the controversial American tech company Palantir, according to newly released documents that show the deal was worth $30 million more than the government disclosed to Parliament last year. It’s the latest in an expanding picture of how the Canadian military uses and pays the U.S...
In a rare joint warning, Canada and other Five Eyes intelligence sharing countries say China is using professional networking sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to target current and former government or military personnel who could have access to “classified or privileged information.” The alert was drafted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Australia Security Intelligence Organization, the...
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday his Liberal government will soon introduce legislation on forced labour in supply chains after the Trump administration proposed a 10 per cent additional tariff on Canada and other countries following an investigation into the issue. "Canada has a very strong legislative regime against forced labour in supply chains," Carney told reporters in Ottawa. "We...
After Canada’s economy slipped into a technical recession last week, a new outlook by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, said on Wednesday said that GDP growth is set to rebound later in the year and continue growing into 2027. “GDP growth is expected to strengthen over 2026 and 2027,” the OECD said in a note about...
Findlay said she understood the 'frustration behind things like the (Alberta) referendum.' Newly elected B.C. Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay says she’d maintain commercial ties with neighbouring Alberta if Albertans vote to leave Canada. “I would maintain relations, economic relations,” Findlay told National Post when asked how she’d react to a successful Alberta independence vote as premier of B.C. One of...
The U.S. expects European NATO allies and Canada to swiftly increase the number of manned and unmanned aircraft and ships they contribute to the alliance’s defence plans as Washington steps back in these areas, a top U.S. general said on Wednesday. The statement by U.S. Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s top commander and the head of U.S. forces in...
The Carney Liberals now have the support of half of Canadians, according to a new Postmedia-leger poll, the first time any governing party has hit that benchmark in popular support in more than two decades. The poll, conducted over the past week, found 50 per cent of decided voters said they would most likely support the Liberals “if federal elections...
Ottawa is directing the CRTC to back down on its recent decision to triple streamers' financial contributions to Canadian content, and will instead provide $600 million to the sector, Culture Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday. The decision comes after the Motion Picture Association, the U.S. group representing streamers, called on cabinet to reconsider the current approach and the U.S. ambassador...
Former Liberal staffer Lisa Kirbie says Steven Guilbeault's resignation and organized caucus dissent have exposed simmering progressive concerns that high polling can't keep a lid on forever.
Conservative MP Billy Morin says he will spend the summer talking to Indigenous leaders about encouraging people to vote in the Alberta referendum. Albertans are set to vote in October on whether they want to stay in Canada or prefer to hold a future binding referendum on separating from the country. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he and his caucus...
Carney says Canada won't react or respond to every post from the U.S. president. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said making Canada the 51st state would be "a great discussion for the president" and Prime Minister Mark Carney to have, as the White House resurrects the sensitive topic just as trade talks gear up. After backing off his annexation...