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National


Canada U.S. refugee pact changes expected to ‘exacerbate existing threats’: memo

OTTAWA — A newly released memo shows federal officials warned last spring that expanding a bilateral refugee pact to the entire Canada-U.S. border would likely fuel smuggling networks and encourage people to seek more dangerous, remote crossing routes. Officials feared the development would also strain RCMP resources as irregular migrants dispersed more widely across the […]

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TikTok denies it’s controlled by China as exec faces Canadian MPs over security fears

OTTAWA — A TikTok executive faced off on Wednesday with Canadian lawmakers who have concerns that data from the app could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. Steve de Eyre, director of public policy and government affairs for TikTok Canada, said at a House of Commons committee meeting that the video-sharing app […]

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Suncor CEO fields tough questions at federal natural resources committee

It’s no secret oilsands companies intend to ramp up production despite the rapidly worsening impacts of the climate crisis, and one longtime industry executive laid out his arguments for doing just that at a federal committee Monday. Testimony from Rich Kruger, CEO of Suncor, made a spirited case for continuing to pull fossil fuels out […]

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‘Hard to believe it’s real’: B.C.’s energy regulator repeatedly gave Coastal GasLink a pass on alleged environmental infractions

When officials from the BC Energy Regulator travelled to Wet’suwet’en territory in September 2022, they were planning a routine inspection of a fish-bearing stream. Two years had passed since Coastal GasLink completed installation of a section of pipeline through the stream, a tributary of Tchesinkut Creek, near the community of Burns Lake in northwest B.C. […]

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War crimes inquiry research sheds fresh light on Canadian screening, policies

OTTAWA — When an individual suspected of taking part in the Second World War murder of Jews in western Ukraine applied for admission to Canada in 1951, immigration officials did not follow up with potential witnesses who might have provided crucial details. In another case, a Slovak leader hoping to unite emigres under his leadership […]

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War crimes inquiry research sheds fresh light on Canadian screening, policies

OTTAWA — When an individual suspected of taking part in the Second World War murder of Jews in western Ukraine applied for admission to Canada in 1951, immigration officials did not follow up with potential witnesses who might have provided crucial details. In another case, a Slovak leader hoping to unite emigres under his leadership […]

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‘Unacceptable’: Group says government ignored process in awarding Afghan monument

OTTAWA — An architectural group that was chosen by a jury to build a monument to Canada’s mission in Afghanistan says the government’s decision to award the contract to a different group is outrageous and anti-democratic. Veterans Affairs Canada announced the approximately $3-million commission in June, awarding it to a team led by Indigenous artist […]

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Diwali fireworks advisory issued despite warnings it might be discriminatory: emails

OTTAWA — At least two Environment Canada meteorologists warned that linking Diwali fireworks to air pollution in an air quality advisory could be perceived as discriminatory, internal emails show, but the advisory was still published. Their warnings appeared well-founded. So many complaints had poured in by the end of the day that the department reissued […]

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Trial to begin for former RCMP intelligence director accused of disclosing secrets

OTTAWA — More than four years after Cameron Jay Ortis was charged with breaching Canada’s secrets law, the former RCMP intelligence director is about to get his day in court. Ortis was taken into custody in Ottawa on Sept. 12, 2019 — an arrest that deeply shocked the national police force. As the head of […]

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Federal Court of Appeal rules against Google in privacy law case

OTTAWA — The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected an attempt by Google to overturn a decision that found the company’s search engine is covered by Canada’s privacy law, marking another victory for people seeking a digital “right to be forgotten.” The court ruled Friday in a 2-1 decision to uphold a 2021 decision by […]

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Mandatory security awareness training among changes since arrest of employee: RCMP

OTTAWA — The RCMP says it has introduced mandatory security awareness training for employees, one of several changes prompted by the 2019 arrest of a senior civilian member for allegedly leaking classified information. The Mounties say they have also made it easier to report security vulnerabilities, boosted the internal profile of departmental security operations and […]

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Rota debacle renews calls to examine history, including war crime records

OTTAWA — Canada could revisit calls to declassify documents about the presence of Nazi war criminals in the country, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday, as the fallout continued over Parliament’s recognition last week of a man who fought for the Nazis. “Canada has a really dark history with Nazis in Canada,” Miller said, heading […]

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