National

National


Liberal minister promises plan on Access to Information as MPs highlight woes

OTTAWA — Treasury Board President Mona Fortier says she hopes to share a plan in coming months for improving the key federal transparency law and how it is managed. Fortier told a House of Commons committee Tuesday she expects the plan for making the Access to Information Act more effective will come before the end […]

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Ministerial mandate letter fight about accountable government, CBC lawyer tells court

OTTAWA — The CBC’s fight to see mandate letters for Ontario cabinet ministers goes to “the very core” of what freedom-of-information regimes are designed to foster, a lawyer for the public broadcaster told the country’s top court Tuesday. These elements are an informed public, accountable government and, ultimately, the democratic process, Justin Safayeni argued in […]

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Federal Court sides with Facebook in privacy case tied to Cambridge Analytica affair

OTTAWA — A judge has dismissed the federal privacy watchdog’s bid for a declaration that Facebook broke the law governing the use of personal information in a case flowing from the Cambridge Analytica affair. In his ruling, Justice Michael Manson said the privacy commissioner had not shown that the social media giant, now known as […]

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Here’s what happens to federal services if public servants strike on Wednesday

OTTAWA — The union representing over 155,000 public servants says if a deal isn’t reached with the federal government by 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, it will launch a strike this Wednesday. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says that negotiations have not progressed enough in recent days to call off a strike and its […]

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NDP, Bloc accuse Poilievre of threatening French, Quebec culture with stance on CBC

OTTAWA — Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says Pierre Poilievre’s criticisms of the CBC amount to an attack on Canadian culture by the Conservative leader — and Quebec and francophone culture, in particular. Singh addressed the issue, speaking in French, after Twitter added a label to CBC’s main account on Sunday indicating the broadcaster was […]

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How views of Pierre Trudeau led RCMP to provide first close security for an ex PM

OTTAWA — With threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spiking in recent years, newly released historical records reveal the security concerns the RCMP had when his father was getting ready to leave office. Pierre Trudeau retired in 1984 after serving as prime minister for two stints adding up to 15 years. He had been first […]

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‘Political hit men’: Emails detail anger over RCMP handling of border protests

There were complaints that Mounties were not doing enough at the Canada-U. S. border-crossing in Coutts, Alta., when protests erupted over COVID-19 pandemic policies. There were others saying the same police force was doing too much and betraying the country. Almost 260 pages of emails detailing complaints made to the watchdog agency that investigates Mounties […]

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Liberals pledge revamp of forced labour bill, possible enforcement rules surprise MP

OTTAWA — The Trudeau government is revamping its approach to modern-day slavery, promising new legislation that caught off guard the Liberal MP who has been steering a bill on forced labour through Parliament. “There is a limited lifespan to this Parliament,” Toronto MP John McKay said in an interview. McKay has been stickhandling Bill S-211, […]

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Quebec ordered to pay ex premier Charest $385K because of corruption probe leaks

MONTREAL — A court has ordered the Quebec government to pay ex-Liberal premier Jean Charest $385,000 because information about a corruption investigation targeting his former party was leaked to journalists. Charest in 2020 filed a lawsuit against Quebec’s anti-corruption police and the province’s attorney general after details were made public in 2017 regarding an investigation […]

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Shields stands against Bill C 11

With Bill C-11 in the House of Commons again after failing to pass the approval of the Senate, Martin Shields MP for Bow River rose in the House to air his grievances with the bill. “It is an interesting debate today, and I rise to speak on Bill C-11,” said Shields on March 27. “I […]

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Head of Canadian Museum of History looks to move past a tumultuous few years

GATINEAU, Que. — Caroline Dromaguet first started working at the Canadian Museum of History as a summer guide, where as a student she fell in love with the world of museums. Over the years she saw the exhibits change, with her life experience changing, too. The museum is where she got her first “grown-up job,” […]

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Once prestigious 24 Sussex full of rodents, carcasses: National Capital Commission

OTTAWA — When a lumber baron first built a home for his wife at 24 Sussex Drive, he described it as a place of peace. Now, it has become a place of rodents. A rodent infestation in the official residence of Canada’s prime minister is so severe that the walls, attic and basement are filled […]

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