Federal Politics

A federal bill that will force digital platforms like Netflix and YouTube to contribute financially to Canadian content is on the cusp of becoming law. The Liberals’ online streaming bill passed its final vote in the Senate today and is now just awaiting royal assent. This combination of 2017-2022 photos shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat on mobile devices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

Streaming giants required to contribute to Canadian content as Bill C-11 passes

Government has said the bill will not apply to individuals who post on social media

A federal bill that will force digital platforms like Netflix and YouTube to contribute financially to Canadian content is on the cusp of becoming law. The Liberals’ online streaming bill passed its final vote in the Senate today and is now just awaiting royal assent. This combination of 2017-2022 photos shows the logos of Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat on mobile devices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP
A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne

Protected areas, fishing bans to help B.C.’s threatened southern resident orcas

Federal government announces series of measures off B.C. south coast

A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne
PSAC workers and supporters protest in downtown Halifax on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public-service union continues to be on strike across the country after talks with the government failed to produce an agreement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Union says government not budging on bargaining position or public service wage offer

Negotiations between the government and the largest federal public-sector union seemed to…

PSAC workers and supporters protest in downtown Halifax on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public-service union continues to be on strike across the country after talks with the government failed to produce an agreement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada announces first step of firearm buyback program, targeting industry

Mendicino did not provide further details while announcing the program at a news conference

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino speaks to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Physicist Ginette Charbonneau, NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, Liberal MP Jenica Atwin, Bloc Quebecois MP Mario Simard and Green Party MP Elizabeth May listen to Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick’s Susan O’Donnell speak during a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada’s push for small nuclear reactors will be costly, ineffective, some MPs warn

Trudeau ‘very, very serious in and investing in some of the small module reactors’

Physicist Ginette Charbonneau, NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, Liberal MP Jenica Atwin, Bloc Quebecois MP Mario Simard and Green Party MP Elizabeth May listen to Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick’s Susan O’Donnell speak during a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Monday, April 24, 2023. The union representing thousands of striking public servants enters the seventh day of the strike is making good on their promise to ramp up the heat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Striking public servants block access to government buildings and key infrastructure

PSAC said on Monday they ‘shut down’ the ports in Montreal, Vancouver and St. John’s

PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Monday, April 24, 2023. The union representing thousands of striking public servants enters the seventh day of the strike is making good on their promise to ramp up the heat. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Whistleblower and Professional Soccer Player Ciara McCormack is seen after appearing at the Heritage Committee looking into Canadian sport on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Former sport minister calls for national inquiry citing abuse, misconduct in sport

‘If you can’t expose the rot, how can you make things better?’

Whistleblower and Professional Soccer Player Ciara McCormack is seen after appearing at the Heritage Committee looking into Canadian sport on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Public Service Alliance of Canada members who are employees at the Canadian Grain Commission picket outside the Viterra Cascadia Terminal, in Vancouver, on Monday, April 24, 2023. The grain terminal handles wheat, durum, canola, barley, rye, oats and by-products that arrive by rail and are loaded on bulk carrier ships for export. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Treasury Board sends open letter to Canadians on talks with union amid ongoing strike

More than 100,000 of the union’s members walked off the job Wednesday

Public Service Alliance of Canada members who are employees at the Canadian Grain Commission picket outside the Viterra Cascadia Terminal, in Vancouver, on Monday, April 24, 2023. The grain terminal handles wheat, durum, canola, barley, rye, oats and by-products that arrive by rail and are loaded on bulk carrier ships for export. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, April 22, 2023. Ottawa says it’s working on ways to try evacuating Canadians out of Sudan, and is asking them to register with Global Affairs Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Marwan Ali

German plane airlifts 58 Canadians out of Sudan as Canadian plane readies for more

Heavy gunfire rocked Khartoum Monday in continued fighting between rival military groups

Smoke is seen in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, April 22, 2023. Ottawa says it’s working on ways to try evacuating Canadians out of Sudan, and is asking them to register with Global Affairs Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Marwan Ali
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks at a news conference on proposed changes to air passenger rights, in Ottawa, on Monday, April 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Passenger rights overhaul draws criticism from both sides — airlines and advocates

Canada trying to close loopholes that allow airlines to avoid compensating people for cancellations

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra speaks at a news conference on proposed changes to air passenger rights, in Ottawa, on Monday, April 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
PSAC workers and supporters picket in front of President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier’s office in Ottawa on Friday, April 21, 2023. One of Canada’s largest labour disruptions has entered a sixth day, as the union representing thousands of striking public-service workers looks to delay access to ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
PSAC workers and supporters picket in front of President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier’s office in Ottawa on Friday, April 21, 2023. One of Canada’s largest labour disruptions has entered a sixth day, as the union representing thousands of striking public-service workers looks to delay access to ports. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joins PSAC workers on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal public-service strike lands in middle of political battle for working class

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has often been followed by crowds of people…

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joins PSAC workers on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Volunteers planting a spruce tree at the Hope River Corbould Park on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

The federal government promised to plant 2 billion trees by 2030, it’s nowhere close

Unless things drastically change, it won’t even get one-tenth of those trees in the ground

Volunteers planting a spruce tree at the Hope River Corbould Park on Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The Washington Post says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau privately told NATO that Canada would never meet the military alliance’s targets for defence spending. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Trudeau told NATO Canada can’t meet defence spending target, Washington Post reports

Leaked document: ‘widespread’ military deficiencies causing friction with security partners, allies

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The Washington Post says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau privately told NATO that Canada would never meet the military alliance’s targets for defence spending. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Federal departments and agencies have released a list of services that may be disrupted now that workers are on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Federal workers are now on strike, here are the services that may be affected

More than 155,000 public servants across the country launched a strike Wednesday morning

PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Federal departments and agencies have released a list of services that may be disrupted now that workers are on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. If infant formula has become akin to liquid gold for parents stressed about empty store shelves this year, Canada may be sitting on a potential treasure trove — if only it could process the raw elements. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Eric Gay

Why doesn’t Canada make its own baby formula when we have the raw ingredients?

Lack of processing capability means Canada not taking advantage of material supply

Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. If infant formula has become akin to liquid gold for parents stressed about empty store shelves this year, Canada may be sitting on a potential treasure trove — if only it could process the raw elements. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Eric Gay
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. There was no fairy tale ending for Freeland when she attempted to relate to Canadians’ cost-of-living concerns last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

‘Slap in the face’: Freeland’s Disney Plus comment made her a villain, records show

Records show commenters felt the minister’s attempt to blend in missed the mark

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland arrives to a cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. There was no fairy tale ending for Freeland when she attempted to relate to Canadians’ cost-of-living concerns last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

No deal at union deadline; federal workers hit the picket lines as talks continue

Pickets expected to be set up this morning at more than 250 locations

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
A dentist works on a patient on Monday, July 26, 2021, in San Juan, Texas. The federal housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had “atrocious” take-up, a new report says, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians potentially missing out on the benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP

Thousands of Canadians missed out on federal housing and dental benefits: report

‘Atrocious’ take-up sees about half of all those eligible taking advantage

A dentist works on a patient on Monday, July 26, 2021, in San Juan, Texas. The federal housing and dental benefits rolled out last year have had “atrocious” take-up, a new report says, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians potentially missing out on the benefits. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public service union is expected to announce the next steps in the drawn out contract negotiations with the government, after members voted for a mandate to launch the largest strike against a single employer in Canada’s history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public service union is expected to announce the next steps in the drawn out contract negotiations with the government, after members voted for a mandate to launch the largest strike against a single employer in Canada’s history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle