Federal Politics

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at the Nanaimo Fish and Game Protective Association clubhouse on Wednesday, March 15. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)

Conservative leader Poilievre promises tough-on-crime policies during Island visit

Tory leader held rally Wednesday in Nanaimo, has another planned Thursday in Greater Victoria

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at the Nanaimo Fish and Game Protective Association clubhouse on Wednesday, March 15. (Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin)
King Charles speaks to members of the Commonwealth community during the annual Commonwealth Day reception at Buckingham Palace in London, Monday March 13, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will hold a special ceremony marking the coronation of King Charles on May 6. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Daniel Leal/Pool via AP

Canada will hold special ceremony to mark May 6 coronation of King Charles: Trudeau

Details about the event, including how Canadians can watch, will be revealed in the coming weeks

King Charles speaks to members of the Commonwealth community during the annual Commonwealth Day reception at Buckingham Palace in London, Monday March 13, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will hold a special ceremony marking the coronation of King Charles on May 6. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Daniel Leal/Pool via AP
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Fortin, a senior military officer who was acquitted on a sexual assault charge late last year, has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the Canadian government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Senior military officer acquitted of sexual assault sues government, PM for $6M

Suit alleges Dany Fortin suffered damages due to defamation and misfeasance in public office

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin speaks to members of the media following an acquittal in his case at a Gatineau, Que., courthouse on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. Fortin, a senior military officer who was acquitted on a sexual assault charge late last year, has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the Canadian government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
A screen displays a patient’s vital signs during open heart surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore on Nov. 28, 2016. The senator who pushed for Canada’s assisted dying regime to include people whose only condition is a mental disorder says the debate about that policy is now over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Patrick Semansky

The issue of expanding assisted dying eligibility ‘has already been decided’: senator

Stan Kutcher urged Canadians to stop thinking about patients with mental disorders as lacking agency

A screen displays a patient’s vital signs during open heart surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore on Nov. 28, 2016. The senator who pushed for Canada’s assisted dying regime to include people whose only condition is a mental disorder says the debate about that policy is now over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Patrick Semansky
HMCS Windsor, one of Canada’s Victoria-class long range patrol submarines, returns to port in Halifax on June 20, 2018. The clock is ticking for the Canadian military to decide whether to replace its submarines, as Canada’s closest allies push ahead with plans to build new fleets. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Canada at crossroads on submarines as cost, need butt heads and allies press ahead

No formal commitment to a new submarine fleet after Victoria-class vessels retired in the mid-2030s

HMCS Windsor, one of Canada’s Victoria-class long range patrol submarines, returns to port in Halifax on June 20, 2018. The clock is ticking for the Canadian military to decide whether to replace its submarines, as Canada’s closest allies push ahead with plans to build new fleets. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre steps away from the microphone after an announcement and news conference, in New Westminster, B.C., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Poilievre says that if he became prime minister, he would sue pharmaceutical companies as a way to fund drug treatment ⁠— but he won’t say what he would do about supervised consumption sites. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre steps away from the microphone after an announcement and news conference, in New Westminster, B.C., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Poilievre says that if he became prime minister, he would sue pharmaceutical companies as a way to fund drug treatment ⁠— but he won’t say what he would do about supervised consumption sites. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. New polling shows the majority of Canadians support the federal government calling an independent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference, but still feel the country’s electoral system is safe. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Poll suggests most Canadians trust election results, want interference inquiry

Leger finds 71 per cent of Canadians feel the electoral system is safe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. New polling shows the majority of Canadians support the federal government calling an independent inquiry into allegations of foreign interference, but still feel the country’s electoral system is safe. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a news conference in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Poilievre calls for spending cap, tax cuts in coming federal budget

Tory leader accused Prime Minister of fuelling inflation

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks at a news conference in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sunday, March 12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland appears as a witness at a Senate committee on national finance in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Canada is banning the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada bans Russian steel, aluminum imports as Joly raises ‘regime change’ in Moscow

Joly said regime change is point of sanctions and pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes

Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland appears as a witness at a Senate committee on national finance in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Canada is banning the import of Russian steel and aluminum as part of its sanctions regime. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland rises during Question Period, Monday, January 30, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada’s 2023 federal budget coming March 28: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland

‘One of my principal responsibilities is not to pour fuel on the flames of inflation’

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland rises during Question Period, Monday, January 30, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Google Canada’s Sabrina Geremia, Vice President and Country Manager, appears via videoconference as a witness at a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. Geremia is set to return to a parliamentary committee following the tech giant’s decision to run a five week test that is blocking news access to some of its users. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Google says it will stop blocking Canadian news links next week following test

‘We’re simply doing our due diligence in the most responsible way possible’

Google Canada’s Sabrina Geremia, Vice President and Country Manager, appears via videoconference as a witness at a Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. Geremia is set to return to a parliamentary committee following the tech giant’s decision to run a five week test that is blocking news access to some of its users. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The Chinatown gate is seen on Thursday, March 9, 2023 in Montreal. China on Friday accused Canada of smearing its reputation over allegations China is secretly operating two overseas police stations in Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

China accuses Canada of smearing reputation over alleged secret police stations

‘Stop sensationalizing and hyping the matter and stop attacks and smears on China’

The Chinatown gate is seen on Thursday, March 9, 2023 in Montreal. China on Friday accused Canada of smearing its reputation over allegations China is secretly operating two overseas police stations in Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Canadian National Soccer Team players Sophie Schmidt, left Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair, and Quinn, right, prepare to appear before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa, studying safe sport in Canada, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Captain Christine Sinclair slams Canada Soccer at parliamentary hearing

Nation’s soccer icon blasts ‘culture of secrecy and obstruction’

Canadian National Soccer Team players Sophie Schmidt, left Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair, and Quinn, right, prepare to appear before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in Ottawa, studying safe sport in Canada, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
President Joe Biden, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, arrive for a news conference in Mexico City, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Biden will travel to Ottawa on March 23 for two days in Canada, his first visit in person since taking office in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik

U.S. President Joe Biden’s long-awaited Canada visit to happen March 23-24

Shared supply chains, climate change and accelerating the clean energy transition discussed

President Joe Biden, left, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, arrive for a news conference in Mexico City, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. Biden will travel to Ottawa on March 23 for two days in Canada, his first visit in person since taking office in 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik
Galen G. Weston CEO, chairman and president of Loblaw Companies Limited speaks during the company’s annual general meeting in Toronto on May 3, 2018. The CEOs of Canada’s largest grocery store chains will appear before a parliamentary committee today to answer questions about the rapid rise in grocery prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Grocery CEOs deny accusations that food price inflation is driven by profit-mongering

‘We are at the end of a very long food supply chain that has economic inputs at every step and stage’

Galen G. Weston CEO, chairman and president of Loblaw Companies Limited speaks during the company’s annual general meeting in Toronto on May 3, 2018. The CEOs of Canada’s largest grocery store chains will appear before a parliamentary committee today to answer questions about the rapid rise in grocery prices. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Mark Lee, who was a candidate for councillor in Richmond, B.C., in the 2022 municipal election, poses for a photograph in Vancouver, on Monday, March 6, 2023. Lee says he knows what it’s like to walk the fine line faced by fellow Chinese Canadians entering the political arena amid scrutiny of alleged foreign interference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Chinese Canadians walk tightrope in political arena amid foreign interference debate

Some worry about Chinese Canadians being tarred by association

Mark Lee, who was a candidate for councillor in Richmond, B.C., in the 2022 municipal election, poses for a photograph in Vancouver, on Monday, March 6, 2023. Lee says he knows what it’s like to walk the fine line faced by fellow Chinese Canadians entering the political arena amid scrutiny of alleged foreign interference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrives to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on National Defence, regarding the surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of China, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Defence chief wanted CF-18s to destroy object over Yukon, but fighters were delayed

‘I gave direction that it’d be preferable for the Canadian CF-18s to do the shoot down’

Minister of National Defence Anita Anand arrives to appear as a witness at the Standing Committee on National Defence, regarding the surveillance balloon from the People’s Republic of China, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Canadian flag flies on top of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. People who have been convicted of a number of indecency and anti-abortion offences that are no longer on the books can now apply to have those convictions expunged.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Government adds indecency, abortion offences to list of ‘unjust’ historic convictions

Police historically used indecency charges to target and raid LGBTQ nightclubs and swingers clubs

The Canadian flag flies on top of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, March 6, 2023. People who have been convicted of a number of indecency and anti-abortion offences that are no longer on the books can now apply to have those convictions expunged.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking MPs and senators on Parliament’s national security committee to launch a new investigation of foreign interference in Canada. Trudeau makes a keynote address at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting, in Ottawa, Monday, March 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Special watchdog to oversee foreign interference investigations: PM Trudeau

Move does not include a public inquiry into allegations of foreign meddling in Canada’s elections

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is asking MPs and senators on Parliament’s national security committee to launch a new investigation of foreign interference in Canada. Trudeau makes a keynote address at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting, in Ottawa, Monday, March 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. The RCMP says it has opened an investigation into possible violations of the Security of Information Act concerning recent media reports about alleged foreign interference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. The RCMP says it has opened an investigation into possible violations of the Security of Information Act concerning recent media reports about alleged foreign interference. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck