Federal Politics

People keep warm in their winter coats as they vape outside Parliament Hill’s West Block as snow falls in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Advocates on both sides of the vaping debate say the government must do more to enforce penalties for selling vapes to kids after a review concluded no changes to the legislation were warranted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds must enforce vaping penalties to protect kids: advocates

Review concludes no changes to current legislation are warranted

People keep warm in their winter coats as they vape outside Parliament Hill’s West Block as snow falls in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Advocates on both sides of the vaping debate say the government must do more to enforce penalties for selling vapes to kids after a review concluded no changes to the legislation were warranted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

U.S. President Joe Biden to visit Canada in March, White House says

Exact dates and locations for the presidential visit have not yet been announced

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau, Biden have bilateral meeting as North American summit begins in earnest

One-on-one Trudeau’s best chance to press Biden on issues of specific concern to Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with U.S. President Joe Biden at the Summit of the Americas, in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has accepted a request from fellow members of Parliament to appear before a committee that is seeking answers about what led to a chaotic holiday travel season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Transport minister will meet with committee investigating holiday travel woes

Widespread travel disruptions under the microscope included Sunwing and Via Rail

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission in Ottawa on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra has accepted a request from fellow members of Parliament to appear before a committee that is seeking answers about what led to a chaotic holiday travel season. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, holds a media availability on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada officially buying F-35 fighter jet for $19B to replace CF-18s

Canada to purchase 88 F-35s, with the first aircraft to be delivered in 2026

Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, holds a media availability on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Children’s backpacks and shoes are seen at a CEFA (Core Education and Fine Arts) Early Learning daycare franchise, in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. Families in Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care, the first jurisdiction to achieve the goal under a Canada-wide plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

As parents celebrate lower child-care fees, will provinces keep up with demand?

Shortage of early childhood educators has been an ongoing issue

Children’s backpacks and shoes are seen at a CEFA (Core Education and Fine Arts) Early Learning daycare franchise, in Langley, B.C., on May 29, 2018. Families in Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care, the first jurisdiction to achieve the goal under a Canada-wide plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Gemma Hickey poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. When they were a teenager, they underwent conversion therapy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

A year after Canada banned conversion therapy, Ottawa says no criminal charges laid

Justice Department not aware of any prosecutions under new criminal code offences

Gemma Hickey poses for a photograph in Toronto on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. When they were a teenager, they underwent conversion therapy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
Former governor general Michaelle Jean is shown in Paris, France on Monday, April 16, 2018. Jean says Western countries must admit mistakes they’ve made in Haiti and pressure that country’s elite to find a path out of an ongoing humanitarian crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Rich nations must help build Haiti consensus: former governor general Michaëlle Jean

‘What is endangered, at great risk, is the very national sovereignty of this country’

Former governor general Michaelle Jean is shown in Paris, France on Monday, April 16, 2018. Jean says Western countries must admit mistakes they’ve made in Haiti and pressure that country’s elite to find a path out of an ongoing humanitarian crisis. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says he wants to see more competition within Canada’s airspace in order to make flying more affordable for people.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Holiday travel mess shows why Canadian air travel industry needs competition: NDP

Singh calling on Liberal government to find ways to make the airline industry more competitive

A plane is silhouetted as it takes off from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., Monday, May 13, 2019. New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says he wants to see more competition within Canada’s airspace in order to make flying more affordable for people.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Peter Schiefke rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, May 4, 2018. Schiefke, chair of the House of Commons transport committee, is calling on Sunwing Airlines and Via Rail to publicly explain what caused the travel nightmare that plagued thousands of Canadians over the holidays. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

‘Unacceptable’: Committee chair says Sunwing, Via Rail must answer for holiday mess

House of Commons call for representatives from both companies to appear as witnesses

Peter Schiefke rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, May 4, 2018. Schiefke, chair of the House of Commons transport committee, is calling on Sunwing Airlines and Via Rail to publicly explain what caused the travel nightmare that plagued thousands of Canadians over the holidays. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Books are shown on a bookshelf in Ottawa on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011.There will be no new books or plays added to the public domain in Canada until 2043 after the government squeezed in a change to copyright laws just before the end of 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada extends copyright protection another 20 years to meet new trade obligation

Change brings Canada into compliance with commitment made under North American free trade deal

Books are shown on a bookshelf in Ottawa on Friday, Jan. 7, 2011.There will be no new books or plays added to the public domain in Canada until 2043 after the government squeezed in a change to copyright laws just before the end of 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Friday, December 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

An activist in office: Steven Guilbeault’s first year as Canada’s environment minister

Guilbeault has worked on plastic pollution, electric cars and emissions caps, among other areas

Canada Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault addresses a news conference at the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity in Montreal on Friday, December 16, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Experts clash on whether medically assisted dying system ready for expansion by March

Despite panel determining proper safeguards in place, federal government intends further delay

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a portrait in his office in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. Trudeau is signalling a shift away from humanitarian aid toward funding infrastructure projects in developing countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Trudeau signals shift away from humanitarian aid toward financing infrastructure

Canada’s humanitarian aid sector is closely watching next spring’s budget

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a portrait in his office in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. Trudeau is signalling a shift away from humanitarian aid toward funding infrastructure projects in developing countries. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Children’s Tylenol sits on a shelf at a pharmacy on November 9, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Should Canada produce more medicine amid ongoing shortages? Trudeau isn’t sure

Drug shortage has led to some calls for Canada to invest more in its pharmaceutical production

Children’s Tylenol sits on a shelf at a pharmacy on November 9, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet practises for an air show appearance in Ottawa, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Defence Department receives approval to spend $7B on 16 F-35s: sources

Funding request sent to the Treasury Board got the green light earlier this month

An F-35A Lightning II fighter jet practises for an air show appearance in Ottawa, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Paper straws are seen at a market in Montreal on Thursday, June 13, 2019. Canada’s ban on the manufacture and import for sale of some plastic items, including grocery bags and straws, has taken effect.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Manufacturing, importing straws and other single-use plastics now banned

Plastic checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks, straws and takeout containers can’t be made in Canada

Paper straws are seen at a market in Montreal on Thursday, June 13, 2019. Canada’s ban on the manufacture and import for sale of some plastic items, including grocery bags and straws, has taken effect.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Prince Charles speaks about environmental issues in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on Thursday, May 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Royal couple’s three-day visit to Canada for Platinum Jubilee cost at least $1M

King Charles visited Canada to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II

Prince Charles speaks about environmental issues in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories on Thursday, May 19, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Negotiators reach nature deal at COP15 despite objections from African countries

Deal calls for protection of at least 30 per cent of land and marine areas

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada speaks to reporters at the COP15 the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Sunday, December 18, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A CF-18 Hornet sits on the tarmac at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on Monday June 20, 2022. A senior Air Force officer says the military will add more oversight over how call signs are assigned to fighter pilots. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg

Air Force to add oversight after officers lose pay over ‘egregious’ pilot call sign

Formalized process for assigning call signs expected to be in place by the end of January

A CF-18 Hornet sits on the tarmac at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, in Trenton, Ont., on Monday June 20, 2022. A senior Air Force officer says the military will add more oversight over how call signs are assigned to fighter pilots. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg