2024

The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, swept the polls in the UK this week, while Canada is set to appoint its first female chief of defence staff. And who is Count Binface, the “intergalactic space warrior” who ran against former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak? Here are some of the top stories this week. What will Canada-UK relations look like under a Labour government? The election of a new Labour government will take place on Thursday. British elections may come with the promise of change in the UK, but the immediate impact on Relations with Canada is less clear. The story continues below the advertisement Relations between Canada and the United Kingdom, while generally strong, have hit some bumps this year. The recently defeated Conservative government unilaterally suspended trade talks with Ottawa in January and recently put renewed pressure on NATO allies, including Canada, to further increase their defence spending. In the short term, these tensions could persist, analysts say, although shared priorities between Labor and the Liberals could lead to an easing in the future. Meet the ‘intergalactic space warrior’ who challenged Britain’s Rishi Sunak One of the candidates was the last Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and currently leads the Conservative Party. Another claims to come from spacehas promised to “build at least one affordable house, which is more than all the other parties can muster” and wants to force all former prime ministers to join the military. They were both running for the same constituency in the north of England, although one did so in a more satirical manner than the other. 2:16 Calls grow for Biden to step down as Trump uses immunity as leverage TRUDEAU AND BIDEN: QUESTIONS ABOUT LEADERSHIP Trudeau says ‘many discussions’ underway after surprise byelection defeat Last week’s crushing defeat in a Toronto riding in by-elections has sparked “lots of conversations” within the Liberal Party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday, as questions also swirl around his political future. The story continues below the advertisement Since the Conservatives’ surprise victory in Toronto-St. Paul’s — a Liberal stronghold for more than three decades — Trudeau said the party has “engaged in many important conversations.” The email you need for the day the main news from Canada and around the world. “Let’s be very clear, the defeat in the by-election last week, without wanting to sugarcoat things, was difficult, it’s something we have to take seriously,” he told reporters in Montreal. Should Biden step down? Calls mount after debate sparks fitness concerns Calls are growing louder for an American president Joe Biden to abandon his re-election bid after last week’s shaky debate performance raised concerns among Democrats about his fitness and ability to beat the former president Donald Trump. But political analysts say that as long as Biden refuses those calls, replacing him with another candidate before the November election will be difficult and unlikely. On Tuesday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to publicly urge Biden to withdraw from the party’s presidential nomination, saying “too much is at stake” for Biden to stay in the race and lose to Trump. Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan will be the first woman to serve as Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff Lieutenant General Jennie Carignan will become Canada’s new Chief of Defence Staffmaking her the first woman to be chosen for the position. The story continues below the advertisement Carignan, who currently serves as chief of professional conduct and culture, will replace Gen. Wayne Eyre, who is set to retire this summer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced Carignan’s appointment on Wednesday, said she was the “right person” to lead Canada’s military at a “pivotal moment” with “complicated geopolitics and heightened threats,” particularly in the Arctic. Carignan is set to officially take command of the Canadian Armed Forces at a ceremony on July 18. David Vigneault, head of Canada’s spy agency, retires After seven years in this position, David Vigneault East outgoing as director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the news on X Thursday, wishing Vigneault the best in his next chapter. “David Vigneault has dedicated his entire career to serving Canadians, protecting them and our national interests from those who seek to harm them,” LeBlanc wrote. Fashionable now Canada Post employee saves the day after child forgets stamp on postcard sent to grandmother Ozempic and Wegovy Use May Be Linked to ‘Stroke’ and Blindness, Study Finds Unemployment rate climbs to 6.4% in June. Here’s how the Bank of Canada could respond The Canadian labour market continued to slow in June, with younger workers particularly struggling during the typically busy summer season. The story continues below the advertisement The unemployment rate climbed to 6.4% last month as the country lost 1,400 jobs. The unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 24, however, is more than double that at 13.5%, the highest level since September 2014, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic. Greece to introduce 6-day workweek. Could Canada follow? Workers in Greece will have to work slightly longer hours starting this week, the country Presentation a six-day work week for some. Under new labor laws passed last year, some Greek workers began working 48 hours a week from Monday, a move that union representatives across sectors have called “barbaric.” However, the movement is does not find many takers here in Canada. The Digital Services Tax has come into effect in Canada. How could it affect you? THE Digital Services Tax is now in force. Foreign tech giants now have to pay a three percent tax on Canadian users’ revenues, retroactive to 2022, after the federal government enacted the measure with a decree in council June 28. Many of these large companies are based in the United States, and the U.S. government and business communities on both sides of the border have called on Ottawa to end the measure. The story continues below the advertisement Electric vehicles could become more expensive in Canada. Are…

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather He said he was “looking forward to making a real difference” as the government’s new special adviser on Jewish relations and anti-Semitism. The Prime Minister’s Office announced his appointment to the post on Friday, saying Housefather will advise the prime minister and cabinet and work with the Jewish community. Housefather, who is Jewish, has spoken out about the rising number of anti-semitism in Canada since the current conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. The appointment comes four months after the Housefather considered leaving the Liberal caucus after an NDP motion on the Israel-Gaza war left him feeling angry and isolated within his party. After that period of reflection, he said he would remain a Liberal and that Trudeau had asked him to work with the government to tackle the “massive” problem of anti-Semitism in Canada right now. The story continues below the advertisement 2:12 Montreal MP Anthony Housefather ponders his future in the Liberal Party Housefather then helped launch a congressional committee study of anti-Semitism on college campuses in May. The email you need for the day the main news from Canada and around the world. Housefather himself has been the target of anti-Semitic hate, including earlier this week when posters were plastered on street signs in Montreal calling him a Nazi, equating Zionism with terrorism and telling him to “leave Canada.” Housefather welcomed his appointment, which will include working with Deborah Lyons, the federal government’s special envoy for combating anti-Semitism. “Jewish Canadians must feel safe in our communities, on campuses and in Canadian life,” he said in a statement. The original NDP motion called, among other things, for Canada to officially recognize the State of Palestine. Fashionable now Greece to introduce 6-day workweek. Could Canada follow? LCBO stores to close as Ontario-wide strike begins

THE Parliamentary Budget Officer believes that the staffing of new regulators within the Liberals Online Harms Act will cost about $200 million over five years. The federal government wants to create a Digital Safety Commission to regulate social media companies and force them to limit harmful content online. If the government’s bill passes through parliament, the commission will establish a set of regulations and have the power to impose fines on companies that break the rules. The online harms bill also proposes the creation of a digital safety ombudsman to whom Canadians can report their concerns, as well as a new digital safety office. In a report released Thursday morning, the DPB said the Heritage Department estimates the new entities will employ about 300 people when fully operational. The story continues below the advertisement 2:16 Online Harm Response Act “The PBO estimates that from 2024-25 to 2028-29, total operating costs will be $201 million, less any administrative monetary penalties, fines…or regulatory fees collected by the commission, the ombudsman and the office,” it reads. Financial news and information delivered to your email every Saturday. The report notes that the government could raise revenue by fining companies that don’t comply, but the estimated cost does not include an analysis of what that might look like. “There is a high degree of uncertainty about the revenue that will be generated, as it depends on the willingness of outside companies to comply with the requirements set by the Commission and the Online Harms Act.” Fashionable now Greece to introduce 6-day workweek. Could Canada follow? This Chicken Takes The Bus To School. Now He’s Been Declared The World’s Smartest Chicken Costs may also be higher if new entities decide to use external consulting services or legal support, the report says. The watchdog points out that the government’s staffing estimates are based on those of other Canadian and international regulatory bodies. The story continues below the advertisement 5:58 Analysis of the draft law on online harms Law Minister Arif Virani introduced the Online Harms Bill in February, saying social media giants must take responsibility for harmful content. But opposition conservatives have been critical, saying it would create a new bureaucracy. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner has asked the PBO to conduct an analysis of the costs involved in implementing the new system. She argued the government could instead amend existing laws and regulators to ensure Canadians are better protected online. © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link