Politics

Donald Trump says he chose his former acting U.S. attorney general Matt Whitaker serve as United States ambassador to NATOthe core Western alliance about which the president-elect has expressed skepticism for years. Trump, in a statement, said Whitaker was “a strong warrior and loyal patriot” who “will ensure that America’s interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO allies and will stand firm in the face of threats to peace. and stability. Whitaker’s choice as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is unusual, given that he has a background in law enforcement, not foreign policy. Whitaker had been considered a potential choice for attorney general, a position Trump instead gave to Matt Gaetz, a fierce loyalist who has been seen as divisive even within his own party. The NATO post is particularly sensitive given Trump’s emphasis on the value of the alliance and his complaints that many members are failing to meet their commitments to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. Story continues below advertisement 1:31 Canada must double defense spending to meet NATO target, PBO report says Whitaker is a former U.S. attorney in Iowa and served as acting attorney general between November 2018 and February 2019, as special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference was winding down. Before that, he served as chief of staff to Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, before being tapped to replace his boss after Sessions was fired amid continued outrage over his decision to step down from the job. investigation into Russia. Whitaker served in the role for several months, in an acting capacity and without Senate confirmation, until William Barr was confirmed as attorney general in February 2019. Whitaker has relentlessly criticized the federal criminal charges against Trump, which appear poised to evaporate following Trump’s election victory. Whitaker has used his regular appearances on Fox News to join other Republicans in denouncing what they say is the politicization of the Justice Department over the past four years. Story continues below advertisement Whitaker has little obvious foreign policy or national security experience, making him an unknown in many U.S. security circles. Receive national news daily Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day. Retired Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, said the ambassador’s position was “incredibly important” in the U.S. and NATO security framework, as representative directly from American presidents in decision-making within the alliance. “At the end of the day, they are considered to have the credibility of the president when they speak,” Breedlove said. 9:40 a.m. ‘He’s extremely serious’: John Bolton on Trump’s warning to NATO allies Former ambassadors to NATO generally have years of diplomatic, political or military experience. Trump’s first-term NATO ambassador, former Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, did not do so, although she was involved in foreign policy issues when she was in Congress. Breedlove said security experience was not essential for the position, but being considered to have a direct line to the president was. Story continues below advertisement “They must be seen as truly representing the president’s intentions. Having the confidence of the president is what is most important in this position,” he said. During his 2016 campaign, Trump alarmed his Western allies by warning that the United States, under his leadership, could abandon its NATO treaty commitments and only come to the defense of countries that reach the defense spending targets of the transatlantic alliance. Learn more about the world More videos Trump, as president, ultimately approved NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause, which states that an armed attack on one or more of its members shall be considered an attack on all members. But he has often described NATO allies as leeches on the U.S. military and openly questioned the value of the military alliance that has defined U.S. foreign policy for decades. In the years that followed, he continued to threaten not to defend NATO members who failed to meet their spending targets. Earlier this year, Trump said that when he was president, he warned NATO allies that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever it wants” to “delinquent” countries. Current trend Randy Boissonnault leaves Cabinet amid trade relations controversy These are the 10 most stolen vehicles in Canada in 2023 “’You haven’t paid? Are you a delinquent?’ ” Trump said at a rally in February. “No, I won’t protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.’” Story continues below advertisement Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General at the time, said in response that “any suggestion that allies will not defend themselves would jeopardize our security as a whole, including that of the United States, and put American soldiers at risk.” and Europeans at increased risk.

President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand warns that if the House of Commons does not resume normal activities, some ministries could be in financial difficulty. On Monday, Anand filed a Supplementary Estimates request of $21.6 billion to fund programs such as housing, dental care and the national school feeding program. One of the most expensive items concerns the $970.8 million intended for civil servant pay adjustments following collective agreements. But part of the money requested by the government is intended to reimburse departments for what they have already spent, and that money must be voted on by December 10, according to House procedures. 2:27 Conservatives say Liberals ‘paralyzed Parliament’ by refusing to hand over documents to RCMP Pay adjustments for civil servants, for example, included one-off lump sum payments made between April 1 and July 31 of this year. Story continues below advertisement “Smaller departments would be disproportionately affected sooner,” Anand told reporters on Tuesday. “Everything is good for the next three to four weeks, but we need to make sure that the money flows to these small departments and then to the larger departments, which also power a lot of the business of government and the country.” Anand said $3 billion in the Supplementary Estimates tabled Monday came from legal funding requirements — such as $400 million in financial aid to Ukraine — and did not require a vote. These expenses are not threatened. Get the latest national news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen. The problem, however, is that the House of Commons has been deadlocked for almost two months as the Conservatives pressure the Liberals to hand over documents relating to hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful spending in a green technology fund. The issue is at the center of an ongoing debate over privilege, which conservatives have vowed to pursue until they get what they want. Questions of privilege take precedence over all other business of the House, so government business does not progress. On Monday, Liberal House Leader Karina Gould said the Conservatives were “holding the government hostage,” noting that the government had handed over nearly 29,000 pages of documents. But on Tuesday, the conservatives were quick to accuse the liberals of not being open. 3:14 Liberals accuse Tories of “witch hunt” over “green slush fund” Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer shared with reporters a letter from Michel Bédard, law clerk and parliamentary counsel, to Speaker of the House Greg Fergus, in which he said the government had withheld and redacted certain pages – in relying on the provisions of the Access to Information Act. Story continues below advertisement “Obviously the government chooses which documents it turns over,” Scheer said. “We are once again faced with a situation in which the Trudeau Liberals choose to keep Parliament paralyzed by this scandal. They would rather paralyze Parliament than hand over the documents related to this scandal to the RCMP.” Current trend Taylor Swift in Toronto: $70,000 loss due to ‘undelivered tickets’ under investigation Organic carrots sold in Canada and the United States recalled following deadly E.coli outbreak Although the opposition parties could side with the Liberals to end the debate on privileges, neither the NDP nor the Bloc Québécois seem inclined to do so, each of them having called on the Liberals on Tuesday to restore the documents. “Currently, what we are seeing in the House is deplorable. But the Liberals are not being transparent and providing documents with essential information. It is not responsible for documents to be entirely redacted,” declared NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice, speaking to journalists in French. “And then we have Conservatives, who engage in systemic obstruction, who refuse to vote on their own motion and continue to propose amendments and subamendments to delay the work of the House.” Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Gould said she was still talking with the NDP and Bloc, although she did not say whether the government was trying to drum up support to end the privilege debate. 1:12 Conservative MP pressures Liberals to provide documents on ‘green slush fund’ The Bloc said it had not had meaningful discussions with the Liberals on this subject. Story continues below advertisement “Not really. Not much is happening on this subject. It’s rather calm,” Parliamentary Bloc leader Alain Therrien said in French. “We don’t know what will happen with the Supplementary Estimates. We are in total impasse, in total darkness. As for negotiating the opening of Parliament, (the Liberals) only have to provide the documents.” Fergus ruled last month that the government “clearly failed to fully comply” with a House order to provide him with documents relating to a now-defunct foundation responsible for distributing hundreds of millions of federal dollars to green technology projects. The Liberals said ordering the production of documents to be turned over to the RCMP blurs the lines between Parliament and the justice system. The RCMP said it likely could not use the documents in an investigation if they were obtained that way. Conservatives argue that police should have access to all the information before making a decision. Learn more about Canada More videos &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

Reduce article font size Increase the font size of the article The House of Commons on Monday condemned an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate the former Liberal justice minister. Irwin Cotler. Members of the House unanimously supported a Bloc Québécois motion praising Cotler’s work in favor of human rights, recognizing his political contributions and condemning what he describes as death threats orchestrated by agents of a foreign regime. The Globe and Mail first reported that the RCMP had warned Cotler on October 26 that there was an imminent threat of assassination within 48 hours, then later said the threat against him had been significantly reduced. It indicates that Cotler, a vocal critic of the Iranian regime, has been under the protection of the RCMP since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Cotler’s office confirmed the Globe and Mail’s information to the Canadian Press. Defense Minister Bill Blair told reporters Monday that Canada’s national security and law enforcement agencies are “doing an appropriate and necessary job to protect all Canadians, particularly parliamentarians and former parliamentarians.” “. Story continues below advertisement He said those agencies have requested “that we not comment on any particular investigation or effort they are undertaking.” 10:51 a.m. “I think there is still hope that she is alive and well”: son of Canadian hostage held in Gaza Current trend Taylor Swift in Toronto: $70,000 loss due to ‘undelivered tickets’ under investigation Canada Post and union prepare to resume negotiations with special mediator Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne pledged to give Cotler “all the protection that the Government of Canada can offer.” Receive national news daily Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day. The RCMP declined to comment on the matter Monday. It said it based protection measures on threat and risk assessments, but did not confirm whether individuals were under protection or provide details of those measures. Bloc MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe said in a statement to the House that Cotler “incurred the wrath of the Iranian regime” by calling for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be listed as an entity terrorist. The government did so in June, after months of mounting political pressure. Brunelle-Duceppe also condemned the “growing temptation of foreign powers to commit political assassinations on Canadian and Quebec soil.” Story continues below advertisement In a statement released Monday, B’nai Brith Canada called the plot “an attack on Canada’s democratic values ​​and sovereignty” and said it should serve as a wake-up call. “Canada must act now to combat extremism, mitigate foreign interference and protect its citizens from those who seek to undermine the sanctity of our democracy. Learn more about Canada More videos &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defends his controversial carbon pricing agenda on the global stage and argues that misinformation threatens environmental progress. Trudeau arrived in Brazil today for the G20 leaders’ summit and spoke at a conference organized by the anti-poverty group Global Citizen. He touted Canada’s consumer carbon tax, arguing that it is among the strongest in the world but “an easy political target” in Canada. Trudeau acknowledged misgivings about the policy, but said it was fueled by what he called propaganda and misinformation that affordability contrasts with fighting climate change. He said his Liberal party had already won three elections on the issue of carbon pricing, and he said the policy was “very much in question” for the next election. Receive national news daily Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to reverse this policy, in favor of a “carbon tax election” to lower the cost of living. Story continues below advertisement Trudeau made the comments during a panel themed on Canada’s hosting of next year’s G7 summit, although Trudeau did not speak about the impending initiative. Ahead of the event, his office said remarks would focus on “the economic case for climate action as well as Canada’s climate finance and international aid policies” for the G7 presidency. Trudeau’s remarks were almost entirely about defending the carbon tax, saying it had been the subject of “propaganda, misinformation, disinformation and outright lies.” Learn more about politics More videos The federal NDP and some of its provincial counterparts have distanced themselves from the policies they previously supported. Current trend Poilievre says he would fight Trump’s economic policies, tariffs ‘with fire’ Canada Post and union prepare to resume negotiations with special mediator Ottawa is sending rebates to offset what people pay in carbon pricing when they buy fuel, so they don’t get any less worse off. People who take steps to reduce their fuel consumption fare even better, because they still get the same rebate but pay less in carbon pricing. The tax applies in provinces and territories that do not have carbon pricing systems that Ottawa deems consistent with its federal objectives. Parliamentary Budget Officer says vast majority of households receive more rebates than they pay for carbon pricing, but for most those gains are erased once broader economic factors are taken into account . Trudeau disputed this analysis, including in his remarks on Sunday. Story continues below advertisement “It’s actually become a way to help with affordability and put more money in the pockets of people who are struggling,” he said. &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping last met with U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday, but he was already eyeing President-elect Donald Trump and his “America First” policy, saying Beijing “is ready to work with a new U.S. administration.” During their interviews on the sidelines of the annual meeting Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation SummitXi warned that a stable relationship between China and the United States was essential not only for the two nations, but also for the “future and destiny of humanity.” “Make the right choice,” he warned. “Continue to explore the right way for two great countries to get along well.” Without mentioning Trump by name, Xi appeared to express concern that the new president’s protectionist rhetoric on the campaign trail could send U.S.-China relations into another valley. “China is willing to work with a new U.S. administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences to move toward a steady transition of China-U.S. relations for the benefit of the two peoples,” Xi said through the intermediary of an interpreter. Story continues below advertisement Xi, who is firmly entrenched at the top of China’s political hierarchy, spoke forcefully in his brief remarks to reporters. Biden, who is ending more than 50 years of public service, spoke more broadly about the evolving relationship between the two countries. He reflected not only on the past four years, but also on the decades during which the two men knew each other. “We haven’t always agreed, but our conversations have always been open and frank. We have never been wrong,” Biden said. “These conversations avoid miscalculations and ensure that competition between our two countries does not escalate into conflict. » Learn more about the world More videos Biden was expected to urge Xi to deter North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. Executives, surrounded by senior aides, gathered around a long rectangle of tables in a large conference room at the Defines Hotel and Conference Center in Lima. Get the latest national news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen. China “hosted” the meeting this year, after Xi and Biden met a year ago on the sidelines of APEC in Northern California, a meeting hosted by the United States. They had a lot to discuss, including China’s indirect support for Russiahuman rights issues, technology and Taiwan, the autonomous democracy that Beijing claims as its own. There is a lot of uncertainty on what lies ahead in U.S.-China relations under Trump, who campaigned on a promise to take Rates 60% on Chinese imports. Many U.S. companies, including Nike and eyewear retailer Warby Parker, have already diversified their purchases outside of China. Shoe brand Steve Madden announces plans to reduce imports from China up to 45% next year. Story continues below advertisement In a congratulatory message to Trump after his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, Xi called on the United States and China to manage their differences and get along in a new era. In front of the cameras on Saturday, Xi spoke with Biden – but there was no doubt that his message was aimed at Trump. “In a major and flourishing scientific and technological revolution, neither decoupling nor disrupting the supply chain is a solution,” Xi said. “Only mutual and beneficial cooperation can lead to common development. “Small land, high fence” is not the solution a big country should adopt.” After being greeted by Xi, Biden ignored shouted questions from reporters about his concerns about the new Trump administration as well as North Korea. The leaders also did not contact reporters after their brief comments at the start of the meeting. Biden administration officials would brief the Trump team that managing intense competition with Beijing will likely be the most significant foreign policy challenge they face, White House national security adviser Jake said Sullivan. Biden views his relationship with Xi as one of the most important on the international stage and is putting a lot of effort into cultivating it. The two men first became acquainted during trips through the United States and China while they were both vice presidents, interactions that they say left a lasting impression. Current trend Canada Post strike: Purolator workers will not process packages, union says Jake Paul beats Mike Tyson: millions tune in for high-profile fight on Netflix “For more than a decade, you and I have spent many hours together, here and in China and in between,” Biden said. “We spent a lot of time dealing with these issues. » Story continues below advertisement But the last four years have been marked by a series of difficult times. The FBI this week offered new details about a federal investigation In Chinese government efforts to hack U.S. telecommunications networks. Initial results revealed a “vast and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics. US intelligence officials also assessed China increased sales in Russia machine tools, microelectronics and other technologies that Moscow uses to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons for use in his war against Ukraine. And tensions flared last year after Biden ordered the shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon that was passing through the United States. Biden seeks Xi to intensify Chinese engagement to prevent an already dangerous situation with North Korea from worsening further. Biden, South Korean President Yoon Seok Yul and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday condemned the decision of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to send thousands of troops to help Moscow repel Ukrainian forces who have seized territory in the Russian border region of Kursk. Biden called it “dangerous and destabilizing cooperation.” White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade, for not doing more to control Pyongyang. Story continues below advertisement The North Koreans have also supplied Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to U.S. and South Korean…

Reduce article font size Increase the font size of the article Former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister John Manley said it would be in Canada’s best interest to hold an election as soon as possible. In a recent interview with Global News, Manley said he was concerned that an election after the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would mean the new federal government would be ill-equipped to adjust to the new administration. “It would be in the best interests of the country for us to hold our federal elections and put a government in place, whether current or different, in time to deal with what comes out of Washington after January 20,” he said. Manley said. . Trump, however, pledged to impose more tariffs on his trading partners. some argue that Canadian oil could be excluded from such a movewhile NATO defense spending This has been a great frustration for U.S. officials who have pressured Canada to spend more. Story continues below advertisement Border security and the risk of migrants crossing the northern border if Trump keeps his promise of mass expulsions has also drawn calls from Immigration Minister Marc Miller. that the Safe Third Country Agreement must be implemented by both countries. Get the latest national news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen. “We are going to face a very different environment bilaterally and globally and we better prepare,” Manley said. “They should really go to the people and ask for a mandate, because if they don’t get one, someone else is going to have to pick up the ball and figure out what to do.” 3:49 Trudeau wants Canada and the United States to succeed on “both sides of the border” after Trump’s re-election Current trend Canada Post strike explained: what you need to know about your mail The FDA wants these cold medications taken off the shelves. Should Canada follow? Despite frequent calls from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for an election, so far Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given no indication that Canadians will go to the polls before the October 2025 deadline , under the Canadian Fixed Date Elections Act. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters last week that he was in talks with opposition parties to try to overthrow the government. Story continues below advertisement However, the Bloc also hopes to pass two bills – one on supply management and another on old age pensions – and may not want an election if it continues to believe that these bills could be adopted in the House of Commons. Meanwhile, according to a Global News exclusive Ipsos poll from September, support for the Liberal minority government recently reached a “new low” among Canadians, continuing for more than a year to trail the Conservatives by double digits. The prime minister is also facing internal friction. Several members of his own caucus called for his resignation last month, fearing their constituents had left Trudeau behind. Trudeau declared last month that he would remain Liberal leader. Learn more about Canada More videos &copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

As President-elect of the United States Donald Trump decides to establish a more forceful presidency than in his first term, he chooses loyalists for his cabinet and considers a tool known as playtime meeting ignore Senate confirmations, even for some of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government. Trump demanded over the weekend that Republican leaders in the Senate, who will hold a majority in the chamber next year, agree to allow recess appointments. That would represent a significant shift in Senate power, but Trump returns to Washington with the almost full support of his party, including more traditional Republicans who still hold a sway in the House. Their commitment, however, is being tested now that Trump has turned to select people outside the mainstream of the Republican Party, like former Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii for the highest positions, as well as noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Story continues below advertisement It quickly became clear this week that figures like Gaetz, whom Trump announced as his choice for attorney general, and Kennedy, who was nominated for health secretary, may have difficulty winning majority support in the Senate – even if the Republicans will benefit from a majority of 53 seats. But that may not matter if Trump can resort to recess appointments. How do playtime meetings take place? The Senate, as created by the U.S. Constitution, plays an important role in confirming – or rejecting – high-ranking officials such as Cabinet positions, judges and ambassadors. This is part of the government’s checks and balances that ensure the president cannot rule unilaterally. However, there is a clause in the Constitution that allows presidents to fulfill their administrations while the Senate is in recess. Early in the nation’s history, Congress took months-long recess in Washington, and presidents might resort to recess appointments to prevent an important position from remaining vacant. But more recently, the holiday nomination process has been brought to the fore in partisan fights with the president. Story continues below advertisement 1:59 Trump’s Cabinet Picks Signal Trouble for Canada President Bill Clinton made 139 recess appointments and President George W. Bush made 171, but neither used that process for high-level cabinet positions, according to the Congressional Research Service. President Barack Obama tried to maintain the practice, using it 32 times, but a 2014 Supreme Court ruling put a damper on the president’s power to make recess appointments. Receive national news daily Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Senate must be suspended or adjourned for 10 days before a president can make unilateral appointments. This has resulted in a practice where the Senate — even during weeks away from Washington — still holds pro forma sessions in which a senator opens and closes the chamber, but no legislative activity is conducted. The House also holds some power over recess appointments by refusing to allow the Senate to adjourn. Why is Trump demanding holiday appointments? Trump plans to become a much stronger and more forceful president than any of his predecessors. Story continues below advertisement While still president in 2020, Trump threatened to resort to recess nominations after Democrats slowed Senate confirmation of his nominees. He has threatened to use a presidential power enshrined in the Constitution to adjourn both houses of Congress on “extraordinary occasions” and when there is disagreement between the House and Senate over adjournment. Current trend The FDA wants these cold medications taken off the shelves. Should Canada follow? ‘Full House’ Star Dave Coulier Reveals ‘Very Aggressive’ Cancer Diagnosis When Trump becomes president again next year, he will work with Republicans who hold majorities in the House and Senate and promise to support his agenda. But demanding recess appointments allows Trump to wield his political power and potentially impose the most controversial choices on his administration. 4:04 Conflict of interest? Why Elon Musk’s new role in the Trump administration is raising concerns Sen. John Thune, who was elected this week as the next Senate Majority Leader, vows to maintain “an aggressive schedule until his nominees are confirmed.” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, also isn’t withdrawing nominations during the holidays. Story continues below advertisement To allow Trump to proceed with the nominations, Republican senators would have to pass a motion to adjourn by a simple majority, although Democrats would likely do everything in their power to prevent it. It is also unclear whether such a move would be fully supported by Republican senators. Would playdates during recess work? It’s not clear. Gaetz and Gabbard’s announcements this week brought the Senate to life, with some Republican senators recalling the importance of their “advice and consent” role in choosing the president’s Cabinet. Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who days earlier had suggested he might be willing to allow Trump to make recess appointments after he unsuccessfully ran for Senate leader, told reporters Thursday journalists: “Obviously, I don’t think we should circumvent the responsibilities of the Senate, but I think it’s premature to talk about recess appointments at this time. Story continues below advertisement Yet there remain very few, if any, Republicans who dare openly challenge Trump. Republican senators plan to begin hearings on Trump’s Cabinet nominees when the new Congress opens on January 3. Learn more about the world More videos &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

Minister of Immigration Marc Miller said Wednesday that “the era of unlimited supply of cheap foreign labor is over” and that employers may have to offer higher wages to attract more Canadian workers. Speaking to reporters after addressing the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Miller also suggested the federal government could consider beefing up law enforcement resources to crack down on irregular migrants who don’t leave Canada, and addressed the need for mutual enforcement of the Safe Third Country. Agreement with the United States Miller said it’s important to address what is sometimes “a very disproportionate relationship between employers and employees” when it comes to low-cost temporary foreign workers. “There are exploitative relationships and we must suppress them. That includes a living wage,” Miller said, pointing to some low-wage sectors like agriculture and food processing. “It’s clear that the era of unlimited supply of cheap foreign labor is over, and I think that’s a good thing,” he said. Story continues below advertisement 1:58 Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program However, he acknowledged that the crackdowns mean that “this year and next year will be a turbulent year” as these changes come into force, “but reducing the numbers, I think, is very important to ensure we don’t just chase the short circuit. one long-term gain for a lot of long-term pain. This year, Canada limited the number of low-wage temporary foreign workers in most sectors and increased their minimum wages in an effort to end employers’ reliance on a labor force cheap foreign. Recently, a job offer at a Burger King in the Toronto area has prompted observers and experts to question whether the temporary foreign worker program is being used to avoid paying Canadians higher wages. ‘More enforcement’ needed to deport illegal residents, Miller says Miller said Wednesday that Ottawa was still studying “what steps Canada needs to take to step up enforcement” and highlighted what he called record levels of removals of temporary visa and work permit holders who choose to stay illegally. Story continues below advertisement Asked if that meant more resources, including additional Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers, Miller said, “that’s how it works.” Get the latest national news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen. “In the context of law enforcement, generally speaking, we definitely need to look at the enforcement mechanisms that we employ to make sure that people who don’t want to leave after due process actually leave,” he said. he declared. “I’m not going to publicly share our plans for enforcement, but more enforcement means more resources.” The government was pressed by opposition parties and the provinces on its plan. to add additional resources to the U.S.-Canada border in anticipation of a potential increase in the number of people seeking to enter Canada from the United States, where President-elect Donald Trump has promised expulsions massive. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Wednesday that the government “will ensure that Canada’s borders are secure and that we have the resources necessary to ensure their security” but did not confirm “hypothetical” needs in personnel at the CBSA. 2:21 Canada prepares for wave of asylum seekers after Trump victory The government says The CBSA made 11,444 removals from 2019 to 2020, the highest number in the previous five years. Global News asked the agency for its current removal figures. Story continues below advertisement However, CBSA figures tabled in Parliament earlier this year suggest that most people who have received deportation letters over the past eight years remain in Canada, which the Conservative Party says suggests a lack of law enforcement. Last month, when Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that they were reducing the number of new permanent residents in the country by 21 percent by next year, they also outlined plans that they said would effectively curb population growth for two years by reducing temporary residents to less than five percent of the general population. Current trend Trump appointees criticized Trudeau and Canada’s border security Here’s how long Canada Post’s pressure tactics lasted and how much they cost Miller said at the time that the permanent residency program would focus on “those who are already here,” and said Wednesday that meant tapping into the pool of foreign workers — meaning many temporary permit holders will be able to later apply for permanent residence. 3:18 Why is Canada reducing its immigration targets? Miller said Wednesday that while most temporary visa holders leave after their visas expire, those who stay are breaking the law, and the government needs to make that “very clear.” Story continues below advertisement “When you have a temporary program, it has to mean something,” he said. “That means people might eventually have to leave or would have to leave. » A 2018 Global News investigation found the government had become increasingly ineffective in conducting evictions for reasons of public safety and security. As a result, the number of foreign citizens remaining in Canada despite being deported increased from just 291 in 2012 to nearly 1,200 at the start of 2018. Although U.S. immigration is primarily focused on the southern border with Mexico, the Canadian border has also received attention from Republicans, including Trump’s recent appointments to his new administration. In an interview Monday with his local television news channel 7News In Watertown, New York – a community near the Ontario border – America’s new “border czar” Tom Homan said there was an “extreme national security vulnerability” along of the Canadian-American border which will also have to be addressed.

It was the first time that Michelle Angela Hamelin, Canadian UN peacekeeper, said she encountered the raw emotion of a people so exasperated by the difficult situation in which her country finds itself. Marked in his memory after his eight-month tour of duty in the ethnically divided country Cyprus in 1986, it was the fury of Greek Cypriot demonstrators who demonstrated against the very first visit by a Turkish head of government to the separatist Turkish Cypriot north of the island. “I think that’s something that really stuck with me because of that anger and the people,” Hamelin told the Associated Press. She was among 100 other Canadian veterans who traveled to Cyprus as part of commemorations that culminated Monday in marking the 60th anniversary of the U.N. peacekeeping force, known as UNFICYP, the longest Canadian mission of its type. “It was the first time I was confronted with people who were really, really upset about the situation they were in,” she said. Story continues below advertisement Canadian veteran Ronald Reginald Griffis, center, with other veterans, salutes Monday during a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Canada’s contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, at Wolseley Barracks , inside a UN-controlled buffer zone that divides the capital Nicosia, Cyprus. AP Photo/Petros Karadjias At the time, it had been a dozen years since a Turkish invasion – triggered by a coup seeking union with Greece – had carved up the island along ethnic lines and tensions were still high. UNFICYP had been in place since 1964, a decade before the invasion, deployed to quell hostilities between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to avoid all-out civil war. Get the latest national news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen. Canadians were among the first to join the force and more than 28,000 of them would eventually serve in UNFICYP. Canada withdrew almost all of its UNFICYP peacekeepers in 1993, but a Canadian presence remains. 1:24 Peacekeeping ‘change’ requires countries to respond to UN needs Some 28 Canadians lost their lives in the line of duty in Cyprus. Story continues below advertisement For most of 1986, Hamelin’s job was to patrol the UN-controlled buffer zone that separated troops on either side of the border in the medieval center of the capital, Nicosia, staying in the luxurious former Ledra Palace hotel which had been transformed into a UN barracks. The bullet-riddled sandstone walls of the hotel were a constant reminder that a resumption of hostilities could never be ruled out. “The Turkish side where I was staying was right there, under my window at Ledra Palace… there were bullet holes above your bed. It’s possible that this will happen again,” she recalls. Learn more about Canada More videos This is not the case. Hamelin said his Canadian colleagues often pooled all their diplomatic skills with nervous soldiers to prevent tensions from escalating. Ronald Reginald Griffis could attest to this calm and characteristic Canadian attitude which has earned the country’s peacekeepers a reputation for impartiality and ability to quickly defuse tensions. Current trend How Canadian Consumers Can Spot Counterfeit $2 Coins RCMP report reveals new details about Greater Toronto Area man and his fake camel toe coins Griffis was one of the first Canadians to serve in UNFICYP in 1964, and he recalled how he would use this cool Canadian method to settle disputes along the so-called Green Line that separated Greek and Cypriot neighborhoods Turks in old Nicosia. “One of the qualities was the calmness of the Canadians. They listened, or at least I listened. And then, you know, you talk about it. You try to explain things,” said Griffis, a Nova Scotia native who now lives in Cottam, Ontario. Story continues below advertisement “I thought they appreciated the Canadians being there and I think they trusted the Canadians to do what they can do,” he said. 1:35 Western military strengthens its presence in Cyprus, ready to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon More than 100 active-duty Canadian Armed Forces members, sent to Cyprus to assist with possible evacuations of Canadians from neighboring Lebanon, joined Hamelin, Griffis and other veterans for a Remembrance Day ceremony at the Canadian Memorial to UN Peacekeepers, inside the buffer zone near Ledra. Palace hotel. Canada’s High Commissioner to Cyprus, Anna-Karine Asselin, said the size of the delegation at the commemoration event illustrated “the deep meaning of the mission” for Canadian veterans. “We pay tribute to their invaluable contribution to peace. We recognize the challenges they have faced throughout their journey,” Asselin said. A few days earlier, Hamelin and Griffis had participated in a tour of the buffer zone that brought back many memories. Story continues below advertisement Both spoke about the changes in Cyprus then and now – from donkey-drawn carts on the streets of Nicosia in 1964 to a thoroughly modern European Union member state 60 years later. But for Hamelin, no matter how much things have changed in Cyprus, they remain much the same. “I see how this is developing in Nicosia. But it’s always the same. We still have this division and it’s very, very… in your face,” she said. &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

Applause broke out repeatedly at the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg on Sunday when the son of Murray Sinclair, a former judge, senator and chair of the Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission, spoke about his father. Niigaan Sinclair said his father “was a first” in every room he entered. “It was impossible to walk through a mall without 17 people, two of whom he had already sentenced to prison, coming up to him and telling him how much they appreciated him,” Niigaan Sinclair said. Sinclair’s death Monday, at the age of 73, drew tributes from across the country and a sacred fire was lit outside the Manitoba legislature. Indigenous leaders and politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attended the service honoring Sinclair’s legacy at the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets stadium on Sunday. “He became for me a wise teacher, a trusted confidant, an insightful elder. And above all, a friend who challenged me to always do better,” Trudeau said. Story continues below advertisement Sinclair, he said, “changed this country for the better.” 2:52 “Canada has lost a giant”: Trudeau pays tribute to pioneering Indigenous leader Murray Sinclair As chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Sinclair heard testimony from thousands of residential school survivors and the commission’s final report contained 94 calls to action. Receive national news daily Get the day’s top news, politics, business and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day. He was the first Aboriginal judge in Manitoba and the second in Canada, and he co-chaired the Manitoba Aboriginal Justice Inquiry to examine whether the justice system was failing Aboriginal people. Sunday’s memorial was the first national memorial ceremony for an Indigenous person. Governor-General. Mary Simon said she became emotional while telling her own story to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Sinclair comforted her with warmth and compassion. “People around him felt a sense of confidence and authenticity, a feeling that they could be who they are without judgment,” she said. Story continues below advertisement Sinclair’s obituary describes his journey as an Indigenous man born in the early 1950s. His traditional Anishinaabe name is Mazina Giizhik, or He Who Speaks of Images in the Sky. “Growing up, Mazina Giizhik experienced racism but never lost her sense of hope, duty and responsibility,” we read. 2:53 Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, dies at 73 Niigaan Sinclair said one of his father’s favorite stories was about the racism he experienced during his first week as Manitoba’s first Indigenous judge. He was at a lunch with a group of judges when one of them spoke to him. “He turned to my dad and said, ‘You know, Murray, the only reason you got nominated is because we all feel bad. We all feel bad about Indigenous people,” said Niigaan Sinclair. “My father turned to him and said, ‘You’re only here because you’re a white man.’ » Story continues below advertisement Niigaan Sinclair said he once asked his father if it was a sense of duty that drove him to continue fighting, to endure nightmares listening to residential school survivors, to miss family events to fight against institutions, laws and people in power who treated others with disdain. “I said, ‘Is it because you were such a hard-working guy?’ Because he was Athlete of the Year in 1968, he reminded me of every day of my life,” Niigaan Sinclair said, drawing hearty laughter from the crowd. “Was it because of a responsibility, something you learned in the legal profession, or was it because of a larger situation?” he continued. “You know, what did he say to me? He said simply: “I have been called. » 1:09 Memorial in Winnipeg on Sunday for judge, senator and TRC president Murray Sinclair &copy 2024 The Canadian Press Source link