Politics

By Maura Forrest The Canadian Press Published on August 5, 2024 at 9:43 a.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article A spokesperson for the Minister of Transport Pablo Rodriguez said he is receiving “a lot of requests” to join the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party. But Rodriguez, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant, has not confirmed whether he will seek the leadership of the provincial party. Jacques Martineau, Rodriguez’s communications director, says the minister is “sincerely touched by the many requests he has received” to make the jump to provincial politics. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. A source familiar with the Quebec Liberal leadership race said the minister is seriously considering a run for the party leadership. The source requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly. However, the source expressed some doubts about whether Rodriguez is the right person for the job, in part because he carries the baggage of nine years in the federal Liberal government. Fashionable now Your ‘summer cold’ could be due to COVID-19, doctors say Fans heartbroken after women’s soccer team loses Olympics The story continues below the advertisement The Quebec Liberal Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The party will choose its new leader next June. Former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is the only official candidate in the running so far. Rodriguez began his political career in Quebec, where he was a member of the youth wing of the provincial Liberals in the 1990s. He served as a Liberal MNA from 2004 to 2011, and again since 2015. He has been a minister since 2018 and also acts as a key advisor and spokesperson on issues related to Quebec. © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

A witness who left a House of Commons committee hearing on violence against women In tears this week after the meeting descended into arguments, she said she fears the incident will make it harder for other survivors to come forward. In a series of conversations with Global News, Cait Alexander, who testified before the status of women committee that she narrowly survived a violent and abusive relationship, said her experience on Parliament Hill broke her heart and left her furious that the message she came to Ottawa to deliver had been overshadowed. “It takes courage to speak out,” she said. “It takes courage to confront someone when you don’t know how they’re going to react to your situation. And the way that situation was handled was exactly the fear that every survivor and every victim feels.” “That’s why I call it ‘abuse’…because it’s the same mental manipulation and minimization of our experience that keeps us from coming forward.” The story continues below the advertisement Emergency Committee Meeting on Wednesday was called by the Conservatives in the middle of the parliamentary summer recess to hear from advocates for victims of domestic violence and a deputy police chief from Peel Region, in light of several recent high-profile cases and crime data recently released by Statistics Canada. But the meeting derailed shortly after opening statements, with Liberal and NDP members accusing the Conservatives of rushing the meeting for political purposes and failing to include witnesses from at-risk Indigenous and LGBTQ2 communities. 0:54 Manitoba killings highlight ‘epidemic of violence against women’ in Canada, Singh says Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld told the committee meeting that she and all committee members care about the issue of gender-based violence, then asked for debate on a motion related to abortion rights, which the Liberals say would be in jeopardy under a Conservative government. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre denied the accusation. NDP MP Leah Gazan, who is Indigenous, then raised several points of order to speak and, after being allowed to do so, spoke at length about abortion access and the lack of marginalized voices at Wednesday’s meeting, reading from prepared remarks. The story continues below the advertisement Vandenbeld’s motion set off a lengthy back-and-forth on the proceedings, leaving Alexander and Megan Walker, an advocate for ending gender-based violence, sitting silently at the witness table. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. As the debate on procedure continued, Alexander and Walker turned their backs on the committee and stormed out of the room. “I think it was very childish, on all sides,” Alexander said Thursday. That includes the Conservatives, she said, who have since repeatedly attacked the Liberals and the NDP over what happened. “I don’t have a partisan agenda. I’m very upset that this issue has been turned into a debate about this topic when it shouldn’t be. “Our trauma will not be used for political purposes.” 4:14 Bill C-332 aims to protect against domestic violence The meeting heard some enlightening testimony before deviating from the subject. The story continues below the advertisement Nick Milinovich, deputy chief of Peel Regional Police, said in his region alone, data shows “one woman is strangled every day.” He detailed some of the victims of recent femicides in Peel, who he said account for nearly 20 per cent of the 114 homicides so far this year. Alexander shared graphic photos of the abuse she suffered during her opening statement and read a list of related cases, including that of Breanna Broadfoot, 17, was killed in what Ontario police say was a domestic violence incident. Alexander, a Canadian citizen who lives in Los Angeles, told Global News that she immediately began reaching out to survivors and victims’ families to get permission to share their stories as soon as she received the invitation to appear before the committee from her staff. Fashionable now China Plans to Raise Retirement Age. Could Canada Follow Suit? Aerial video of B.C. landslide ‘heartbreaking’ and ’emotional,’ says First Nation chief Statistics Canada’s latest annual report on police-reported crime, released last week, shows the number of female homicide victims last year was almost identical to that of 2022 — 205 women killed — despite a 14% drop in the total number of homicide victims during the same period. Homicides against women increased by 31% compared to 2019, compared to 12% for all sexes. The new data also shows that reports to police of unwanted sex, touching and sexual assault with a weapon have increased by 75 and 96 percent, respectively, since 2015. The story continues below the advertisement A survivor advocate from British Columbia said the way the meeting unfolded showed that committee members did not fully appreciate the testimony presented, nor the importance of survivors and advocates appearing in person. “We need to honour these stories,” said Dalya Israel, executive director of the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre in Vancouver. “We need to be aware of the realities and horrors that people are experiencing, regardless of what government they support or represent or where they come from.” 4:49 National campaign to end gender-based violence Vandenbeld and the Liberals did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Global News. An NDP spokesperson said Friday that Gazan was unavailable for comment after multiple requests to his office and the party. Vandenbeld said in a statement to The Canadian Press on Thursday that she deeply regretted the “distress this meeting caused witnesses.” The story continues below the advertisement “This is not an apology,” said Alexander, who demanded one. She said she has not heard directly from Mr. Vandenbeld, but has spoken privately to other MPs, both on and off the committee – including Conservatives, Liberals…

China is the latest in a series of countries planning to gradually raise the legal rate retirement age as the world’s aging population forces governments to reform their pension systems. Delaying retirement also “makes sense” and could have “many benefits” in other countries, including Canada, as the country grapples with labour shortages and a Record fertility rateexperts say. But could it happen? There is no mandatory retirement age in Canada, but the standard age to start receiving public pensions is 65. according to the federal government. Canadian seniors can also start receiving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension from age 60 or up to age 70. This is a taxable monthly benefit that replaces part of a person’s income when they retire and those who are entitled to it receive it for the rest of their lives. The story continues below the advertisement Another type of public pension is the Old Age Security (OAS)which is a monthly payment if you are 65 or older. However, with Canada’s population aging “very rapidly” due to historically low birth rates, it “makes sense” from a demographic and economic perspective to raise the retirement age, said Don Kerr, a demographer at King’s University College at Western University in London, Ont. “As a society, we have to recognize that if we don’t want to have children and if our population is changing rapidly, we have to adapt to the aging population and this would be one way to do that,” Kerr told Global News in an interview. Politically, however, it could be “a very difficult sell,” he added. 3:15 What is Old Age Security (OAS) and who is eligible? The previous Conservative government, led by then Prime Minister Stephen Harper had raised the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) from 65 to 67 years old. The story continues below the advertisement The policy change, which was to be implemented starting in April 2023, was later abandoned by the Liberals after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to power in 2015. Currently, the federal government is not considering increasing the age of eligibility for public pensions. The office of Minister of Labour and Seniors Steve MacKinnon told Global News that the retirement age “has been brought back to 65, where it should be.” “Seniors have worked hard their entire lives. They deserve to age with dignity,” MacKinnon’s office said in an emailed statement. Why is China raising the retirement age? China’s legal retirement age is already one of the lowest in the world: 60 for men, 55 for women working in offices and 50 for women working in factories. Financial news and information delivered to your email every Saturday. Receive weekly financial news Receive expert insights, questions and answers on markets, housing, inflation and personal finance every Saturday. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. On July 22, authorities outlined in a policy paper plans to allow workers to choose to continue working beyond retirement age for the first time. The reforms outlined in the paper are expected to be completed by 2029, they added. The story continues below the advertisement The development comes as life expectancy in China has risen to 78 years, surpassing that of the United States, and is expected to exceed 80 years by 2050. The country has also experienced a declining birth rate and an aging population. which fell for a second consecutive year in 2023. Economists say China’s current pension system, which relies on a shrinking workforce to pay pensions for a growing number of retirees, is unsustainable and needs to be reformed. According to data from the Ministry of Finance, 11 of China’s 31 provinces are running a pension budget deficit. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, a state-run body, estimates that the pension system will run out of money by 2035.

Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article China has filed complaints with Canada through military and diplomatic channels after a Canadian warship crossed the Taiwan The Taiwan Strait has been hit by an explosion, China’s Defense Ministry said Friday. The act “provoked unrest and caused trouble,” the ministry said in a statement. “We warn Canada that it must adhere to the one-China principle and be cautious in its words and deeds on the Taiwan issue,” ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang said. 11:00 Exclusive Global News video shows close-quarters collision between Chinese warship and U.S. destroyer in Taiwan Strait The frigate sailed through the Taiwan Strait in what Ottawa called a commitment to an open Indo-Pacific, drawing a rebuke from China that naval exercise On July 31, peace was shattered. The story continues below the advertisement Canada’s Department of National Defence said HMCS Montreal “recently completed a routine transit” through the strait, which Defence Minister Bill Blair said was a reaffirmation of Canada’s commitment to a “free, open and inclusive” Indo-Pacific. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. “As stated in our Indo-Pacific Strategy“Canada is increasing the presence of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Indo-Pacific region,” Blair said, referring to Canada’s plan for the region announced in 2022. 0:44 Canada considers joining AUKUS after ‘excellent conversations’ with US, UK and Australia, Trudeau says Fashionable now ‘Massive’ landslide in British Columbia expected in next 24 to 48 hours, officials say Olympic swimmer collapses after qualifying race, is carried off on stretcher Li Xi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, said the Canadian frigate’s passage had “harassed and disrupted the situation and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” Chinese troops, he added, are on constant alert and are “ready to respond to any threats and provocations.” China claims sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan and asserts jurisdiction over the nearly 180-kilometer-wide waterway that separates the two sides. The story continues below the advertisement 0:30 Canadian Joly heads to China after years of diplomatic tensions Source link

A witness who left a parliamentary committee meeting in tears Wednesday is demanding an apology from a Liberal MP who shut down a scheduled discussion on violence against women in favor of a debate on abortion rights. Cait Alexander was on Parliament Hill to testify at a rare summer hearing of the House of Commons Status of Women Committee when she said Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld revictimized her as a survivor of domestic violence. “I’m completely stunned,” Alexander said in an interview after Wednesday’s meeting. “That’s exactly how I’ve felt over the last few years, when I literally show my bludgeoned, bloodied, bruised body and the people who hold authority and power in this country say, ‘Well, we care about you.’ But then they silence you.” The story continues below the advertisement Vandenbeld, who is parliamentary secretary to the minister of international development, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Alexander was one of two witnesses who stormed out of a meeting set up so MPs could hear from advocates for victims of domestic violence and a deputy chief of Peel Regional Police. The meeting was planned after the murder of 17-year-old Breanna Broadfoot in London, Ont., who police said was a victim of domestic violence. 2:08 NS researcher tackles violence against women Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said last week that the suspect had already been arrested but was released before the fatal attack, and criticized the Liberal government’s bail policy. Although witnesses before the committee tried to argue in a similar way that the current justice and bail systems fail to meet the needs of victims, the session quickly derailed and devolved into a mess of political wrangling. The story continues below the advertisement During her opening remarks, Alexander, who leads the advocacy group End Violence Everywhere, shared her personal story as her family looked on from park benches behind her. The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. “I’m supposed to be dead,” she told the committee, showing MPs graphic photos of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriend three years ago. “If you haven’t met a survivor and victim’s family yet, well, now you have.” It didn’t take long for Alexander’s family members to criticize the MPs for their partisan attitude that degenerated into procedural chaos. Her mother told Vandenbeld she was “disappointed” and that the whole thing amounted to further abuse of her daughter. It all started when Vandenbeld was given the floor to ask questions of the witnesses. She briefly explained how much she cared about the survivors’ testimony and outlined some of the steps the federal government has taken to address violence against women. She then criticized the Conservatives for politicizing the issue by calling the meeting in the summer with little notice, preventing other parties from preparing or recommending additional witnesses. “We are not using victims and survivors of trauma to try to score political points on this committee,” she said. “I think it’s cruel to make people relive the trauma that they’ve been through just to have a meeting and if it’s not accepted, there’s all sorts of social media saying that liberals or others don’t care about this issue, when as we all know, we care deeply about it.” The story continues below the advertisement Instead of getting back to the topic at hand, Vandenbeld then called for a debate on a motion on abortion rights – an issue the Liberals have been trying to corner the Conservatives on for months. “That’s the problem. Did she listen to what was said this morning?” asked another witness, Megan Walker, who lives in London and campaigns to end male violence against women. After that, the meeting turned into a long exchange of views between the deputies, with several points of order being raised before the president. 1:42 Regina experts weigh in on TikTok trend, opening dialogue on violence against women Fashionable now Toronto terror suspects film video with weapons and ISIS flag Suspected mastermind of 9/11 attacks pleads guilty, Pentagon says NDP MP Leah Gazan confronted the Conservative chair of the committee for not allowing her to suggest witnesses for the meeting. “I am disgusted,” she said. “I am ground zero for murdered and missing indigenous women and girls.” The story continues below the advertisement Shortly after, Alexander left the room in tears. Walker turned his back on the committee and followed him. Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri lambasted Vandenbeld for derailing the meeting and said the victims had come forward to testify in order to bring about “legitimate change.” She apologized to Alexander’s mother, who was standing behind the witness table. “‘Sorry’ is not enough – we heard ‘sorry,’” Alexander’s mother told the committee. The meeting was adjourned shortly afterwards. Alexander later said the whole ordeal had been re-traumatic and that the committee’s actions were “exactly the type of behaviour that allowed my attacker to get away with it”. Alexander travelled to Ottawa from Los Angeles to testify and stressed that she did not make the trip for partisan reasons. She saw it as an opportunity to shine a light on her story and those of countless other women who have had similar experiences, she said. While abortion is a “serious issue” that deserves attention, she called the actions of the committee and Vandenbeld “abusive” and accused the Liberal of trying to use her trauma for political gain. “It’s so disrespectful, inhumane and honestly mean to not allow us to have a healthy conversation about what was supposed to be discussed, and to have the audacity to do something like this,” she said. The story continues below the advertisement Ferreri said in a statement that the…

Recently released data on the increase in violent crime Travel across Canada tells only part of the story, according to a national police organization. The volume and severity of police-reported crime is following “an upward trend that began in 2015,” Statistics Canada said in a report released last week. The violent crime severity index was “virtually unchanged” last year, the statistics agency said, due to a decline in more serious crimes such as homicides. However, violent crimes such as assaults, robberies and extortion increased by nearly seven per cent, according to Statistics Canada. But the National Police Federation (NPF), the union that represents about 20,000 RCMP members, says the data may not fully reflect the reality of crime rates across the country, something Statistics Canada also notes. “An armed robbery in a small town in Saskatchewan, for example, skews the violent crime data across Saskatchewan,” NPF President and CEO Brian Sauvé told Global News in an interview. The story continues below the advertisement “Saskatchewan has a lot of small towns. But does that make Saskatchewan a particularly violent province?” 1:34 Crime on the rise in Saskatchewan, police statistics show The overall crime severity index increased by two per cent in 2023, according to the Statistics Canada report, marking a third consecutive annual increase. The nonviolent crime severity index increased 3 percent last year, following a 5 percent increase the year before. The most recent increase was driven by a 5 percent increase in police-reported motor vehicle thefts — a topic of growing concern and attention over the past year — and double-digit increases in fraud and shoplifting. When it comes to violent crime, the severity index has increased by 32% since 2015, the year when, as the Conservatives point out, the current Liberal government was first elected. The new data also appears to confirm another Conservative argument: the total number of violent Criminal Code offences reported to police has increased by nearly 50 per cent since 2015. The story continues below the advertisement “Total and violent violations of the Criminal Code” is a generic term This includes homicide, attempted murder, assault, including sexual assault, robbery and kidnapping. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Thursday blamed the rise in crime on current government policies, blaming both the governing Liberals and the NDP, which supported the Liberals in key confidence votes over the past two years. 2:07 Canada sees rise in violent gun-related crime, Statistics Canada says Sauvé said he has heard the “frustration” of NPF RCMP members, who are increasingly being called upon to deal not only with crime, but also with increasing mental health incidents and drug overdoses. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. He said all levels of government are responsible for cutting supports and the lack of “robust public safety continuity plans” to ensure people do not resort to crime or violence. “There is a growing desperation among people… who may not be able to pay their rent for the month and feel they have no choice but to resort to something drastic,” he said. The story continues below the advertisement “The real question is not ‘why is there more crime’ but ‘why are people more dissatisfied with their lot in life?’” Several recent surveys suggested Canadians are increasingly concerned about their personal finances in a context of rising costs of living, including inflation and high interest rates. Bail policies under fire again On Thursday, Poilievre also stressed the recent murder of 17-year-old Breanna Broadfoot17-year-old, who police say was a victim of domestic violence. The Conservative leader said the suspect had been arrested previously but was released before the fatal attack on Broadfoot. “She is just the latest victim of the radical, crazy, catch-and-release justice system put in place by the Liberals and the NDP,” Poilievre said at a news conference outside a schoolyard. “This allows the same violent repeat offenders to go free again and again.” Fashionable now Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, activist group says The Loonie Is Wobbling. Here’s Why the Fed Could Give It a Boost The story continues below the advertisement

Canada is on a growing list of Western governments urging their citizens to leave the country Lebanon or avoid going there, as fears grow about escalating tensions between Israel And Hezbollah could degenerate into war. “There are no ongoing evacuation operations for Canadians currently in Lebanon and you should not rely on the Government of Canada for future assisted departures or evacuations,” Global Affairs Canada said in an email to Canadians registered with the Lebanon. The United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany have also issued travel warnings, while several European airlines including Lufthansa, Air France and Eurowings have cancelled flights to Beirut International Airport. 3:08 Israel hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after deadly attack on Golan Heights “In light of the recent escalation of hostilities, we remind all Canadians in Lebanon of our ongoing commitment Travel Tips “Flights from Beirut airport are scheduled to depart Lebanon while some commercial flights are still available. Some airlines have already temporarily suspended service to Beirut airport. Further flight cancellations and disruptions could occur with little or no notice,” Global Affairs Canada said. The story continues below the advertisement Lebanon is bracing for retaliation from Israel after a deadly missile strike over the weekend. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. A rocket hit a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, killing 12 children and teenagers. 2:08 Israel-Gaza: Hezbollah vows to intensify fighting after death of top commander Israel has accused Hezbollah of carrying out the strike, which the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group denies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah “will pay a heavy price for this attack, a price it has not yet paid.” The deaths have heightened fears that months of conflict in the border region could escalate into a wider regional war, as fighting in Gaza continues to rage. Fashionable now Two children killed in UK knife attack, suspect in custody Canadian seniors receive a supplement to their old age benefits. How much is it? Senior negotiators from Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt met in Rome over the weekend to try to revive a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. The story continues below the advertisement 1:59 Biden, Harris meet Netanyahu to discuss Gaza ceasefire At the same time, a frantic diplomatic campaign is underway to try to avoid a deeper conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the situation “very worrying” and urged “all parties to proceed with caution.” The day before, White House spokesman John Kirby had condemned the strike and called for diplomacy. “We certainly do not believe that, as horrific as this attack was over the weekend, it should lead to any escalation or risk of a larger war,” Kirby said. “No nation can tolerate threats as serious as those facing the Israelis. At the same time, we believe that there is still time and opportunity to find a diplomatic solution,” he added. The story continues below the advertisement — with files from the Associated Press © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

Canada’s competition watchdog is scanning the skies for ways to improve the country’s airline industry, studying whether new policies could attract more airlines to the sector and lower prices for passengers. THE Competition Bureau launched its investigation into the state of competition in the Canadian sector on Monday. airline industrywhich, according to the terms of his study, is already heavily concentrated between two major players, Air Canada And WestJet. Together, the two airlines represent 80 percent of the Canadian airline industry’s capacity, as measured by the sector’s seat-kilometre metric. As these airlines reduce their operations regionally (WestJet is concentrating its efforts in the west and Air Canada in the east), and new airlines such as Lynx Air Collapse or struggling after takeoff, the competition watchdog is examining whether Canadian aviation policy is deficient when it comes to introducing and supporting new entrants. The story continues below the advertisement The study will examine new dynamics in Canadian aviation, such as the introduction of ultra-low-cost carriers and consumer demand for direct flights or the use of secondary airports, for example, while looking for gaps in the policy landscape. The survey will answer questions such as: “Should government action promote greater competition from international players on domestic routes?” The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. The Competition Bureau finds that there is evidence that domestic airfares are relatively high in Canada and remain above pre-pandemic levels. 1:57 Canadian airfare prices soar as summer approaches The study will examine whether consumers have enough information to make informed choices about their tariffs and other ways in which policymakers could provide more competitive options. The introductory report suggests the study could help the federal government combat fees charged to consumers for seat selection or checked baggage. The story continues below the advertisement “Supporting competition in this sector will help reduce prices for consumers, improve the quality of service and working conditions, increase productivity and stimulate innovation,” the study states. Fashionable now Jasper damage map released as park’s largest wildfire in 100 years rages Canadian seniors receive a supplement to their old age benefits. How much is it? The study does not presume any wrongdoing by the airlines, but the Competition Commissioner will investigate if the investigation reveals evidence that competition law has been violated. The Competition Bureau intends to publish its findings by June 30, 2025, but notes that the timeline could change. Competition in Canada’s industries has been a hot topic lately. The Liberal government gave the Competition Bureau new powers last fall, including the ability to demand documents from companies as part of its market studies. Last year, the Competition Bureau released a report arguing for greater competition in Canada’s grocery sector to keep prices under control. The watchdog is also specifically investigating the parent companies of Loblaw and Sobeys for alleged anti-competitive behavior. Competitive forces are declining in Canada while profits and margins are rising. a Competition Bureau report released late last year find. 2:49 Competition Bureau investigates conduct of Loblaw and Sobeys owners © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

Voters in two Canadian ridings, one of which Quebec and another in Manitoba — will go to the polls in September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday as he announced that the campaign period for the two by-elections had begun. THE by-elections will take place on September 16. In Quebec, the Liberals hope to keep the riding of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, which became vacant when former Justice Minister David Lametti resigned from politics. The riding has been red since its creation in 2013 and since its first election in 2015, which brought the Liberals to power. Lametti has held on to it in every subsequent election with more than 40% of the vote. The Liberals have put forward Montreal city councillor Laura Palestini as their candidate, though her nomination sparked controversy last week after Trudeau personally handpicked her to run despite three other contenders campaigning for months in a nomination race that never happened. The story continues below the advertisement 1:17 Freeland meets with Toronto MPs to discuss byelection defeat Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the party’s campaign co-chair, said at the time that it was Trudeau’s decision to prevent party members from choosing the candidate and instead choose Palestini, who represents the LaSalle borough on Montreal city council. The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. The Conservatives chose Louis Ialenti, whom they describe as a “no-nonsense small business owner.” The NDP chose another city councillor, Craig Sauvé, while the Bloc Québécois has yet to name its candidate. Fashionable now Farmers markets, business groups clash with Loblaws over derogatory text ad An evacuation order has been issued for Slocan, B.C., and surrounding areas due to wildfires The byelection could be a major challenge for the Liberals, who lost the Ontario riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s to the Conservatives by a narrow margin last month in what was seen as a sure victory for the ruling party. In Manitoba, the NDP is hoping to keep the Elmwood-Transcona riding in orange hands after the resignation of three-term MP Daniel Blaikie. The story continues below the advertisement The party has held the riding in every election but one since 2004, when Conservative Lawrence Toet briefly held it during the party’s majority government in 2011. Blaikie returned it to the NDP – and his family – in 2015. His father, Bill Blaikie, held the seat from 2004 to 2008 and from 1988 to 2004, when the riding was Winnipeg-Transcona. Blaikie resigned in March 2024 to accept a position in the office of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. In the upcoming byelection, the NDP nominated Transcona BIZ general manager Leila Dance, the Conservatives nominated construction electrician and union member Colin Reynolds, and the Liberals chose former teacher Ian MacIntyre, who also ran for the Manitoba Liberals in last year’s provincial election. © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

“Kids for Harris.” “We need a Kamalanomenon.” Generation Z feels the Kamalove. Since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala HarrisGen Z voters rushed to social media to share memes about coconut trees and “brat summer” — reflecting a dramatic shift in tone for a generation that has expressed feelings of being left behind by the Democratic Party. Progressive youth-led organizations have been warning for months that Biden has a problem with young voters, pleading with the president to work more closely with them to refocus on the issues that matter most to younger generations or risk losing their votes. With Biden out of the race, many of these young leaders are now hoping Harris can overcome her flagging support among Gen Z and harness a new burst of energy among young voters. Since Sunday, statements from youth organizations across the country, including in Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, have been rife. Leaders have thanked Biden for stepping down and celebrated the opportunity to organize around a new candidate. On Friday, a coalition of 17 youth-led groups endorsed Harris. The story continues below the advertisement “It changes everything,” said Zo Tobi, communications director for the Movement Voter Project, a national progressive fundraising group focused on youth-led organizations, when he learned Biden was dropping out of the race and endorsing Harris. “The world as it is suddenly became the world as it could be.” As the campaign enters a new phase, Harris and her Republican rival, Donald Trump, are both expected to target messages aimed at young voters, who could prove decisive in some of the most contested states. Trump spoke Friday night at a Turning Point USA conference, and Harris plans to deliver a virtual speech Saturday to Voters of Tomorrow, an organization focused on young voters. John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics who has worked with Biden, said the “burning energy” among young people was something he hadn’t seen since former President Barack Obama’s campaign. While there are no reliable polls yet, he described the dynamic as “a combination of the hope we saw with Obama and the urgency and fight we saw after the Parkland shooting.” Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. By providing your email address, you have read and agreed to Global News’ Terms of Use. Terms and conditions And Privacy Policy. In many ways, it was the first time many young people felt heard and felt like their actions could have an impact on policy, they and several young leaders said. “It was a game changer in this election,” he said. “People, especially young people, have been discouraged for so long, for so many important reasons, by politics and by the direction the country is going. It weighed on them. And then they wake up the next morning and it seems like everything has changed.” The story continues below the advertisement About 6 in 10 adults under 30 voted for Biden in 2020, according to AP VoteCast, but his ratings among the group have fallen significantly since then, with only about a quarter of the group saying they had a favorable view of him in the latest AP-NORC poll, conducted before Biden dropped out of the race. Fashionable now Jasper wildfire site tour reveals destroyed homes, hotels Celine Dion is back! A spectacular Olympic performance marks her return to the stage This poll, along with New York Times/Siena and CNN polls conducted after Biden withdrew, suggests that Harris is starting with slightly better favorable ratings than Biden among young adults. Sunjay Muralitharan, vice president of College Democrats of America, said he felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest when Harris entered the race. Despite monthly calls for coalition between youth-led groups and the Biden campaign, Muralitharan spent months worrying about how Biden would fare with young voters as he saw young people leaving organizations like the College Democrats and Young Democrats to join more left-wing groups. College Democrats have issued statements and social media posts encouraging the party to prioritize young people and change course on the Gaza war and have “worked tirelessly to get a College Democrat lineup” at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago later this summer. But they’ve received little attention in return, Muralitharan said. A Harris campaign represents an opportunity to move in a new direction, he said. The vice president has shown support for issues that matter to young voters, like climate change and reproductive rights, Muralitharan said, adding that she might also be able to change course and distance herself from Biden’s approach to the Gaza war. The story continues below the advertisement “The ongoing problem we face is that Biden is the lesser of two evils and he’s impacting the crisis in Gaza,” he said. “For months, we were given this false narrative that made it difficult for us to mobilize young voters. But that’s changed now.” Santiago Mayer, executive director of the Gen Z voter engagement organization Voters of Tomorrow, said the Biden campaign “created an entirely new framework for working with youth organizations” that can now be used to support Harris’ campaign. “Gen Z loves Vice President Harris, and Vice President Harris loves Gen Z,” he said. “So we’re willing to work for her.” © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link