Politics

By the staff The Canadian Press Published on September 8, 2024 at 3:15 p.m. Updated September 8, 2024 at 3:18 p.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article THE Quebec Bloc says he is ready to negotiate with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau party to gain support in confidence votes now that the Liberal government’s confidence and credit agreement with the NDP has ended. And the sovereignist party led by Yves-François Blanchet has already drawn up a list of demands. In an interview ahead of the party’s caucus retreat scheduled for Monday in the Outaouais region, Bloc parliamentary leader Alain Therrien said his party is happy to regain the balance of power. 2:03 NDP says election ‘more likely’ after Liberal deal ends Current trend The Montreal melon, which was thought to have almost disappeared, is making a long-awaited comeback Conservatives call on government to reveal how latest ISIS suspect arrived in Canada He called the situation a “window of opportunity” now that the Liberals are truly a minority government. The story continues below the advertisement New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh’s decision to withdraw from the confidence and supply agreement last week leaves an opening for the Bloc, the party says. While Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives have promised multiple confidence votes in the hopes of triggering a general election, the Bloc’s strategy is not to rush to trigger one, but rather to use its new position to achieve what it sees as gains for Quebec. Learn more about the policy More videos © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

The revelation this week of a new catalogue of pre-approved housing models in British Columbia raises questions about when a promised federal equivalent will be available. As the cost of living and unemployment rates continue to weigh on society, advocates say it’s time to accelerate the federal government’s promise to do everything it can to build more housing, quickly, and try to make it easier to build manufactured homes. “For a factory to produce housing, you have to guarantee a certain number of orders. And that’s very difficult to do when you’re working with multiple different jurisdictions, all of which have different rules about what’s allowed and what’s not,” said Carolyn Whitzman, a senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities. Prefabricated housing or prefabricated construction is a method of construction where the bulk of the construction takes place off-site, often in a facility such as a factory. The story continues below the advertisement A fully constructed modular home or portions of a home are then shipped to the site, where they are assembled and connected to utilities. That potential has become a growing topic of conversation as provinces and the federal government explore ways to standardize and speed up home construction. Having standardized designs means developers can eliminate paperwork and start building quickly. Whitzman said this is demonstrated by the city of Kelowna, B.C., which introduced standardized designs in 2022, well before the rest of the province. “Kelowna can get these pre-approved projects approved in 10 days. Whereas in the Greater Toronto Area, for example, it could easily take 18 months to get an infill project approved,” she said. Whitzman said a federal catalog was a necessity of the moment. “Whatever level of government can do it, they should do it. It’s much less effective to have 750 municipalities and over 5,000 people do a whole bunch of changes than it is to have 10 provinces and three territories do it. And it’s more effective to have national standards,” she said. What does the BC catalog contain? The story continues below the advertisement The British Columbia government announced Wednesday has released a free catalog of duplex, triplex, quadplex and townhouse models that are compatible with the 2024 British Columbia Building Code. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. These designs can be customized for different lot sizes and configurations for use throughout British Columbia. A spokesperson for AccommodationInfrastructure and Communities Canada told Global News the plan will support federal efforts, but did not answer a question about when exactly the federal catalogue will be available beyond “late 2024.” “B.C.’s standardized design project is a great example of how provinces and territories can support our shared housing construction priorities, and discussions with provinces and territories will continue as needed to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place at all levels of government to support the adoption of catalogue designs,” the statement said. Budget 2024 provided $11.6 million in 2024-25 to support the development of the housing design catalogue for up to 50 models. The catalogue is currently in the request for proposals (RFP) phase, with the housing minister seeking design services “for the development of low-rise designs under the initiative”. So-called “strawberry box” or “victory houses” were built for Second World War veterans and still stand in many Canadian neighbourhoods. On Tuesday, the federal government announced it was reviving the policy. Library and Archives Canada The story continues below the advertisement 1:57 Atlantic housing ministers say manufactured homes are the way forward Current trend Canada-wide arrest warrant issued for woman wanted for murder in Toronto Linkin Park’s new singer faces accusations of ties to Scientology and Danny Masterson Whitzman says Canada’s approach to housing has been very “piecemeal,” with each municipality having its own variation of building codes, design requirements and zoning regulations. “It is impossible to build housing quickly and also to build infill housing in a standardised manner,” she said. “Kelowna has been a leader in design. British Columbia is now a leader in design. And I hope the federal government will lead the way in design…the more we can move decision-making up to the next level of government, the better.” 2:33 Activists react to Montreal modular housing pilot project The story continues below the advertisement Singh said the pre-approved designs will not only help speed up the construction process but also reduce construction costs and avoid delays. While Singh called for action at the federal level, she said more provinces also need to do their part as Canadians continue to face housing and financial challenges. Singh said some provinces, like her home province of Ontario, do not agree with Ottawa. “Given the often politicized nature of the relationship between the Ford government and the Trudeau government, I worry that this is going to end up in the pile of good ideas never done,” she said of implementing the housing catalogue. Learn more about Canada More videos She noted that Mississauga, Ont., now has two pre-approved templates that can be downloaded from the city’s website. “This shows us that municipalities want pre-approved designs and would benefit from the province adopting a national catalogue,” Singh said. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada will need nearly 3.5 million additional new homes by 2030. A federal catalogue of designs would not be new to Canada. When thousands of veterans returned to Canada after the Second World War, the country was facing a housing crisis. To cut red tape and speed up the construction and approval process, Ottawa published a catalogue of pre-approved home designs that builders could begin building immediately. Hundreds of thousands of new homes were built across Canada in a short period of time. The story continues below the advertisement In December, Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced the Liberals were scrapping the nearly 80-year-old program and revamping it. © 2024 Global News, a division of…

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate JD Vance faces anger from Democrats after decrying school shootings as a “fact of life” and advocating for increased security over stricter gun control. “If these psychopaths come after our children, we have to be prepared,” Vance said at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, just a day after a terrorist attack. Georgia school shooting leaves four dead. “We don’t have to like the reality we live in, but it is the reality we live in. We have to deal with it.” Asked by a reporter what steps should be taken to stop school shootings, the Ohio senator dismissed Democrats’ argument for tougher gun laws, saying shootings happen in states with both lax and strict laws. Instead, he said it makes more sense to give schools more money for security. The story continues below the advertisement “I don’t like that this is a reality,” Vance said. “But if you’re a psychopath and you want to make headlines, you know our schools are easy targets. And we need to have more security in our schools. We need to have more security so that if a psychopath wants to walk through the front door and kill a bunch of kids, he can’t do it.” 3:26 Georgia shooting: At least 4 dead, several injured after shots fired at Winder High School Vance said he doesn’t like the idea of ​​his own children going to a school with heightened security, “but that’s increasingly the reality we live in.” His comments were immediately picked up by Kamala Harris presidential campaign team. “It doesn’t have to be this way. We can and will take action to protect our children,” read a message sent to X by the Democratic presidential candidate, along with an excerpt of Vance’s comments. The story continues below the advertisement School shootings aren’t just a fact of life. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can and will take action to protect our children. https://t.co/Oi8s9MfgvU — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 6, 2024 Harris’ running mate, Governor Tim Walzalso weighed in, posting: “This is pathetic. We can’t abandon our children, they deserve better.” This is pathetic. We cannot abandon our children: they deserve better. https://t.co/ozYdvpDJ4u — Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) September 6, 2024 The story continues below the advertisement The Democratic National Committee also criticized Vance in a statementwriting: “Let’s be clear: No matter what Donald Trump and JD Vance say, tragedies like this do not have to be a “fact of life,” and we do not simply have to “get over it” when Americans, including young children, are violently murdered.” Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. But Vance has doubled down on his efforts to speak out on Phoenix, posting on X: “Kamala wants to take away security from our schools instead of protecting our children. Instead of addressing her own failures, she lies about what I said. More desperation from the biggest fraud in American politics.” Kamala wants to dismantle safety in our schools instead of protecting our children. Instead of facing her own failures, she lies about what I said. More despair from the biggest fraud in American politics. https://t.co/KNOwOtpcLx — JD Vance (@JDVance) September 6, 2024 Current trend Tim Walz’s Close Family Clarifies Situation Regarding Viral ‘Walz’s for Trump’ Photo 70-year-old man dies after Florida surgeon removes liver instead of spleen, attorney says He called the Georgia shootings a “terrible tragedy” and said the families needed prayers and sympathy. The story continues below the advertisement Vance spokesman William Martin also defended the politician’s comments, criticizing the Associated Press for a headline that said did not include full context of Vance’s statement, telling Fox News, “This is yet another case of fake news media “to lie brazenly about a Republican politician.” The Associated Press later corrected his initial title — “JD Vance Says School Shootings Are ‘Fact of Life,’ Calls for Better Safety,” — read “JD Vance Says He Laments School Shootings Are ‘Fact of Life,’” and wrote on X that they updated their filing “to add context to Vance’s partial quote.” This article replaces a previous article that was deleted to add context to Vance’s partial quote. — The Associated Press (@AP) September 6, 2024 The father of the 14-year-old suspect accused of killing four people at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The story continues below the advertisement State authorities announced the charges against Colin Gray, 54, on Thursday. He was also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. Authorities said Thursday that the charges were filed because the father “knowingly” allowed his son, 14-year-old Colt Gray, to possess the military-style rifle used in the shooting. 2:14 Father of Georgia school shooting suspect charged with murder “His charges are directly related to the actions of his son,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said at Thursday night’s news conference. If convicted on all counts, Colin faces a maximum prison sentence of 180 years. More about the world More videos © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

As Canada canola producers Prepare for potential impact Since New anti-dumping investigation in China in Canadian canola imports, a new report from an international credit rating agency suggests the move could result in a “billion-dollar hit” to the country and its supply chain. Morningstar DBRS said in a report published Thursday that the investigation into China’s canola seed imports could result in tariffs being imposed on the crop, which would have a “significant impact on global canola trade flows” and on Canadian grain handlers. The investigation announcement Tuesday comes after Ottawa decided to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, following the lead of the United States and the European Union. The 100 per cent tariff was imposed on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, as well as a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imported from China. The story continues below the advertisement The federal government says the tariffs are meant to protect Canadian jobs, but the agriculture sector has said it could pay a price. Farmer John McKee told Global News earlier this week that the market price of canola in southern Alberta dropped nearly a dollar after the announcement. Ian Boxall, president of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Producers, told Global News that farmers will be hit hardest. “It’s the one that farmers grow and that brings in the most money, it’s sought after all over the world, the demand is high,” he said. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. “Even though the price of canola has gone down, consumers are not going to see a reduction in margarine in the grocery stores… only farmers are going to suffer… China, for the third or fourth time, has gone after canola because they know it’s a close call with their interests.” 2:02 China attacks Canada with anti-dumping probe into canola after electric vehicle tariffs In 2023, the report notes that Canada exported nearly $5 billion worth of canola products to China, citing Chinese customs data showing that more than 90 per cent of the country’s canola product imports last year came from Canada. The story continues below the advertisement The rating agency said in its report that it is not yet clear whether the tariffs would be imposed or how long they might last, but the impact on the economy could be similar to a trade action taken by China in 2019 that saw shipments of canola seed blocked by two major Canadian companies. Current trend Georgia school shooting suspect questioned by police over 2023 online threats 70-year-old man dies after Florida surgeon removes liver instead of spleen, attorney says The dispute follows Canada’s detention of Huawei CEO Meng Wanzhou at the request of the United States, and the subsequent detention of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Learn more about Canada Related Videos The Canola Council of Canada estimates the dispute cost the industry between $1.54 billion and $2.35 billion between March 2019 and August 2020 through lost sales and lower prices. Canada launched a challenge at the World Trade Organization in 2020, but the review was suspended two years later, three months after China restored shipments. China’s current investigation into Canadian canola imports echoes its recent probe into European Union brandy, launched in the wake of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. In this case, China announced last week that it would not impose provisional tariffs on the product, but Morningstar notes that similar investigations into dairy and pork have yet to be concluded. The agency adds that the current geopolitical context, including the upcoming U.S. presidential election, means that “a wide range of outcomes is possible regarding the current investigation into Canadian canola seed.” The story continues below the advertisement However, despite the concerns, the report offers potential solutions, noting that during the 2019 standoff, the quantities of canola that should have gone to China were actually absorbed by other parts of the world – with Europe being a major importer, receiving 1.3 million and 2.5 million tonnes in 2019 and 2020 respectively, compared to 0.4 million tonnes in the previous five years. While the investigation is being launched by China, industry officials said they would support it if necessary but would not speculate on its outcome. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay wrote on social media Tuesday that China’s decision was “deeply concerning” and that he was working with colleagues in government and industry to “closely monitor the evolving situation.” — with files from Reuters © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

The federal government The New Democrats withdrew their support for the supply and confidence agreement with the Liberal government. This decision puts the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau The minority risks falling at any time in the coming weeks or months if it loses confidence votes, which could trigger early elections as early as this fall. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a video released by the NDP on Wednesday that the Liberals “have failed people” and failed to tackle “corporate greed.” He also presented the NDP as the only party capable of preventing a growing Conservative Party from winning the next election, saying the Liberals are “too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people.” “Today I informed the Prime Minister that I have torn up the supply and confidence agreement,” Singh said. The story continues below the advertisement “Big business and wealthy CEOs have had their government. It’s the people’s time.” 1:44 Is Canada headed for an election? What happens after the NDP-Liberal deal breaks down? The House of Commons is expected to resume after summer recess on September 16, after which the NDP will vote on government bills “on a case-by-case basis,” a party official told Global News. The NDP official told Global News the video was shot some time ago and the decision to pull out of the deal had been in the works for months. The official added that a key reason the two parties decided to act now was a “fundamental difference in values ​​on corporate greed” between the two parties. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations about the decision. No NDP members were available to speak to media Wednesday. The story continues below the advertisement Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who urged Singh to withdraw from the deal, called Wednesday’s announcement a “media stunt” and criticized the NDP leader for not committing to a vote of no confidence. “My message to Sellout Singh is this: If you are serious about ending your costly carbon tax coalition with Trudeau, then commit today to voting for a ‘carbon tax election’ in the first confidence vote in the House of Commons,” Poilievre told reporters in Nanaimo, B.C. 2:32 Poilievre calls for ‘traitor Singh’ to trigger ‘carbon tax election’ after NDP withdraws support for Liberals Several bills are still pending in the House and are expected to be passed by the NDP or another party. These include the Online Harms Act and legislation regarding rail and port security, airport standards, expanded advance voting and changes to the military justice system and how it handles cases of sexual misconduct. Get the latest national news For news that impacts Canada and the world, sign up to receive breaking news alerts directly when it happens. The fall economic statement, usually delivered in October or November, could be a likely candidate for a confidence vote. The opposition can also propose a confidence vote by declaring its lack of confidence in the government or by invoking the government’s prerogative, which can designate any issue it chooses as a confidence question. The story continues below the advertisement Poilievre indicated Wednesday that the Conservatives were prepared to present a confidence motion as soon as possible. Trudeau: “I’m not focused on politics” At an announcement in Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday, Trudeau would not say whether an election was imminent, telling reporters that a vote “would happen next year, hopefully not before next fall.” “I’m not focused on politics,” he said, highlighting steps the government has taken to try to reduce costs for Canadians. “I really hope that the NDP will continue to focus on how we can meet the needs of Canadians, as we have done over the last few years, rather than focusing on politics.” Trudeau would not say what conversations he had with Singh before Wednesday’s announcement, but said he hoped to continue working with the NDP on the legislation. The story continues below the advertisement 4:35 ‘Not focused on politics’: Trudeau responds to NDP withdrawal from supply and confidence deal with Liberals The NDP reached a credit and confidence agreement with the Liberals in 2022, months after voters returned the Liberals to government with another minority in late 2021. Supply and confidence agreements are different from coalition governments, in which members of several parties sit together in the cabinet and govern jointly. Under the terms of the deal, the NDP would ensure the Liberals remain in power until the next mandatory election in 2025, in exchange for the government’s support for key NDP priorities. Current trend LGBTQ2 activists call on Trudeau to resign to prevent Poilievre from leading This Canadian Couple Just Won $50 Million. ‘It Won’t Change Them,’ They Hope The deal handed the NDP legislative victories on pharmacare and dental care, two of the biggest pillars of the party’s platform. But Singh and his caucus have criticized the Liberals for not doing more to address rising corporate and executive profits amid the cost of living crisis. Calls to tax those excess profits and raise corporate taxes have failed to produce concrete action from the government. The story continues below the advertisement The NDP has sharply criticized the government’s intervention in the labour dispute that shut down the rail network last month, accusing the Liberals of undermining union negotiations.

Brazil’s top foreign policy adviser on Tuesday called the arrest warrant issued by Caracas against Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez “very worrying” and said there was a clear “authoritarian escalation.” in the country. Other countries in the Americas, including the United States, Argentina and Peru, have also condemned the measure. The Venezuelan attorney general’s office announced Monday that a court has issued an arrest warrant for Gonzalez, the former opposition presidential candidate, charging him with conspiracy and other crimes in a dispute over whether he or President Nicolas Maduro won the July 28 elections. Brazilian President Celso Amorim said in an interview with Reuters that if Venezuelan authorities arrested Gonzalez, “it would be a political arrest, and we do not accept that there are political prisoners.” “It is undeniable that there is an authoritarian escalation in Venezuela. We do not feel any openness to dialogue, the reactions to any comment are very strong,” Amorim said, while adding that Brazil remained hopeful for a solution to the crisis. The story continues below the advertisement 1:57 Venezuelan opposition calls for rallies as US recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as election winner Washington also criticized the arrest warrant, issued after weeks of comments from Venezuelan government officials that Gonzalez and other opposition members should go to prison. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. “This is just another example of Mr. Maduro’s efforts to maintain power by force and to refuse to acknowledge that Mr. Gonzalez won the most votes on July 28,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We are considering a range of options to demonstrate to Mr. Maduro and his representatives that their actions in Venezuela will have consequences.” Gonzalez is expected to make a statement Tuesday. His lawyer, Jose Vicente Haro, told Colombian radio W earlier in the day that Gonzalez has no plans to seek political asylum in another country. Ruling party officials, including Maduro, have accused the opposition of stirring up violence, commanding fascist groups and working on behalf of imperialist interests abroad. The story continues below the advertisement 2:22 Venezuelan elections: thousands protest in Caracas after disputed results Criminal investigations have been opened against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and the opposition’s vote counting website, while several senior opposition figures have been arrested. Venezuela’s national electoral authority and its top court declared Maduro the winner of the election with just over half the vote, but tallies shared by the opposition show a resounding victory for the opposition. Brazil and other countries have demanded the publication of the full vote count. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia and Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by Luana Maria Benedito and Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) More about the world Related Videos Source link

Federal Conservatives And The New Democrats We agree on very little, but one point of consensus has emerged in recent months: labour issues will play a key role in the upcoming federal election. Both parties have launched television ads that attempt to define the Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in the eyes of union voters, a group that politicians see as having increased influence in the upcoming federal election. The ad launched by the New Democrats across the country last week clearly targets its traditional union base. It features union leaders describing Poilievre as a career politician who has “never been a worker and never supported workers.” The footage includes shots of party leader Jagmeet Singh on picket lines in locations across the country. The Conservatives responded to that attack Monday with their own ad, saying Poilievre will bring a fresh start, “where hard work is rewarded, where there is affordable food and safe housing where everyone has a fair chance at a good life.” The story continues below the advertisement 1:55 NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh calls for ‘anti-scab’ law at Manitoba picket After showing images of night workers, such as nurses, waiters and truck drivers, the Conservative ad ends with a slogan: “After the night, no matter how long or dark, comes the morning,” as Poilievre appears on screen, smiling in a field at dawn. They also launched a radio ad attacking Singh for honoring his supply and confidence agreement with the minority government. Both messages appeared to resonate with participants in Toronto’s annual Labour Day parade, where they said they would be paying attention to promises and actions from both sides. Workers have heard a lot from politicians lately, said Lily Chang, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress, but what they really want is to see them walk the talk. “People need politicians to make policy decisions and to make sure working people have a chance to prosper,” she said at Monday’s march. The story continues below the advertisement Federal parties have stepped up their efforts to attract union votes as the labour movement experiences a renaissance, said George Soule, a former NDP communications director who is now a principal at strategic communications firm Syntax. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. “You see it in the United States, where the sitting president went to a picket line, and I want to emphasize that this is a place where you will never see Pierre Poilievre,” he said in a telephone interview. 1:02 Poilievre sympathizes with striking union workers, blames ‘Justinflation’ and carbon taxes Since Poilievre became leader two years ago, he has met with more than 60 unions and visited more than 200 traditionally blue-collar workplaces like factories, plants and mills in eight provinces, while saying other federal parties have abandoned them. But New Democrats point to his absence from the picket lines and his silence after Canada’s two railways locked out their unionized workers as proof that Poilievre is a “fake, a fake and a fraud.” The story continues below the advertisement “You never hear him talk about corporate greed or attack big business,” said NDP labour critic Matthew Green. “Instead, he’s holding these massive fundraisers in these multi-million dollar mansions while going out and putting on a work vest and fake scuffed shoes, pretending he’s been on the front lines the whole time.” The Conservatives pointed to Poilievre’s recent remarks, in which he accused Singh of betraying workers by joining an “expensive coalition” that he said puts Singh and Trudeau ahead of Canadians. Michelle Johnston, a union member who marched in the Toronto march, described herself as an undecided voter. But when she chooses a side, she said it will ultimately depend on policies that affect her, such as women’s health care. “I’m not sure where the candidates up there stand,” she said of party platforms. 1:41 Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rallies with Surrey rail workers Current trend Wells Fargo employee found dead in office 4 days after clocking out US seizes Venezuelan president’s plane, saying it was bought illegally Since Poilievre took over the party two years ago, the Conservatives have implemented several policies affecting workers, including opposing the use of foreign replacement workers in electric vehicle battery plants and imposing tariffs on electric vehicles, steel, critical minerals and other products made in China. The story continues below the advertisement His party also backed a bill banning replacement workers, while pledging to keep the law in place if the Conservatives form government. It’s a change of tone from his early days in Parliament, when he voted for a private member’s bill that would have required unions to publicly disclose how they spend their money. He also supported another bill that unions said would make it harder to organize in federally regulated workplaces. Both bills were repealed when the Liberals came to power. National opinion polls suggest this change is resonating with Canadians, as the Conservatives have a substantial lead over the other parties. This is notably the case of George Smith of Toronto, who said he plans to vote Conservative for the first time in the next federal election. “Their goal is to serve the people, not themselves,” said Smith, who believes that vision will be reflected in their candidates and their official election platform. 1:48 Union Strikes in Canada: What’s Behind All the Labor Disputes? The Conservatives and the NDP will soon face off in another way: at the ballot box in an upcoming byelection in a Winnipeg riding where union ties to the NDP have long been strong. The story continues below the advertisement “(Poilievre) is trying to make the case that he can take these working-class seats. He talks a lot, and this is his chance to show if he can actually do it,” Soule said. The Conservatives have stepped up their attacks on the New Democrats and their leader Singh in recent weeks, and the NDP…

A corporate lawyer and professor who has been a vocal critic of Alberta The two senators who proposed a law on pronouns in schools are now representatives of the province. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Governor General Mary Simon announced Saturday that she has appointed Daryl Fridhandler and Kristopher Wells to fill vacancies in the Senate. Wells is an Edmonton-based LGBTQ2 advocate known for promoting diversity, inclusion, equality and human rights, and is an outspoken opponent of the Alberta government’s plan to adopt a policy requiring parental consent before children under 16 can change their name or pronouns at school. Political scientist Duane Bratt said he expects the provincial government to criticize Wells’ appointment because of his opposition to the pronoun policy. “These are the kinds of appointments that should make up the Senate. It should reflect the diversity of Canada. It should include experts from all fields,” Bratt told Global News. The story continues below the advertisement “I’m also aware that this is going to cause tensions within social conservatives in Alberta, and within the Alberta government in particular, because of its positions on the rights of sexual minorities.” Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. Fridhandler, a partner at Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLC in Calgary, is a lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and businessman with 40 years of experience who has served as legal counsel to a variety of businesses, non-profit organizations and projects. He has served on numerous boards, including ENMAX, where he is currently a director. He has served as Chair of the Alberta Ballet, Calgary Economic Development and Arts Commons in the past. Learn more about the policy Related Videos Wells, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, is noted to be an educator, scientific expert and advocate for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The statement from the prime minister’s office said the two new senators were recommended by an independent advisory board for Senate appointments, established in 2016, which it said ensures the independence of senators. “I congratulate Mr. Fridhandler and Dr. Wells on their appointment as Parliament’s newest independent senators. Their experiences will make them important voices for their communities,” Trudeau said during Saturday’s announcement. The Governor General appoints senators, but by convention they are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. The story continues below the advertisement Alberta Premier Danielle Smith responded to the appointments on social media, accusing Trudeau of ignoring the interests of Albertans. “Despite repeated democratic elections in our province of senators-in-waiting ready to represent the interests of Albertans, he has chosen to appoint left-wing partisans who will do whatever he and the Liberals order them to do,” Smith wrote on X. Wells wrote on social media that Smith’s “obsession” with the transgender community was “beyond bizarre.” “This trans panic she’s manufacturing is hateful, hurtful and needs to stop,” Wells wrote earlier this month on X.Smith said his administration will introduce a bill on pronouns in schools during the fall legislative session that begins in late October. It’s part of a series of policies she first announced in January that also include restricting transgender youth’s access to gender-affirming health care, banning transgender participation in women’s sports and requiring parental consent or notification. The premier’s office statement on Saturday said Wells “has used research and advocacy to help advance diversity, equity and human rights in Alberta and across the country.” He also said he has received honours including the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Alberta Prize for the study of human rights and multiculturalism in Canada. — with files from Jaclyn Kucey © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

The union representing thousands of railway workers has appealed the measures that ended the Closure of the railway network Last week, a work stoppage disrupted freight and commuter traffic across the country. In documents filed with the Federal Court of Appeal, the Teamsters union challenged the guidelines regarding binding arbitration rendered before a labor commission by federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon last week, less than a day after 9,300 workers at Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway were locked out in Kansas City. In response to MacKinnon’s instructions, the Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered the country’s two main railways to resume operations and employees to return to their jobs until binding arbitration can produce new contracts. In addition to the government’s directive, the union is also challenging the court’s decisions. Paul Boucher, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, believes these actions set a “dangerous precedent” that threatens workers’ constitutional right to collective bargaining. The story continues below the advertisement “Without this, unions lose their bargaining power to obtain better wages and safer working conditions for all Canadians,” Boucher said in a press release. 1:35 CN and CPKC rail service resumes after 4 days of shutdown The railroads, along with some industry groups, said the minister’s decision ended months of unnecessary uncertainty and eased supply chain turbulence after the Teamsters rejected arbitration demands. Receive daily national news Get the day’s top political, business and current affairs news delivered to your inbox once a day. CN said arbitration is a neutral process “independent of the outcome” and aimed at breaking an impasse. “CN would have preferred a negotiated settlement,” CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski said in an email. “However, after nine months of trying to reach a settlement, it was clear that the Teamsters were not looking for resolution and were happy to continue to apply pressure by inflicting damage on the Canadian economy,” CN spokeswoman Ashley Michnowski said in an email. The story continues below the advertisement MacKinnon issued the back-to-work order less than 17 hours after the CPKC lockout and strike went into effect, but not CN. He said negotiations were at an impasse and Canadian businesses, job security and trade relations were at stake. Industry groups have been sounding the alarm for weeks about the economic consequences of a prolonged shutdown. To ensure no freight was stranded, CN and CPKC reduced operations in stages, starting nearly three weeks ago. Current trend Johnny Gaudreau’s wife posts on social media for the first time since his death More than 300,000 Samsung ranges recalled in Canada due to fire hazard 0:48 ‘Too many Canadian jobs were at stake’: Trudeau explains decision to impose binding arbitration in rail dispute Last week, the movement of goods ranging from auto parts to crude oil, consumer goods, grain and potash came to a complete halt, temporarily disrupting supply chains. More than 30,000 commuters in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver were also unable to board passenger trains running on CPKC-owned tracks. The story continues below the advertisement The labor board’s August 24 decision requires the railroads to continue operating and workers to remain on the job until the arbitration is completed. The union filed four separate appeals in a Toronto court Thursday afternoon, seeking a court order “setting aside” the minister’s directions and labour court decisions regarding CN and CPKC. The applications seek to invalidate these decisions as well as the minister’s orders to the council, arguing that the latter were “ultra vires” – beyond the powers of its jurisdiction. The court filing also says the board’s directives and decisions violated the union’s freedom of association, guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After a few acrimonious weeks, the union and railroad officials are expected to meet next month for the first time since the work stoppage to discuss a timetable for binding arbitration. Learn more about Canada Related Videos © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

By the staff The Canadian Press Published on August 30, 2024 at 4:57 p.m. Updated August 30, 2024 at 7:55 p.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article The Federal Court has agreed to review the federal government’s decision to impose civil servants return to the office three days a week. The mandate, which is set to take effect on September 9, was established by the federal government in May, sparking anger among the union representing the workers. THE Public Service Alliance of Canada raised its concerns with the Federal Court, which agreed to hear the case in a decision released Thursday. 1:36 CRA reaches tentative agreement with federal authorities to end strike Current trend Former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew killed in New Jersey collision International student enrollment falls below federal cap, universities say Union President Sharon DeSousa said the decision was a “significant victory for federal workers fighting for a fair and transparent approach to telework.” The story continues below the advertisement The union says the hearing will be a “major step” for workers seeking transparency around the decision to send workers back to the office. The Treasury Board did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Learn more about Canada Related Videos © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link