Politics

All major Canadian grocers are now on board for a Grocery Store Code of Conductpaving the way for sectoral guidelines that took several years to develop. Federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers made the announcement Thursday at their annual meeting in Whitehorse, saying the last holdouts, Walmart and Costco, have now agreed to sign the code. “This is a positive step towards greater fairness, transparency and predictability in Canada’s food supply chain and for consumers,” the ministers said in a statement. Confirming support from the five major retailers — Loblaw, Walmart, Costco, Metro and Empire, which owns Sobeys — is a “significant milestone,” said Michael Graydon, CEO of the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada and chair of the code’s interim board. “It was essential that all retailers were involved because it is a very competitive sector,” he said. The story continues below the advertisement “It was an all-or-nothing situation. And I think they all respected that and came to the negotiating table.” 4:44 Business News: Loblaw set to sign grocery store code of conduct The voluntary grocery code aims to level the playing field for suppliers and small retailers by providing guidelines for fair negotiations. 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. Last fall, progress on the code appeared to be in jeopardy as it neared completion, with some major retailers saying they weren’t ready to sign on. Executives from Loblaw and Walmart Canada told MPs at a House of Commons committee meeting they were concerned the code would lead to higher retail prices. As a result, calls to make the code mandatory have grown, with the House of Commons committee studying food prices telling Loblaw and Walmart in February that if they don’t sign on, it would recommend the code be passed into law — an option the federal agriculture minister has said he is considering. The story continues below the advertisement In May, Loblaw said it would accept the code if others in the industry did the same, saying its concerns had been allayed by changes to the document. “The current code is fair and will not lead to price increases,” Chairman and CEO Per Bank said at the time. After Loblaw’s announcement, attention turned to Walmart Canada and Costco, but both retailers have now agreed to support the code.

By the staff The Associated Press Published on July 17, 2024 at 2:13 p.m. Updated July 17, 2024 at 2:18 p.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article Democratic United States Representative Adam Schiff called the President of the United States Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign on Wednesday, becoming the 20th Democrat in Congress to do so. Schiff said Wednesday that Biden had been “one of the most important presidents,” but that the nation was at a crossroads and that a second Trump presidency would undermine American democracy. “While the decision to step down from the campaign is solely President Biden’s, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch,” Schiff said in a statement. “And in doing so, he must preserve his legacy of leadership in helping us defeat Donald Trump in the next election.” Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. “A second Trump presidency would undermine the very foundations of our democracy, and I am deeply concerned about whether the president will be able to defeat Donald Trump in November,” the statement said. Schiff, who is running for Senate this year, is a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who led the House’s first impeachment proceedings against Trump in 2019. The story continues below the advertisement Democratic concern Concerns about the 81-year-old incumbent’s ability to beat his Republican opponent Trump, or to stay in office for another four years, grew after Biden’s faltering performance in the June 27 debate. Fashionable now Jack Black Cancels Tenacious D Tour Over ‘Inappropriate’ Trump Joke Under Trudeau, the public service grew twice as fast as Canada’s population. Trump is currently in Milwaukee, where his fellow Republicans are officially nominating him as their candidate, days after narrowly escaping an assassin’s bullet during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. 2:06 George Clooney joins calls for Biden to drop out of race — With files from Reuters © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article Certain psychotherapy And consulting services in Canada are now exempt from sales tax to make mental health care more affordable for Canadians. THE Canada Revenue Agency said in a press release Monday that certain psychotherapists and counsellors are no longer required to collect the goods and services tax (GST) or the harmonized sales tax (HST) on their services. THE tax exemption, which was proposed by the federal government in the fall economic statement in November, came into force on June 20 after receiving royal assent, the CRA said. It applies to individuals who hold a license issued by a provincial body to provide psychotherapy or counselling services. 1:39 Proposed changes will allow Alberta counsellors to be regulated by the College of Psychologists Professionals who work in a province without a regulatory body, but who have the equivalent qualifications required to meet the licensing requirements in a regulated province, are not required to collect GST/HST. Fashionable now What are the requirements to bring a dog to the United States from Canada starting August 1? Trump shooter: Former classmates share details about shy, but ‘normal’ gunman The story continues below the advertisement Services that fall within the scope of the profession’s practice in a regulated province — Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — are also exempt from sales tax. The latest health and medical news I send it to you by email every Sunday. “Once you confirm that your services are exempt from GST/HST, you will need to stop charging GST/HST on your services,” the CRA said. “If all of your services are exempt, you can close your GST/HST account with the CRA, online or by mail,” the agency said. These new rules apply everywhere in Canada, except Quebec, which has its own tax requirements. It expands the tax exemption for services provided by different types of health professionals, including dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors and midwives. Health care services covered by provincial plans are also exempt from sales tax. © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

By the staff The Canadian Press Published on July 15, 2024 at 2:24 p.m. Updated July 15, 2024 at 2:29 p.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article Premier François Legault is being asked to revise his story after he said Monday that Quebec politicians are not facing the kind of violence seen over the weekend in the United States. Legault’s comments came in response to Saturday’s assassination attempt on the former president. Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania. Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon took a dim view of Legault’s comments, noting that PQ leaders have been the target of attacks twice, in 1984 and more recently during the 2012 provincial election night. 9:15 a.m. Dave Courage recalls Quebec election night shooting In 2012, a gunman attacked a PQ rally in Montreal, killing a lighting technician and attempting to enter a room where then-PQ leader Pauline Marois was giving a victory speech. The story continues below the advertisement In 1984, a gunman stormed the legislature with the intention of killing then-premier René Lévesque and other PQ MNAs. He killed three people and injured 13 others. Fashionable now Shannen Doherty, Star of ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed,’ Dies at 53 Kate Middleton all smiles at Wimbledon final match The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Speaking to reporters at the Council of the Federation meeting in Halifax, Legault said what happened over the weekend is worrisome for democracy in the United States, but that this kind of violence against politicians “doesn’t happen in Quebec.” 2:23 Call for a “culture change” in municipal politics following the resignation of Gatineau mayor St-Pierre Plamondon said on X that what is worrying is that the Prime Minister makes such general statements that ignore Quebec’s history. © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

A shooting at Donald Trump A rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, is being investigated as an attempt to assassinate the former president and presumptive Republican nominee, law enforcement officials said. Trump called for unity and resilience Sunday as shocked leaders from across the political spectrum responded to the shooting. The secret service said it had killed the alleged shooter, 20 years old Thomas Matthew Crookswho attacked from a high position outside the rally site. Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that investigators believe the gun was purchased by Crook’s father at least six months ago. Officials said federal agents were still working to understand when and how Crooks, a registered Republican voter in Pennsylvania according to state records, obtained the gun and to gather additional information about him as they worked to identify a possible motive. The story continues below the advertisement The investigation is focusing on Crooks. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. 0:32 Donald Trump was removed from the stage after shots were apparently fired at a rally in Pennsylvania A volley of gunfire sparked panic Saturday, and a bloodied Trump, who said he was shot in the ear, was surrounded by Secret Service officers and rushed to his SUV as he raised his fist in defiance. The Trump campaign said the presumptive GOP nominee was “I’m fine” after the shooting which he said pierced the upper part of his right ear. “I immediately knew something was wrong, I heard a whistle, gunshots, and immediately felt the bullet go through the skin. There was a lot of bleeding,” he wrote on his social media site. One participant was killed and two spectators were seriously injured, authorities said. All were identified as men. The story continues below the advertisement The attack was the most serious attempt to assassinate a president or presidential candidate since the assassination of Ronald Reagan in 1981. Former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, is shown covered by U.S. Secret Service agents after an incident at a rally on July 13, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images 10:03 Motive for Trump ‘assassination attempt’ still under investigation, FBI says The move has focused attention on fears of political violence in a deeply polarized country less than four months before a presidential election. It could also change the tone and security posture of the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday in Milwaukee. The story continues below the advertisement Organizers said the convention would go ahead as planned. The email you need for the day The top news from Canada and around the world. Trump flew to New Jersey after visiting a local hospital in Pennsylvania, landing shortly after midnight at Newark Liberty International Airport. A video released by an aide shows the former president disembarking from his private jet flanked by U.S. Secret Service agents and heavily armed members of the agency’s counterattack team, an unusually visible show of force by his protection team. President Joe Biden, who is running against Trump, was briefed on the incident and spoke with Trump several hours after the shooting, the White House said. “There is no place in the United States for this type of violence,” the president said in a public address. “It is unhealthy. It is unhealthy.” 2:18 Biden reacts to shooting at Trump rally: ‘It’s disgusting’ Biden had planned to return to Washington early, cutting short a weekend at his beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The story continues below the advertisement Many Republicans were quick to pin the blame for the violence on Biden and his allies, saying that repeated attacks on Trump as a threat to democracy have created a toxic environment. They pointed in particular to a comment Biden made to donors on July 8, saying that “it’s time to put Trump in the bullseye.” Fashionable now Trump campaign says former president doing ‘fine’ after shooting Richard Simmons, Fitness Guru Who Combined Laughter With Sweat, Dies at 76 Authorities said members of the U.S. Secret Service’s counterattack team killed the shooter. The heavily armed tactical team travels everywhere with the president and major party candidates and is supposed to deal with any active threats while other agents focus on protecting and evacuating the person at the center of the protection. Law enforcement recovered an AR-style rifle at the scene, according to a third person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage by U.S. Secret Service agents during a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. Gene J. Puskar/AP An AP analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos from the scene of Trump’s rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get surprisingly close to the stage where the former president was speaking. The story continues below the advertisement A video posted on social media and geotagged by the AP shows the body of a person wearing gray camouflage lying motionless on the roof of a building at AGR International Inc., a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds where Trump’s rally was held. 4:51 Trump rally shooting investigated as attempted assassination The rooftop where the person was located was less than 150 yards from where Trump was speaking, a distance at which a good sniper could reasonably hit a man-sized target. For reference, 150 yards is the distance at which U.S. Army recruits must hit a man-sized figure in order to fire the M-16 rifle. The AR-15, like the one used by the shooter at the Trump rally, is the semi-automatic civilian version of the military M-16. Asked at the news conference whether law enforcement did not know the shooter was on the roof before he started shooting, Kevin Rojek, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Pittsburgh field office, said, “That’s…

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre Friday referred to supervised consumption sites as “drug dens” and promised to shut down some of the sites if he was elected premier – a proposal the British Columbia premier called a “real mistake.” Poilievre also said a Conservative government would cut federal funding for such operations. “We will close safe injection sites near schools, playgrounds and any other place where they put the public at risk,” Poilievre told reporters at a news conference. 2:02 Poilievre promises to close some supervised drug consumption sites He held the event at a playground in southwest Montreal, near a transitional housing project that also includes a supervised consumption site, which has been a source of controversy in the community. The story continues below the advertisement “We are going to defund them. The Poilievre government will not invest a single cent in drug dens. Every cent will be spent on treatment and recovery services, to get our loved ones home drug-free,” Poilievre said. The Conservative leader criticized the riding’s Liberal MP, Marc Miller, for “doing nothing” to address public safety concerns. Poilievre recently occupied several events in Montreal as the party attempts to make inroads into the city, particularly in the Liberal Bastion of Mount Royal owned by Anthony Housefather.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said on Friday he was “embarrassed” to see the prime minister Justin Trudeau this week NATO leaders’ summit, where Trudeau was dogged by calls to commit to meeting the alliance’s defence spending target. But Poilievre did not say whether he would also commit to Trudeau’s promise that Canada will meet the target of spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence. in eight years. “It’s clear now that Justin Trudeau is seen as a complete joke on the world stage,” he told reporters at a news conference in Montreal. “I was embarrassed to see our Prime Minister treated like a human piñata by the other NATO countries. They look at him with total and utter mockery. Canadians are tired of being embarrassed by a Prime Minister who struts and struts, who lectures the world without doing his part.” The story continues below the advertisement Trudeau traveled to Washington for the summit in the face of increasing pressure to provide a timeline for when Canada will reach the 2% target. American politicians in particular have been outspoken in their criticism of Trudeau. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has called Canada’s budget deficits and dependence on the United States “shameful,” and the Wall Street Journal editorial board has called Trudeau “disgraceful.” He called the Trudeau government “defence-breaking.” Canada currently spends 1.37% of its GDP on defence and has only committed enough funds over the next five years to bring that figure to 1.76% by 2030. On Thursday, Trudeau said Canada would reach 2% by 2032 “with confidence and assurance,” but did not provide details on how that goal would be achieved. He also criticized the focus on the target, calling it “crude math.”

Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article Justin Trudeau reaffirmed on Thursday its “full confidence” in Chrystia Freeland amid reports of tensions between the prime minister’s office and the finance minister. Speaking at the close of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Washington, D.C., Trudeau was asked about the possibility of replacing Freeland – also his deputy prime minister – with Mark Carneyformer governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. The question followed a report from the Globe and Mail Last Thursday, “tensions” were raised between the PMO and Freeland over her recent handling of the economic file. This article, as well as Previous Toronto Star reportspositioned Carney as a possible successor to Freeland as finance minister. 0:52 Freeland says Trudeau has ‘full support’ of Liberal cabinet “As for Chrystia, she has been a close friend, an ally and a partner who has done great things for Canada and she will continue to be,” Trudeau told reporters Thursday. He then cited the Liberal government’s latest spending plans on housing and child care. The story continues below the advertisement Free land tabled its fourth federal budget in Aprila plan that included billions of dollars in spending to try to improve “generational fairness” for younger Canadians. The budget included a controversial plan to increase the inclusion rate on some capital gains, a change adopted by the Liberals in June despite the opposition of some industrial groups and business leaders. Latest news from Canada and around the world sent to your email address, as it happens. “These are all things that Chrystia has done and will continue to do. I have full confidence in her abilities and in the work that we will accomplish together,” Trudeau said. The prime minister also acknowledged that he had been talking to Carney “for years about getting him into federal politics,” but did not directly say whether he was being considered for the finance minister position. Fashionable now Silk and Great Value plant-based milks recalled in Canada Man accused of killing 3 women with crossbow found by British police 1:46 World Economic Forum Summit: Freeland, Carney warn of future supply shocks amid global instability “I think he would be an exceptional addition at a time when Canadians need good people to get involved in politics,” Trudeau said. The story continues below the advertisement The Liberal government has felt political pressure in recent months since the party lost what was supposed to be a safe seat in the riding. Toronto-St. Paul’s Federal By-Election end of June. Trudeau himself has faced calls, including of a Liberal MP and a former Cabinet ministerto leave the party leadership while the government is in place behind Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party in the polls. Freeland has He also defended Trudeau against such calls.claiming that he has the “full support” of the Liberal cabinet. — with information from Touria Izri of Global News © 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link

By the staff The Canadian Press Published on July 9, 2024 at 10:39 a.m. Updated July 9, 2024 at 11:25 a.m. 1 min read Reduce the font size of the article Increase the font size of the article The man who was chosen by Green Party members to be co-leader with Elizabeth May said he was resigning. Jonathan Pedneault says he is leaving the role for personal reasons and that it was an honour to serve alongside May and the party’s other MP, Mike Morrice. Pedneault, who does not have a seat in Parliament, says he is proud to have worked to rebuild the party and stabilize its base. 2:39 Foreign interference: Elizabeth May has ‘no concerns’ about current disloyal MPs Fashionable now Canada has no respite from the heat. Will it last all summer? Canada vs Argentina: Your guide to a historic Copa America semi-final May says she is “heartbroken” by the decision and remains committed to the co-leadership model she sought after the 2021 federal election. The story continues below the advertisement In the 2022 party leadership race, May and Pedneault were chosen to lead the party together pending a change to the party’s constitution, with Pedneault officially serving as deputy leader since then. May also confirmed today that she plans to run in her Vancouver Island riding in the next election. © 2024 The Canadian Press Source link

The American President Joe BidenIn a letter to congressional Democrats, he strongly opposed calls for him to drop his candidacy and called for an “end” to the intraparty drama that has torn Democrats apart since his poor performance in the public debates. Biden’s efforts to shore up a deeply anxious Democratic Party come Monday as lawmakers return to Washington and face a choice: whether to work to revive his campaign or oust the party leader, a defining moment for his reelection and their own political futures. Biden wrote in the two-page letter that “the question of how to move forward has been widely debated for over a week now. And it is time for that to stop.” He stressed that the party has “only one job,” which is to defeat presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in November. “We have 42 days until the Democratic convention and 119 days until the general election,” Biden said in the letter distributed by his re-election campaign. “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task at hand only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.” The story continues below the advertisement This morning, I sent a letter to my Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill, sharing my thoughts on this moment in our campaign. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/ABtAaJrr0n — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 8, 2024 Concerns are running high as top Democratic lawmakers join calls for Biden to step down despite his refusal. At the same time, some of the president’s most ardent supporters are doubling down on their efforts to secure Biden’s presidency, insisting that no one is better positioned to beat Trump in what many see as one of the most consequential elections of a lifetime. As lawmakers debate whether Biden should stay or go, there appear to be no easy answers. The president’s party is in a delicate and highly volatile moment. Democrats who have worked alongside Biden for years, even decades, and appreciated his work on policy priorities are now asking uncomfortable questions about his political future. And this is playing out as Biden hosts world leaders for the NATO summit this week in Washington. The story continues below the advertisement Time is not on their side, with nearly a month to go until the Democratic National Convention and just a week before the Republican rally in Milwaukee to renominate Trump as their presidential nominee. Many Democrats say the focus should instead be on convicting the former president of felony charges in the bribery case and on the ongoing federal charges in his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. The email you need for the day the main news from Canada and around the world. It’s what Biden himself might call an inflection point. As he defiantly declares that he will not step down unless the Lord Almighty comes and asks him to, Democrats in the House and Senate are deciding how hard they want to fight for the president to change course, or whether they want to change course at all. 2:28 ‘Nobody is pushing me out’: Biden remains in US presidential race despite drop in popularity In an effort to “get on the same page,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has called lawmakers into private meetings before announcing his own preference, according to a person familiar with the situation who requested anonymity to discuss it. He plans to bring together Democrats with the lowest reelection prospects on Monday. The story continues below the advertisement But a private call Sunday with about 15 senior members of the House committee revealed the deepening rift as at least four other Democrats — Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state and Rep. Mark Takano of California — said privately that Biden should step down. Nadler, who was the highest-ranking member of the conference call, was the first to speak and say Biden should step down, according to a person familiar with the call who was granted anonymity to discuss it. He did so, mindful of his seniority and the fact that it would allow others to join him. Many other participants on the call expressed concerns about Biden’s ability and chances of re-election, although they stopped short of saying Biden should withdraw from the race. Still other members, including Rep. Maxine Waters of California and Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, both leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus, spoke out forcefully in support of Biden, as did Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Several lawmakers appeared frustrated that leaders were not providing direction or a path forward, according to people familiar with the call. One Democratic lawmaker said that whatever the decision, the situation must “end now,” one of the people said. Neal later said the bottom line was that Biden beat Trump in 2020 and “he’ll do it again in November.” The story continues below the advertisement 2:16 Calls grow for Biden to step down as Trump uses immunity as leverage Fashionable now Christina Applegate Shares Her Top Goals for ‘My Remaining Days’ Federal Council Finds Dockers’ Foremen’s Union Negotiating in Bad Faith The upheaval is also testing a new generation of leaders, led by Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Both New Yorkers have refrained from publicly giving lawmakers direction on the path forward as they struggle to balance the diverse views within their ranks. Behind the scenes is House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, who continues to field calls from lawmakers seeking her advice on the situation, and is widely seen as the one to watch for any final decision on Biden’s future because of her closeness to the president and her vote-counting skills in party politics. Nancy Pelosi spoke out last week, saying Biden’s debate performance raised “legitimate” questions that…