Canada-s

Heritage minister says she’d like CBC’s mandate updated to include strong online presence, fill info gaps

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Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge says she wants the role of public broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada redefined before the next federal election. In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, St-Onge said now is the time to update its mandate, to hedge against a possible change in government. She said the Liberal government believes a strong public broadcaster strengthens democracy and promises to keep … Read more

Feds push back release date of foreign interference inquiry report

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The first report from the inquiry into foreign interference in federal elections is now set to come out two months later than originally planned.  Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced Thursday the federal government has granted Justice Marie-Josée Hogue an extension on her interim report on foreign interference in federal elections.  According to her terms … Read more

Canada’s economy stalled again in October but likely up 0.1% in November

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Canada’s economy was essentially unchanged for the third consecutive month in October, missing growth forecasts, but gross domestic product likely edged up in November, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.2 per cent month-over-month rise. September’s GDP was downwardly revised to zero growth from an initial report of … Read more

Bank of Canada’s governing council agreed odds of another interest rate hike have fallen

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The Bank of Canada’s governing council agreed the odds of another rate hike have decreased during its discussions ahead of the interest rate decision earlier this month. The central bank released its summary of deliberations for its Dec. 6 interest rate decision Tuesday, revealing the governing council felt more optimistic about the country’s inflation outlook. … Read more

Canada’s top 10 weather stories of 2023: Wildfires, smoky skies, a record hot summer and more

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Every year, Environment and Climate Change Canada ranks the top 10 Canadian weather stories. Senior climatologist David Phillips compiles the list and this year, there was no doubt about what would take the number one position: the record-setting wildfires. “There’s no drum roll here,” Phillips said.  “The fires dominated everything…. In 28 years of putting … Read more

As Christmas tree farmers retire, who will take over?

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Brad Clements, 82, has been growing Christmas trees near Milton, Ont., since the 1980s but is getting ready to pack it in.  “We’re looking at closing it up in the next year or so, if not sooner,” said Clements, owner of Clembrook Christmas Farm.  Clements and his wife aren’t passing the business on to a … Read more

Canada’s inflation rate holds steady at 3.1%

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Canada’s annual inflation rate held steady at 3.1 per cent in November, matching the previous month’s rate, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday. Economists were expecting the rate to fall below the three per cent threshold, putting the economy closer to the Bank of Canada’s two per cent inflation goal. Mortgage interest costs and the high cost … Read more

Outlook good for Canadian oil and gas sector, says industry report, but risks remain

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Canada’s upstream oil and gas industry and drilling services sector has a “very favourable” outlook for 2024, according to Enserva’s State of the Industry report released on Thursday. Key highlights of the report show that oil prices are expected to remain strong, demand will be robust, export capacity will increase, and investment and drilling activity are set … Read more

Tensions emerge in the Liberal caucus over Canada’s UN vote for a Gaza ceasefire

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The federal government’s decision to back a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict without certain conditions has prompted a mix of reactions from Liberal MPs. Some say they hope it will bring about peace. Others say it amounts to Canada abandoning Israel while it’s at war with extremists. Some Liberal MPs take issue … Read more

Grocery code of conduct will raise prices, not lower them, Loblaws and Walmart tell lawmakers

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The head of Canada’s biggest grocery chain says the looming implementation of the grocery code of conduct would lead to higher prices for consumers, not lower ones. Speaking at a House of Commons agriculture committee meeting on Thursday morning on stabilizing food prices, Galen Weston, executive chairman of the Loblaws group of companies, said his … Read more