Canada lays out plan to phase out sales of gas-powered cars, trucks by 2035

The end of the road is coming for gas-powered vehicles in Canada. New regulations being published this week by Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will effectively end sales of new passenger vehicles powered only by gasoline or diesel in 2035. Guilbeault said the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard will encourage automakers to make more battery-powered cars and … Read more

As U.S., U.K. and EU sanction violent Israeli settlers, Canada hangs back

The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well.  Canada, like its American, British … Read more

Annual pace of housing starts in Canada down 22% in November, says CMHC

The pace of housing starts in Canada fell by 22 per cent in November, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. said Friday. The agency says the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in November came in at 212,624 units, down from 272,264 in October. A housing start is defined as the beginning of construction work … Read more

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

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

COP28 reaches groundbreaking climate deal in Dubai calling for ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels’

After negotiators worked through the night, a new deal has been reached at COP28 which could signal the world’s desire to move away from fossil fuels over the next few decades in an effort to address climate change. Representatives from nearly 200 countries gathered in a public meeting in Dubai to support the new deal, one day … Read more

National pharmacare plan is in limbo as health minister calls pending deadline ‘arbitrary’

Health Minister Mark Holland signalled Tuesday the government is unlikely to meet the end-of-the-year deadline imposed by the NDP for passing pharmacare legislation — a condition of the supply-and-confidence agreement that was struck to keep the Liberals in power until 2025. Holland said talks are ongoing with NDP MP Don Davies, the party’s health critic, … Read more

Grocers’ code of conduct won’t work unless all companies sign on, Metro CEO tells MPs

All major industry players need to sign on to the grocery code of conduct in order for it to be successful, said Metro Inc. president and CEO Eric La Flèche. La Flèche told MPs Monday at a House of Commons agriculture committee meeting on stabilizing food prices that Metro is willing to sign the code of … Read more

Feds introduce bill to set drinking water standards in First Nations

The federal government’s proposed new bill to set drinking water standards in First Nations is being met with mixed reactions.  Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu introduced Bill C-61 on Monday in the House of Commons. The proposed law is intended to protect fresh water sources, create minimum national drinking water and wastewater standards in First Nations, and … Read more

N.W.T. premier says he wants complete carbon tax exemption for territory

Canada’s newest premier says that in an ideal world, Ottawa would provide his territory with a blanket exemption from the carbon tax. “I mean, ideally, a complete exemption for the territory is what we would hope for,” said R.J. Simpson, chosen this week as premier of the Northwest Territories, in an interview Sunday on Rosemary Barton … Read more

Ottawa getting $40 million refund from former parent company of Quebec COVID vaccine maker

Ottawa will be getting a $40 million refund after it gave Quebec City-based biopharmaceutical company Medicago more than $300 million to develop and manufacture a home-grown COVID-19 vaccine that never made it to market. The news comes after Conservative, Bloc and NDP MPs on the House of Commons health committee grilled staff from Canada’s procurement department this … Read more