In the news: Tories ponder the year ahead, Jewish organizations sounding the alarm

By Canadian Press on December 18, 2025.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed …

Rattled Conservatives look ahead to 2026

One year ago, Pierre Poilievre appeared to be on the cusp of achieving two things he’d wanted for a long time: the end of Justin Trudeau’s political career, and a majority Conservative government with himself at the helm.

National polls put the Conservatives some 25 points ahead of the Liberals, who were being dragged down by their unpopular leader.

In the House of Commons, the Tories were taunting Trudeau to step down, stalling Parliament with procedural shenanigans and threatening to topple the minority government.

The plan for the next four years was all but set. Conservatives were publicly calling Poilievre “the next prime minister.”

Ian Brodie, a political scientist at the University of Calgary and former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, said there was “probably a bit of arrogance creeping into the political style of the party” at the time.

‘We expect action’ says CEO of Jewish organization

A Jewish organization is calling on all levels of government to protect communities in Canada following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.

Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs CEO Noah Shack said in an interview with The Canadian Press that the need for action is “urgent.”

“Thoughts and prayers can provide some comfort in the moment after a tragedy, but we need action to ensure that that same tragedy doesn’t play out here in Canada,” Shack said.

At least 15 people were killed and at least 38 were wounded in Australia over the weekend during a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach in what police said was an attack by a father and son.

Feds stand by Deloitte contract after AI blunders

The federal government is defending its decision to award a contract worth up to $1.1 million for advice on deploying artificial intelligence to a Canadian branch of Deloitte, a global consulting firm that is under fire for AI-related blunders.

However, Employment and Social Development Canada says there will be consequences if the company violates the conditions of the work.

The department awarded the contract to Deloitte Inc. in September, before the firm acknowledged it relied on AI for research citations in a report it prepared for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The firm said it needed to revise that report to correct erroneous citations.

In October, Deloitte Australia acknowledged it had provided the Australian government with a report containing citation errors that are thought to have been generated by AI.

Winter storm system moves into Ontario, Quebec

Blizzard conditions continue across Saskatchewan and Manitoba today.

Environment Canada says the winter storm system is pushing through the southern parts of the two Prairie provinces, where blowing snow and gusty winds will begin to taper off later today.

Winter storm warnings have also been issued across north-central Ontario and into Quebec, with up to 30 centimetres of snow forecast.

Across the northern regions of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, the national weather agency says Arctic-like temperatures are pushing the mercury lower to roughly -45 to -50 degrees Celsius, with the wind chill.

Chronic pain patients open up about medication shortage

Amanda Godda has been bedridden since August.

That’s when her prescription of acetaminophen with oxycodone was hit by a nationwide supply shortage.

Since then, the 42-year-old has gone from working tight deadlines and long days at music festivals to only getting up to make a sandwich or wash herself in the sink.

“I’m basically teetering between an eight and nine out of 10 daily,” Godda said over a phone call from her bed in Ottawa, while in fetal position with a pillow wedged between her legs.

This week, she was finally able to fill her normal prescription to treat the degenerative disc disease that has deteriorated the cushioning in her spine.

Whitecaps fans enthralled by charismatic Muller

Thomas Muller came to the Vancouver Whitecaps to win.

While the German soccer legend has yet to capture a Major League Soccer title, he’s won the hearts of diehard fans and casual observers alike.

“We created, in a city like Vancouver, a hockey city, the buzz we wanted to create,” Muller said after the Whitecaps fell to Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final earlier this month.

“The connection between the fans and the clubs and the players … it feels it was as close as it can get at the moment. … And I hope the buzz continues next season.”

Muller mania began sweeping across Vancouver — and the MLS — when the 36-year-old attacking midfielder signed with the ‘Caps in early August.