National News
Lack of top-secret email access just one issue with how Ottawa handles intelligence
By David Fraser, The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
OTTAWA – Special rapporteur David Johnston found in his first report on foreign interference that Canada’s public safety minister does not have access to top-secret emails that national security officials use to share intelligence – including regarding potential threats against MPs. It was just one example of glaring information-sharing problems within the government that Johnston ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Chinese hackers targeted U.S. infrastructure, warn Five Eyes, including Canada
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
WASHINGTON – The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security is warning about evidence that Chinese hackers have been targeting critical infrastructure networks in the U.S. The alert issued earlier today is part of a broader, co-ordinated effort by the Five Eyes countries – Canada, the U.S., the U.K., New Zealand and Australia – to raise awareness ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Pathologist in B.C. murder trial defends independence, impartiality
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
VANCOUVER – A pathologist who performed an autopsy on the body of a 13-year-old girl found dead in a park defended his impartiality as an expert during cross-examination in the murder trial of Ibrahim Ali. Dr. Jason Morin’s assertion came after Ali’s defence lawyer suggested he was not an independent witness, works closely with police ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Canadian MPs ask Trudeau to condemn Pakistan arrest of ex-PM Imran Khan
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
OTTAWA – More than a dozen MPs in the Canada-Pakistan friendship group are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call out Pakistan’s arrest of its former prime minister. Imran Khan, who is now the opposition leader in Pakistan, was arrested earlier this month on corruption and terrorism charges triggering violent protests. The country’s supreme court ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!What’s the difference between an inquiry and the hearings Johnston promises to hold?
By David Fraser, The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
OTTAWA – Special rapporteur David Johnston says a public inquiry into allegations of Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections would not advance the goals of transparency or trust. Johnston found in his first report, released Tuesday, that a formal commission of inquiry would be held mostly behind closed doors. Instead, the former ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Hay River, N.W.T., residents allowed to return Thursday as wildfire burns
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
HAY RIVER, N.W.T. – Officials from the town of Hay River say residents will be allowed to return to the Northwest Territories community Thursday even as a wildfire continues to burn on the nearby K’atl’odeeche First Nation reserve. Around 3,500 residents from the town and reserve were forced to leave their homes on May 14. ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Critics of David Johnston’s report against formal inquiry say hearings not enough
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
VANCOUVER – Canadians who say they have been victim to foreign interference and intimidation by the Chinese government are calling a special rapporteur’s recommendation against a formal inquiry on the matter “shockingly” disappointing. Uyghur rights activist Mehmet Tohti says former governor general David Johnston’s suggestion that public hearings are adequate to address possible foreign interference ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Bloc, Tories reject Johnston briefing, as Trudeau questions Poilievre’s seriousness
By Stephanie Taylor, The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
OTTAWA – The Bloc Québécois on Wednesday joined the Conservatives in rejecting a chance to look at secret information that led a watchdog to recommend against a public inquiry into allegations of foreign interference. Both party leaders said they do not want to be caught in a situation where they are forced to keep such ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Officials give overview of re-entry plan for Hay River, N.W.T., as wildfire burns
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
HAY RIVER, N.W.T. – Officials from the town of Hay River revealed their plan to eventually reopen the Northwest Territories community Tuesday night as a wildfire continues to burn on the nearby K’atl’odeeche First Nation reserve. Around 3,500 residents from the town and reserve were forced to leave their homes on May 14. Glenn Smith, ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Canada, Saudi Arabia restore full diplomatic ties, appoint envoys after 2018 spat
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
OTTAWA – Canada and Saudi Arabia are normalizing diplomatic relations and appointing ambassadors five years after the Liberal government’s public comments on women’s rights led Riyadh to expel the Canadian ambassador. In 2018 Global Affairs Canada tweeted that it wanted Saudi Arabia to “immediately release” human rights activists. Both countries maintained their embassies but Saudi ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!1995 referendum: Parti Québécois wants ‘No’ campaign investigation documents released
By The Canadian Press on May 24th, 2023
MONTREAL – The Parti Québécois is calling for the release of all documents related to an investigation into illegal spending by the “No” campaign ahead of the 1995 Quebec sovereignty referendum. The investigation in 2006 overseen by retired judge Bernard Grenier found that two federalist organizations – which received millions of dollars in funding from ... Read More »
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