Cabinet yesterday disclosed Employment Insurance claims have skyrocketed up to 400 percent in communities hardest hit by American tariffs. Jobs lost to tariffs could number nearly 90,000 so far, it said: "The tariff situation remains unpredictable with an ongoing risk of considerable job losses." READ MORE
The Commons yesterday by a 196 to 133 vote rejected an Opposition motion to declare a 10-month tax holiday on diesel. Conservative MPs cited calls from constituents detailing exorbitant costs to fuel heavy equipment from farming to forestry: "Diesel prices are tormenting them." READ MORE
New powers granting the Canada Revenue Agency the ability to penalize taxpayers slow to comply with demands for records will be used sparingly, says management. A provision in an omnibus budget bill would allow auditors to levy $25,000 fines under a measure one tax group called so harsh it’s unconstitutional: "It is often a last resort." READ MORE
The Canadian Armed Forces faces a federal Human Rights Tribunal hearing on alleged discrimination. An LGBTQ member claimed the Army breached the Canadian Human Rights Act by denying her request for marriage counseling because she was unmarried: "Members of the LGBTQ community have more difficulty forming local relationships and that they may turn to online relationships." READ MORE
The worst has passed on risk of defaults by homeowners with fixed payment, variable rate mortgages, says Canada’s chief bank inspector. The Superintendent of Financial Institutions in an internal memo said while 1,100,000 loans have yet to come up for renewal, no danger was apparent: "We recognize many households are facing higher payment requirements." READ MORE
Foreign Influence Commissioner Anton Boegman yesterday appeared confused over the number of foreign agents in Canada though he is mandated to identify them in a public registry. MPs on the House affairs committee faulted the $265,000-a year Commissioner for lackadaisical work: "You’re not even in the process of taking steps to enforce the law." READ MORE
Coast Guard vessels may soon carry drones but remain unarmed though they count as national defence under a 2025 regulatory change, MPs were told yesterday. Cabinet transferred the Coast Guard’s $2.4 billion annual budget from the Department of Fisheries to National Defence to meet its minimum NATO spending targets: "How is its spending being counted?" READ MORE
The men who kidnapped me called themselves mujahadeen, Holy Warriors of God. They once asked me, “What would you do if the Americans invaded Canada? Would you not take up a gun and fight to protect your family and your country?” My experience as a hostage is a window into the psychology of violence. Every act of violence seems to have a pointing finger behind it, an accusation, a narrative that explains and justifies it. War turns us into the very thing we hate.
