The diplomat whose hurried closure of our Embassy in Kabul left 1,290 Canadians trapped in Afghanistan has been recalled from his final overseas assignment. “Goodbyes are sad,” Reid Sirrs wrote in a farewell to colleagues: "Hello to a new adventure." READ MORE
Thousands of acres of dead pine left standing in Jasper National Park were a “key contributing factor” to a disastrous 2024 blaze that burned a third of the town, confirms a Canadian Forest Service report. Cabinet had blamed climate change: "Jasper saw a severe Mountain Pine Beetle attack that peaked around seven years before the fire." READ MORE
Any Freedom Convoy appeal to the Supreme Court will be heard by a Chief Justice who publicly called protestors anarchists and hostage takers. Chief Justice Richard Wagner's remarks were "highly inappropriate," said one legal group: 'Conflicts of interest may arise from the judge having expressed views evidencing bias.' READ MORE
Thousands of hunters, sports shooters and collectors face a 70-day deadline to surrender “assault style” firearms under a program federal researchers caution may be a costly failure. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangree today launched the national gun buyback, a $742 million campaign already twice over budget: "The program faces a risk of non-compliance." READ MORE
Chinese automakers have gained access to about half the battery electric car market in Canada, federal data show. Concessions by Prime Minister Mark Carney followed Department of Finance complaints of predatory practices by Chinese industry: 'The government is allowing vehicles from a country that won’t allow our vehicles to go there, so they could displace vehicles that are built here.' READ MORE
The CBC Ombudsman has faulted the network’s Parliament Hill bureau for identifying MPs as Jews in news copy. A 2023 story by reporter John Tasker breached the CBC Journalistic Standards And Practices Guide, the Ombudsman said. READ MORE
Housing starts despite modest gains last year remain below half the rate needed to restore affordability, CMHC figures show. The latest data follow Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pledge to “build bigger and faster.” READ MORE
My parents are Sikh, from the Punjab. Life here was difficult at first. My father had a master’s degree in economics but worked in a factory for the first time in his life. Amid success and setbacks, I never heard my parents say a disparaging word about our country, not once. Mom defined Canada in her own terms: the people are polite, she said. My brother and I grew up in Mississauga, enjoying a wonderful suburban childhood. We cruised the streets on our bicycles, played road hockey and went to Temple. It was quiet and peaceful, the Canadian dream.
