Articles by Catharine Tunney

Dec 10 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Canada has signed a new agreement updating the North American free trade agreement with Mexico and the United States, clearing the way for the contentious pact’s long-awaited ratification. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland travelled to Mexico City for the signing ceremony today following a last-minute flurry of conversations between the three countries to address lingering […]

Dec 9 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The Conservatives are urging the Liberal government to make a decision soon on whether Chinese tech giant Huawei will be allowed to join Canada’s next-generation 5G wireless network. The government has been reviewing the security implications of emerging 5G cellular network technology, which promises to be 10 to 20 times faster than existing wireless connections, […]

Dec 7 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Canada’s foreign signals intelligence agency is on the lookout for threats to Britain’s election as the country heads into the final week of campaigning. Communications Security Establishment spokesperson Evan Koronewski said the agency regularly shares information with its international allies “that has a significant impact on protecting our respective countries’ safety and security.” “Regarding assistance […]

Nov 22 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The watchdog for Canada’s spy agency warned about “insider threats” years ago — and flagged gaps in the way top secret information is accessed — in a report that is gaining new relevance as the case against the RCMP’s Cameron Ortis moves through the courts. National security experts are now calling for a wider review […]

Nov 21 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — There’s still no timetable indicating when Canada will decide whether Chinese tech giant Huawei will be allowed to join Canada’s next-generation 5G wireless network, newly sworn-in Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said Thursday. “I think there are some complex economic and security issues that need to be addressed,” Blair said outside of Rideau Hall last […]

Nov 14 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The NDP isn’t Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s only option for getting legislation passed in the next session of Parliament, but party leader Jagmeet Singh is arguing the Liberals need the support of a progressive and “national” caucus. Looking for common ground ahead of the House returning next month, Trudeau and Singh met in Ottawa this […]

Nov 13 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party could vote against the upcoming throne speech if it doesn’t offer commitments to parts of the party’s platform, including a universal pharmacare plan. “We are absolutely open to voting against the throne speech if it doesn’t include some of the priorities we know Canadians need,” he told reporters […]

Nov 8 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Cameron Ortis, the senior RCMP official accused of preparing to leak sensitive information, is heading back to jail while he awaits his trial. Today, Ontario Superior Court Justice Marc Labrosse revoked the 47-year-old’s bail, ordering the head of RCMP’s national intelligence co-ordination centre back into custody. Labrosse’s reasons and the details of the Crown’s review […]

Nov 5 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The RCMP has launched an internal review to make sure it’s obeying the law in the way it monitors Canadians’ social media accounts, according to documents obtained by CBC News. The national police force says it keeps an eye on social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, among others) in two ways: reactively, after a […]

Oct 27 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — When Liberal Mark Holland lost his seat in 2011, he couldn’t get out of bed for days. “It was absolutely devastating for me … Because it was my hometown, it felt personal. It felt like a personal rejection,” said the Ajax MP, who went on to be re-elected in 2015 and again on Monday. “It’s […]

Oct 25 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Jim Carr, the minister of international trade diversification and a Winnipeg MP, has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer, but says his “spirits are high” and he plans to continue to serve his constituents. In a statement issued on Friday, the Winnipeg South Centre MP said he has been experiencing flu symptoms in […]

Oct 16 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Jagmeet Singh returned to the childhood home of former NDP leader Jack Layton today, promising to build on his legacy in Quebec while trying to dispel fears the party could be pushed off the province’s electoral map in Monday’s election. While the New Democrats are experiencing a late surge in the polls nationwide, they are […]

Oct 14 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau deflected questions this morning about the prospect of future alliances in a minority Parliament as the federal election campaign heads into the critical final week. With just seven days to go, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party is enjoying momentum in the polls, has openly been floating the idea of working […]

Oct 11 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rebuffed suggestions that his proposed tax hikes would send Canadian businesses running for the border as he released his party’s costed platform in Ottawa this morning. The party is promising to raise more than $30.5 billion next year to help pay for its core promises, such as a national pharmacare plan […]

Oct 10 2019 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has started to lay down some of the conditions his party would want to see met in exchange for supporting another party in a minority Parliament scenario. “I’m running to be prime minister. But whether I am prime minister, leader of the Opposition or holding the balance of power, this is […]