Mar 25 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A withered Public Health Agency of Canada dithered on pandemic preparedness, the federal auditor general has concluded, leaving officials no choice but to scramble to respond to COVID-19. And if such a scramble is to be avoided in the future, auditor general Karen Hogan found, it's time for an independent review of the […]
Mar 23 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — China lashed out Tuesday against Canada and other western countries, saying they have no right to criticize the regime's human-rights record, considering their own. The criticism was part of the China's response to the sanctions against the regime this week over alleged human-rights violations against minority Muslims in Xinjiang region. Canada, the U.S., […]
Mar 23 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole brushed off the idea Tuesday that a vote by the party's grassroots on climate change should colour Canadians' opinion of his party. "I'm the leader, I'm in charge," O'Toole said a press conference as he reiterated his pledge that his party will present a plan to address climate change […]
Mar 22 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union levelled sanctions against Chinese officials Monday over human rights violations against minority Muslims in that country. "These measures reflect our grave concern with the gross and systematic human rights abuses taking place in the region," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at an […]
Mar 20 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Efforts to enshrine the reality of climate change in official Conservative party policy failed this weekend, marking a blow to Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole's efforts to position his party as serious on environmental issues. A vote on the matter came at the party's official policy convention, which concluded on Saturday. Though the party's […]
Mar 20 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — In a video played at the federal Conservative policy convention Saturday, leader Erin O'Toole's son Jack did a mock news segment called "Jack has your back." But the question for the party's grassroots after nearly three days of discussion on the path forward for their movement was to what extent their leader has […]
Mar 19 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole unveiled elements of his election pitch to Canadians Friday, seeking to ease his party's jitters that they're without an offering solid enough to woo voters away from the Trudeau Liberals. His marquee speech to the party's policy convention contained what he billed as a "recovery plan" that would within […]
Mar 18 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — The Conservatives have yet to fulfil a promise to repay the federal wage subsidy, but the party said Thursday it is in solid financial shape and urged its members to rally together for the next federal election. Still, the tensions between the grassroots and the party's leadership were on display as thousands of […]
Mar 18 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — If there's been one constant at Conservative conventions since the party's first in Montreal in 2005, it's been a fellow known as "Gord, from Red Deer." That's how Gord Tulk, 58, is introduced every time — and at some conventions, it has been dozens of times — he steps up to the microphone […]
Mar 17 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Former Conservative leadership candidate and longtime party stalwart Peter MacKay won't attend the party's policy convention this week. MacKay cited work and family as the reason for his absence. "I am focused on my young family and the practice of law and work with Deloitte, which is non-partisan," he said in a statement […]
Mar 16 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Temporary foreign workers will no longer be totally exempt from mandatory hotel quarantines imposed on all incoming non-essential travellers, the federal government announced Tuesday. The new rules are among several adjustments to the management of the program for the start of this year's growing season. “We are doing everything necessary so they can […]
Mar 16 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole reversed his predecessor's position on foreign aid spending Tuesday, saying that if elected, a Conservative government wouldn't cut that budget. But he said he would look to mirror previous Conservative foreign aid programs that tied funds to specific, measurable outcomes. "I want to maintain and modernize and make more […]
Mar 11 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A cross-partisan effort by MPs to be united in a call for the Liberal government to increase foreign aid spending on the humanitarian crisis created by the global pandemic devolved quickly into partisan bickering Thursday. But the members of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee insisted they are on the same page […]
Mar 11 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — A state-affiliated publication in China says two Canadian men will "soon" receive their first trial after more than two years in detention. But a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada says Canadian diplomats have not been notified of any court hearings and are not aware of any set timelines for trials. Michael Kovrig and […]
Mar 11 2021 — Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press — OTTAWA — Conservative party members will meet virtually next week for what officials say will be the largest convention in their history. The three-day event is the first since Erin O'Toole was elected leader last summer, and also since the last federal election. Each of the party's conventions since their founding one in 2005 has […]