Catharine Tunney

Catharine Tunney

In damage control after 2 departures, Conservatives accuse Liberals of 'undemocratic' distractions

Scheer says Carney trying 'to cobble together a majority.' Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer held a brief media availability Friday morning in an attempt to redirect attention from the Official Opposition's internal crisis to the Liberal Party. Instead, the senior Conservative was pelted with questions about Edmonton Riverbend MP Matt Jeneroux’s surprise decision to quit federal politics six months after...

Catharine Tunney

Trade talks with Trump ‘not yet revived’ since anti-tariff ad apology: Carney

Prime Minister Mark Carney gave no indication trade talks with the United States will resume any time soon, despite apologizing to U.S. President Donald Trump who abruptly ended negotiations over an ad campaign.

Catharine Tunney

RCMP watchdog without senior leadership for months, stalling investigations

A year after passing Bill C-20, still no word on when new agency will be functional. The watchdog body meant to investigate Mounties’ conduct has been without a chairperson for months, stalling investigations and weakening transparency about how the country’s police force interacts with Canadians across the country. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) has for...

Catharine Tunney, Darren Major

Poilievre blasts ‘despicable’ RCMP leadership, accuses Mounties of covering up for Trudeau

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre took aim at the RCMP’s independence in a recent interview, calling the national police force’s "despicable" leadership and accusing it of covering up for the Liberal government and former prime minister Justin Trudeau. “If the RCMP had been doing its job and not covering up for him, then he would have been criminally charged,” the Opposition...

Catharine Tunney

RBC employee charged for allegedly accessing Carney's banking information

Affidavit suggests investigators believe plot linked to organized crime. The RCMP has charged an Ottawa Royal Bank of Canada employee after he allegedly accessed Prime Minister Mark Carney's banking profile as part of a criminal plot. The Mounties confirmed Wednesday they charged Ibrahim El-Hakim, 23, with fraud over $5,000, unauthorized use of a computer, identity theft and trafficking in identity information.

Catharine Tunney

CSIS, RCMP face 'significant challenges' obtaining private data: Intelligence watchdog

NSICOP report on lawful access comes as Bill C-2 makes its way through Parliament. Canada's security and intelligence organizations face "significant challenges" detecting and responding to security threats because of legislative gaps and outdated resources limiting when and how they can access private messages, one of the country's intelligence watchdogs warns. A recently tabled report from the National Security and...

Catharine Tunney

Freeland leaving cabinet for Ukraine envoy position: sources

Toronto MP is currently Transport minister. Longtime Liberal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland is stepping down from cabinet, sources tell CBC News. Those sources, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said the Transport minister is taking up an envoy role related to Ukraine.

Catharine Tunney

Chinese-backed hackers 'almost certainly' targeted Canada during theft of millions of Americans' data

CSE confirms Canadian telecom targeted, won't detail extent of attack. A Chinese hacking group that may have stolen information from nearly every American "almost certainly" targeted a Canadian telecommunications company as well, according to a warning from Canada's cyber intelligence agency. The prowess of the Beijing-backed group often referred to as Salt Typhoon is back in the news after more...

Catharine Tunney

Military member charged with terrorism warned of 'another Waco': court docs

One of the heavily armed Canadian Armed Forces members now charged with terrorism allegedly spoke openly about his will to use violence against government authorities and warned about another Waco massacre, according to recently unsealed court documents. Last month the RCMP charged four Quebec men, all with military ties, for allegedly planning an ideologically motivated violent plot "intending to forcibly...

Catharine Tunney

Number of Mounties on long-term sick leave poses 'significant operational challenges': report

Union says advisory board ignores management's role in getting members back to work. The proportion of Mounties on long-term, off-duty sick leave has reached an all-time high and become a critical issue for the national police force, according to a new outside report. The Management Advisory Board (MAB), an oversight body that advises the RCMP commissioner, is warning that the...

Catharine Tunney

Mountie abused role when he started relationship with complainant during investigation: disciplinary board

A Nova Scotia Mountie abused his role when he pursued an intimate sexual relationship with the complainant in an assault case where he was the lead investigator, according to an RCMP code of conduct board ruling. The adjudicator overseeing the case, Gina Lévesque, said the Mountie acted inappropriately and discredited the force. "Police officers have a duty to protect vulnerable...

Catharine Tunney

Carney hints at dropping some U.S. tariffs if it will help Canadian industries hit by trade war

Prime Minister Mark Carney showed no signs of retaliating against U.S. President Donald Trump's increased tariffs — and even suggested he's open to removing existing tariffs if it would help Canadian industries. Carney faced questions Tuesday about Canada's next steps after the two countries failed to reach a trade deal by the Aug. 1 deadline, resulting in a 35 per...

Catharine Tunney

Ottawa officer removed after army learned of antisemitic, homophobic 'Blue Hackle Mafia' group

The head of the Canadian Army has temporarily removed the commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders in Ottawa after discovering a Facebook group with "abhorrent" content. As CBC News reported earlier this month, the Canadian Armed Forces has been investigating what was called the "Blue Hackle Mafia" group, which the army said was littered with "racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic...

Catharine Tunney

Carney promises to curb non-U.S. steel imports as domestic industry sends out distress signals

Industry says there's already been a 30% drop in production since start of trade war. Prime Minister Mark Carney promised to further crack down on the amount of cheap, foreign steel entering the Canadian market, as the industry continues to be clobbered by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Carney made the announcement in Hamilton on Wednesday morning. It's unclear whether...

Catharine Tunney

Defence minister calls extremist plot charges 'disturbing,' insists military culture is changing

Defence Minister David McGuinty called allegations that military members were part of an extremist plot "disturbing," but pushed back against accusations the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) isn't doing enough to change its culture. The minister briefly spoke to reporters Thursday on the sidelines of a change-of-command ceremony. They were his first public comments since the RCMP charged four men, including...

Catharine Tunney

RCMP charges CAF members with trying to create 'anti-government militia' and seize land

3 Quebec men face terrorism-related charges. Three men face a terrorism charge for allegedly planning to create an anti-government militia and seize land in Quebec, according to the RCMP. According to a news release Tuesday morning, the Mounties say the group was involved in an alleged ideologically motivated violent extremism plot "intending to forcibly take possession of land in the...

Catharine Tunney

Federal Court says RCMP must hand over solicitor-client information in terror plot case

The Federal Court says the RCMP must hand over soldier-client information to the country's national security review agency — allowing a long-stalled review into whether the Mounties mishandled the case of a Canadian convicted of plotting ISIS-inspired terror attacks in the U.S. to move ahead.

Catharine Tunney

Army says it's investigating 'abhorrent' racist, homophobic and antisemitic Facebook group

CAF says members involved with 'Blue Hackle Mafia' could be punished. The Canadian Army is investigating members who allegedly shared what the country's top soldier called "abhorrent" content within a private Facebook group. According to a statement from Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright, the "Blue Hackle Mafia" group featured "racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic comments and images."

Catharine Tunney

Spy agency says it 'improperly' shared Canadians' data with international partners

One of Canada's intelligence agencies says it "improperly" shared information about Canadians that it had obtained "incidentally" with international partners. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) shared some details about the incident after the intelligence commissioner — the quasi-judicial position that reviews the cyber spy agency's activities — flagged the case in his annual report tabled in Parliament earlier this week.

Catharine Tunney, John Paul Tasker

Carney's office retracts claim U.S. wanted to water down language on Ukraine at G7

Prime minister was peppered with questions at closing newser. Officials in Prime Minister Mark Carney's office are retracting comments that the U.S. wanted to water down a statement about Russia's war in Ukraine on the final day of the G7 summit in Alberta. Tuesday afternoon, an official from the Prime Minister's Office told reporters from multiple outlets that a joint...

Catharine Tunney, David Cochrane

Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman invited to G7 summit in Alberta: sources

Crown prince was invited to last year's G7 summit, but did not attend. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been invited to attend the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, two government sources told CBC News. Bin Salman, known as MBS, is a powerful figure in the Middle East and his...

Catharine Tunney

Carney and Trump are holding private talks to drop tariffs

Ottawa hoping to reach agreement with Trump administration before G7 summit. Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are having discussions out of the spotlight to reach a trade deal and lift tariffs. Sources with knowledge of the conversations first confirmed the calls with CBC/Radio-Canada and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly later told reporters that Carney and Trump are...

Catharine Tunney

Carney says Canada is preparing reprisals if tariff talks with Trump fail

Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government is readying further retaliation measures if negotiations with the United States to end the recently doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum fail. "We are in intensive negotiations with the Americans and in parallel preparing reprisals if those negotiations do not succeed," he told the House of Commons during question period Wednesday afternoon.

Catharine Tunney

RCMP's 911 dispatcher shortage is putting Mounties and public at risk: audit+69

A recently released RCMP audit says its 911 dispatch centres across the country are struggling with severe staff shortages and burnout, putting front-line Mounties and the public at risk. Described as the lifeline for officers in the field, the RCMP is responsible for 17 operational communications centres, where dispatchers field calls in almost every province and all three territories. They...

Catharine Tunney

Carney tells MPs to brace for 'very, very busy' few weeks as Parliament reopens

Prime Minister Mark Carney told his caucus to brace for a "very, very" busy few weeks and months as Parliament reopens, promising to implement his vision for the country with "urgency and determination." In an address to caucus — which media cameras were invited in to shoot — Carney teased that his Liberal minority government will introduce several pieces of...

Catharine Tunney, Ashley Burke

Carney meets with caucus ahead of jam-packed spring sitting

Liberal MPs will vote on whether they want the power to oust the new leader if he loses their trust. Liberal caucus members are meeting today ahead of the return of Parliament, this time under the direction of a leader known for his high expectations and ambitious agenda. Sunday's gathering will likely touch on the big-ticket items Prime Minister Mark...

Catharine Tunney

Canadians were promised a foreign agent registry — so where is it?

The government's foreign interference law passed last June. When Parliament passed a sweeping national security bill last June, the Liberal government promised to establish a foreign influence transparency registry to convict proxies trying to meddle in Canadian politics. But nearly a year later, it remains unclear how soon the office will be up and running "I think it's a huge...

Catharine Tunney, Darren Major

'Totally unacceptable' that IDF fired shots near Canadians, Carney says

Ottawa expects 'full investigation,' prime minister says. Prime Minister Mark Carney says it's "totally unacceptable" that members of the Israeli army fired shots near a diplomatic delegation, which included Canadians, in the West Bank on Wednesday. The federal government confirmed Wednesday that four Canadian personnel were part of a tour in the city of Jenin when members of the Israel...

Catharine Tunney

Canada now has a minister of artificial intelligence. What will he do?

AI appears in PM Mark Carney's campaign platform in many key areas. Canada has its first-ever minister of artificial intelligence in veteran broadcaster and newly elected Toronto Centre MP Evan Solomon. So what does that job exactly entail? When asked what Solomon's mandate and responsibilities will be, a spokesperson from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) pointed to the Liberal platform...

Catharine Tunney

Conservative fundraising email suggests Liberals trying to 'tip the scales' in recounts

Canada Elections Act sets out when recounts happen and how they can proceed. A Conservative Party fundraising email alleges the Liberals are trying to "tip the scales" in riding recounts, language some political watchers say is concerning as some Canadians say they don't trust the results of last week's election. The email, sent to the Conservatives' mailing list on Wednesday...

Catharine Tunney

Conservative Damien Kurek says he'll step aside for Poilievre — but by law he has to wait

MPs can't resign their seat until 30 days after election result is officially published. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has already taken a trip out to the Alberta riding he hopes to represent, after losing the Ottawa-area seat he held for more than two decades in last week's general election. On Friday, Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek announced he'll step aside...

Catharine Tunney

With 24 Sussex still sitting in a sorry state, Carney to move into Rideau Cottage

With 24 Sussex Drive sitting desolate and in need of millions of dollars in renovations, the government says Prime Minister Mark Carney will soon take up official residence at Rideau Cottage. The crumbling Ottawa home on Sussex Drive had long been the official residence for Canada's prime ministers, but has sat empty since 2015 as workers dealt with mould, asbestos...

Catharine Tunney

Canadians vote today after fierce campaign shaped by Trump

1st results will trickle in from Newfoundland and Labrador just after 7 p.m. ET. Millions of Canadians are expected to cast their ballots today in a pivotal election that will decide who will lead the country through a trade battle with the United States. The 36-day campaign has been nothing short of remarkable for the leading contenders: Liberal Leader Mark...

Catharine Tunney

Vancouver tragedy casts a pall on final day of election campaign

Singh was at Lapu Lapu Day festival and left moments before driver rammed into crowd. The final day of the federal election campaign took on a sombre tone as the leaders reacted to the deaths of nine people at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver Saturday night. Vancouver police said a driver of a black SUV slammed into a crowd...

Catharine Tunney

Calls to reform the RCMP have been mounting for years. What are the parties proposing?

When it was time for former prime minister Justin Trudeau to vacate his office, he left at least one thing behind for his successor: blueprints to overhaul one of Canada's most iconic institutions: the RCMP. Calling the nearly 152-year-old agency "strained," Trudeau urged the winner of the next election to start the process of getting the Mounties out of boots-on-the-ground...

Catharine Tunney

Carney calls Preston Manning's Western independence comments 'dramatic'

Reform founder wrote Carney will be 'the last prime minister of a united Canada' if Liberals wins. Liberal Leader Mark Carney says he governs for all of Canada and called prominent conservative Preston Manning's comments on Western independence "dramatic" during a campaign stop in Montreal on Friday. In a recent op-ed for the Globe and Mail, the Reform Party founder...

Catharine Tunney

Poilievre disagrees with conservative dean Preston Manning that a Carney win will fuel Western secession

Former Reform leader wrote that a Liberal vote is 'a vote for the breakup of Canada as we know it.' Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promoted national unity and downplayed former Reform leader Preston Manning's argument that a vote for Mark Carney's Liberals is a vote for Western secession during a campaign stop Thursday.

Catharine Tunney

Carney standing by candidate Paul Chiang, who suggested Conservative be turned over to China for bounty

Liberal Leader Mark Carney says Paul Chiang will remain a candidate under his banner, despite calls to ouster the Markham-Unionville incumbent for suggesting people turn in a Conservative candidate to the Chinese consulate and collect a bounty.

Catharine Tunney

Carney announces $2B fund to protect tariff-threatened auto industry

Liberal leader says he wants to build an 'all-in-Canada' manufacturing network. Homing in once again on the fractured Canada-U.S. relationship, Liberal Leader Mark Carney unveiled a $2-billion proposal to protect Canada's auto industry while in Windsor, Ont., on Wednesday — one of the front lines of the tariff war. Calling it a "strategic response fund," Carney said the money would...

Catharine Tunney, Louis Blouin, Laurence Martin

Carney slams Poilievre's 'irresponsible' lack of security clearance after reports India meddled in leadership

Conservative leader has long rejected calls to go through the process, claiming it would muzzle him. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's refusal to get his security clearance is back in the spotlight on the campaign trail following reports the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) learned that India helped organize support for his leadership bid. The Globe and Mail reported Tuesday that...

Catharine Tunney

Federal leaders' debates scheduled for April 16-17 in Montreal

TVO journalist Steve Paikin will host the English-language debate. The leaders of the main federal political parties will be invited to a face off in mid-April — if they meet certain criteria, announced the Leaders' Debates Commission Monday. The commission, a government agency created in 2018 to organize federal leaders' debates, said the French debate will take place April 1...

Catharine Tunney

The federal election campaign is expected to kick off today. Here's what you need to know

The table is set for a consequential and close federal election this spring, which is largely expected to focus on how the leaders will take on U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and his taunting of Canadian sovereignty. Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to ask Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament today, triggering a weeks-long election campaign.

Catharine Tunney

New PM Carney anticipating conflict-of-interest screen around Brookfield dealings

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects the government's ethics commissioner will recommend he set up a screen around his previous business dealings to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. The newly sworn-in leader has faced repeated questions, which have led to some testy exchanges, about whether his assets, now in a blind trust, open him up to controversy.

Catharine Tunney

The Mark Carney era begins with prime minister and new cabinet sworn in today

Liberal Leader Mark Carney will officially become Canada's next prime minister within a few hours, taking the reins as the country barrels toward a general election and continues to fend off verbal and economic attacks from U.S. President Donald Trump. The former central banker will become Canada's 24th prime minister after Governor General Mary Simon swears him in at Rideau...

Louis Blouin, Catharine Tunney

Freeland to be transport minister, Guilbeault Quebec lieutenant in Carney cabinet: sources

Prime minister-designate Carney aiming for leaner cabinet of 15 to 20 members. Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and former Liberal leadership candidate Karina Gould will not be in Mark Carney's cabinet, sources tell CBC News. But a source with knowledge of the decision told CBC News that Carney has invited another former leadership rival, Chrystia Freeland, to become...

Catharine Tunney

In one of his final moves as prime minister, Trudeau argues for bold RCMP reform

Outgoing leader pitching an RCMP solely focused on federal policing, like national security and terrorism. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is using some of his final hours in office to call for a drastic and controversial shakeup to one of the country's most emblematic institutions: the RCMP. In an exclusive interview, Trudeau laid out why he believes the Mounties should get...

Catharine Tunney

Liberals choose their leader today, after campaign defined by chaos of Trump administration

Campaign largely a referendum on who is best to take on U.S. president. Tonight the Liberal Party will announce its next leader and the person who will soon become prime minister — a job they'll inherit amid economic turbulence and a deeply wounded relationship with the country's once closest ally. The party's choice — who would become prime minister only...

Catharine Tunney

PM's intelligence adviser says it's time for Canada to be 'selfish' and protect itself

The prime minister's intelligence and security adviser says it's time for Canada to be less dependent on its partners, comments that come a day after the U.S. launched a trade war against its northern neighbour. "We need to be a little bit more selfish now," said Nathalie Drouin, while speaking on a panel Wednesday morning to a room of international...

Catharine Tunney

Liberal leadership: Here's where the candidates stand on key issues

As the Liberal leadership race heads into its final stretch, the four candidates jockeying to become the next prime minister continue to roll out campaign promises. The race was triggered when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in early January he'd be stepping down, after nine years in office.

Catharine Tunney, David Cochrane

Ruby Dhalla kicked out of Liberal leadership race after 'extremely serious' violations: party

A Liberal Party of Canada committee voted unanimously on Friday to disqualify former MP Ruby Dhalla from the race to be the next leader. Azam Ishmael, the party's national director, said in a statement that the Liberal leadership vote committee determined she made 10 violations, some involving the party's leadership and expense rules. "The decision followed an extensive process and...

Catharine Tunney

Liberals will soon pick the next prime minister. Here's what candidates are promising

In just under a month, Liberal Party members will choose their next leader, who will automatically become Canada's next prime minister. At least until the next election. Candidates vying to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 9 are starting to flesh out their visions for the country. This unusual leadership race has seen the main challengers pivot to confront...

Catharine Tunney

Chrystia Freeland promises tax cut, plan for cheaper groceries if elected Liberal leader

Liberal leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland outlined a suite of policies Tuesday aimed at improving the cost of living for Canadians, including an income tax cut for millions of people and policies she says will lower the price of groceries and reduce credit card debt. In a news release, the former finance minister outlined five policy planks directed at Canadians feeling...

Catharine Tunney

Freeland targeted by 'malicious' WeChat campaign with alleged ties to China: Threat task force

Chrystia Freeland's Liberal leadership campaign has been targeted by "co-ordinated and malicious activity" traced back to a WeChat account accused of having ties to the Chinese government, according to the task force set up to monitor foreign election interference. According to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force (SITE), which is made up of senior intelligence and security...

Catharine Tunney, Holly Cabrera

Karina Gould raises $125K needed to pay latest Liberal leadership race fee

Former House leader Karina Gould says she raised the $125,000 required of Liberal leadership candidates before Friday's deadline, allowing her to stay in the running. In a post on X, Gould thanked her supporters. "I can officially report that, after another record-breaking day yesterday, we've reached today's fee deadline," she wrote.

Catharine Tunney

7 Liberal leadership candidates say they've submitted nomination papers as deadline passes

Several candidates vying to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau say they've submitted their paperwork and met the first financial hurdle to enter the race, although it could still take a few days to see who's made the cut. Candidates Karina Gould, Chrystia Freeland, Mark Carney, Jaime Battiste, Chandra Arya, Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla all said they've sent in their...

Catharine Tunney

Final report on foreign election meddling coming next week

After reviewing hundreds of documents and listening to hours of testimony, the inquiry probing foreign interference in Canada's past two federal elections will release its final report on Jan. 28. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue's findings, and any potential recommendations, come as parliamentarians ready for an increasingly inevitable spring election.

Catharine Tunney

Guilbeault, cabinet's staunch environmentalist, backs Mark Carney as next Liberal leader

Former central banker Mark Carney picked up a handful of endorsements on Tuesday, including from the government's most vocal climate champion, as the Liberal leadership race whizzes ahead on a tight timeline. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said he will back Carney during the March 9 vote. Carney has been a longtime supporter of carbon pricing to combat climate change, although...

Catharine Tunney

Canada spared Trump tariffs on Day 1, but Trudeau government continues to hold its breath

Canada evaded steep tariffs on the first day of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term, but senior Canadian government officials weren't celebrating as they gathered for a cabinet retreat. "We're very cautious," Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly told reporters on Monday after Trump's swearing-in. "This is important news and at the same time we'll be working on preventing tariffs and...

Catharine Tunney

Gould says Trump won't listen to journalists and central bankers in swipe at Liberal leadership rivals

Launching her campaign, Gould says 'Canadians don't trust the Liberal Party of Canada.' Fresh out of the gate from launching her Liberal leadership bid, Karina Gould suggested her two main opponents' backgrounds would do little to gain the favour of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. "I'm not sure that journalists and central bankers are the kind of people that Donald Trump...

Catharine Tunney, Catherine Cullen

Conservative MP Jamil Jivani attending inauguration as 'good friend' J.D. Vance sworn in as VP

Conservative MP Jamil Jivani says he'll work to improve the "toxic" Canada-U.S. relationship when he travels to Washington to watch his friend J.D. Vance take the oath of office as U.S. vice-president on Monday. In a note to constituents obtained by CBC News, Jivani said Vance's inauguration "is a special moment for me personally."