Tag: Canada

Canada slams China for “dangerous” intercept of maritime patrol aircraft

OTTAWA, Oct 16, 2023 (AFP) – Canada’s defense minister on Monday slammed Chinese fighter jets’ “dangerous and reckless” intercept of a Canadian maritime patrol aircraft while it was helping to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea. The Chinese planes shadowed the Canadian Aurora aircraft over several hours in international waters, with one coming within five meters (15 feet) of the Canadian plane, according to a Global News television crew on the flight. Speaking to […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls Canada’s ex parliament speaker ‘idiot’

MOSCOW, Oct 5, 2023 (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Canada’s former parliament speaker an “idiot” after the legislature celebrated a Ukrainian World War II veteran who had fought alongside the Nazis. Putin was referring to an embarrassing incident that marred a visit to Canada by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month. During a visit to parliament by Zelensky, parliament speaker Anthony Ruta hailed an elderly Ukrainian immigrant from his district as […]

Eastern Canada breaks autumn heat records

By Mathiew LEISER MONTREAL, Oct 5, 2023 (AFP) – Eastern Canada shattered heat records this week with temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), worrying experts and everyday people struggling to cope with extreme weather made worse by climate change. “It’s unheard of for a day in October,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Jean-Philippe Begin. “It’s normal to have occasional warm spells, but extreme heat like this is very unusual.” The last three days heat […]

Canada’s wildfires take devastating toll on wildlife

By Mathiew LEISER, with Genevieve NORMAND in Montreal LEBEL-SUR-QUÉVILLON, Canada, Oct 4, 2023 (AFP) – No droppings, tracks, nests or other traces of wildlife — Canada’s boreal forests were devastated by record wildfires this year. In the woodlands of Quebec province, hunter Paul Wabanonik searches for fresh moose tracks on his Indigenous tribe’s ancestral lands, which had sustained him and his family. “Normally, we would see traces everywhere,” says the Ashinabe tribesman. But “it’s like […]

Canada elects Greg Fergus as first black House speaker

OTTAWA, Oct 3, 2023 (AFP) – Canada’s parliament on Tuesday elected Greg Fergus as its first black speaker, following his predecessor’s resignation over the public celebration of a Ukrainian veteran who fought for the Nazis. Fergus, a Liberal MP, said the Commons is where “hard debates will happen,” but urged lawmakers to “treat each other with respect.” “There can be no dialogue unless there is a mutual understanding of respect.” As speaker of the chamber, […]

Ukraine’s Zelensky bolsters war support in Canada trip

OTTAWA, Sept 22, 2023 (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Friday with close ally Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on a visit to Canada, the third leg in a tour aimed at bolstering international support for his country’s struggle to repulse a brutal Russian invasion. Zelensky, who landed late Thursday in Ottawa, earlier this week addressed the United Nations and stopped in Washington on Thursday for meetings with the US Congress and President Joe Biden, […]

Ukraine’s Zelensky in Canada to shore up support

OTTAWA, Sept 22, 2023 (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday, seeking to rally support for his country as it fights the Russian invasion. Zelensky landed in the capital Ottawa late Thursday, following a visit to the United States where he won warm words of support and weapons from US President Joe Biden, but also confronted skeptical Republicans who want to cut off aid. […]

Canada seeks India cooperation in murder probe

UNITED NATIONS, United States, Sept 21, 2023 (AFP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday called on India to cooperate with its investigation into the murder of a Sikh separatist after earlier this week pointing to Indian agents as suspects. “We call upon the government of India to work with us to establish processes to uncover the truth of this matter and to allow for justice and accountability to be served,” Trudeau said on […]

New Delhi seeking ‘reduction’ in Canadian diplomats in India as row escalates

NEW DELHI, Sept 21, 2023 (AFP) – New Delhi said Thursday it is seeking the reduction of Canadian diplomatic staff in India and has stopped visa services, as a row over the killing of a Sikh separatist deepens. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has demanded India treat with “utmost seriousness” allegations that Indian agents played a role in the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver. The fallout prompted tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and a […]

India denies involvement in slaying of Sikh leader in Canada

NEW DELHI, Sept 19, 2023 (AFP) – India on Tuesday rejected the “absurd” allegation that its agents were behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bombshell accusation sent already sour diplomatic relations to a new low. Ottawa also expelled a diplomat it described as the head of India’s foreign intelligence service in Canada, prompting a tit-for-tat order from New Delhi for a Canadian diplomat to leave. Trudeau said […]

Meta, Google balk as Canada spells out new online news law

OTTAWA, Sept 1, 2023 (AFP) – Ottawa on Friday spelled out how a new law requiring digital giants to pay publishers for news content will work in practice, including how much it could cost Meta and Google. The bill aims to support a struggling Canadian news sector that has seen a flight of advertising dollars and hundreds of publications closed in the last decade. Effectively it targets only Google and Meta — which control about […]