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Conference of major Ukranian-Canadian groups taking place in Ottawa

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland kicked off a conference of major Ukranian-Canadian groups Friday in Ottawa by explaining why Canada is so supportive of Ukraine.

She says the country is in the forefront of the fight for democracy. Ukraine has been invaded by Russia on its eastern flank and is struggling against the pull of the Kremlin as it tries to engage with the West.

Desjardins data theft worse than first thought

The Desjardins Group data theft is turning out to be worse than first thought.

It actually hit all 4.2-million members. Quebec-based Desjardins Group initially reported in June that 2.9-million customers had been impacted by the theft.

North Dakota Governor wants review of Keystone pipeline

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum wants Calgary-based TC Energy to review its inspection and monitoring of the Keystone pipeline.

He says he has spoken with company officials following this week's leak of about 1.4-million-litres of oil in the northeastern part of the state. Burgum says he received assurances the spill that affected some wetlands would be cleaned up as thoroughly and quickly as possible.

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New free trade agreement could be on the way in North America

It looks like there might be a new free trade agreement in North America before the U.S. election gets in the way.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says talks over changes with Trump administration officials arealmost done. On Thursday, Pelosi told reporters she is optimistic an agreement can be reached to ratify the accord reached with Canada and Mexico.

Rules approved for impeachment inquiry of U.S. President Trump

A divided U.S. House has approved the rules for its impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

It was a near party-line vote of 232-to-196. The victory allows the Democrats to curb the ability of Republicans to subpoena witnesses and of White House lawyers to present witnesses.

Alberta eases production limits on oil companies that use rail transportation

Alberta says the easing of production limits on oil companies prepared to ship more of their product by rail will help the province deal with a lack of pipelines.

In January, the former NDP government put a daily cap of 3.56-million barrels that the oil industry could produce to reduce a glut that was driving down prices. However,  starting in December, companies will be allowed to produce up to 3.81-million barrels of oil a day, although they will need to apply on a monthly basis and verify their rail shipments.

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Canadian company helping battle wildfires in California

A crew of 75 Canadian electrical technicians, mechanics and safety workers, along with all their gear, is on the way to the northern California city of Vallejo to assist as wildfires char parts of the state.

Crews from Rokstad Power in B.C., set out Tuesday, a day after the companies owner said they were contacted by officials in California asking for help. Forecasters in the United States say California faces an ``extremely critical risk'' of further wildfires as winds whip up blazes that have destroyed more than 200 homes and buildings.

Federal NDP leader plans to introduce private member's bill to create universal pharmacare system

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is hoping to use any leverage his party has with the minority Liberal government.

He says when Parliament resumes, the first thing his party will do is introduce a private member's bill to create a universal pharmacare system. The New Democrats campaigned on creating a single-payer system where the government covers the costs of prescription drugs.

Different news on interest rates in Canada and U.S.

Interest rates in Canada are holding steady, with the Bank of Canada leaving its trend-setting benchmark at 1.75 per cent.

But the U.S. Federal Reserve has cut its key interest rate for a third time this year, dropping it to a range between 1.5 and 1.75 per cent.

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BOC Governor to make announcement at 10:00 EST

If predictions come true you won’t be shelling out more money in interest. The Bank of Canada will announce its key interest rate today and economists expect it will hold steady at 1.75 percent.  The central banks governor will also give a forecast of Canada’s economy.

Missing stickers on pumps blamed on Liberal staffers

A Conservative MPP is blaming Liberal staffers for ripping off anti-carbon tax stickers from gas pumps. Ontario’s Energy Minister Greg Rickford points to a Facebook post from the chief of staff for a Liberal MP boasting of ripping off his 100^th quote Doug Ford propaganda sticker.  Rickford says it is the Liberals responsible for the disappearing stickers and not bad glue.

Some Canadians voted strategically

A new poll suggests more than one third of Canadians voted so another party wouldn’t win the federal election.  The Canadian Press reports the Leger poll shows 35-percent of Canadians voted strategically. Almost as many Canadians waited until the final week to make their decision. Fifty seven percent of people surveyed did say they cast their ballots based on their political convictions.

PM gets ready to form minority government

Justin Trudeau has added two high-profile politicians to his team.  According to the CBC, he has appointed former Liberal deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan and Canada’s Ambassador to France to help with the transition into his second term, this time with a minority mandate.

Officials say the payments are slow to come in

Saudi Arabia is racking up a big debt to Canada.  The kingdom owes about $3.4 billion in late payments for made in Canada Light Armoured Vehicles or LAV’s.  They are used to carry troops.  The 14-billion dollar contract has seen its fair share of controversy but the Liberals did back the deal after first being elected in 2015.

Lukewarm reception to Canada-wide Silver Alert system

The case of a missing senior in B.C. who was found dead is renewing calls for a Silver Alert system.  A Silver Alert would be similar to Amber Alerts, when a senior goes missing.  But CBC News reports the call is receiving a lukewarm reception with even the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society saying they aren’t endorsing them because there is no evidence they work.

Quebec lifts legal age for cannabis

Underage pot smokers won’t be able to cross the Quebec border to buy weed.  The province has raised the legal age for cannabis to 21.  It had been 18, the same as the drinking age.  Critics of the age hike say it is only going to drive sales on the black market.

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New report urges incoming Liberal government to develop business strategy

The Business Council of Canada has released a report urging the incoming Liberal minority government to develop a strategy on how to make Canada more prosperous.

It is calling for a boost to immigration to supply the labour force and for Ottawa to ease regulations, update the tax system, and develop a national-resources strategy with the help of the premiers. The lobby group represents the country's top CEOs.

Prime Minister Trudeau looking for input on how to best represent Western Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is consulting former Liberal deputy prime minister Anne McLellan and Ambassador to France Isabelle Hudon about the make-up of his new government.

Trudeau is looking for input as he tries to figure out how Alberta and Saskatchewan will be represented in government and in cabinet, given the Liberals didn't win a seat in either province. He has ruled out a formal agreement with any of the opposition parties and plans to govern by getting the support necessary to pass legislation on a case-by-case basis.

Saskatchewan Premier wants meeting with Prime Minister

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe wants to sit down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to talk about national unity.

Talk of western alienation has risen since last week's election and Moe wants to discuss how different parts of the country can get back on the same page.

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Ford says MPP’s need to “step up”

Premier Doug Ford is calling for national unity.  When the Ontario legislature opened yesterday after five months off Ford said he had never seen the country so divided following last week’s federal election and called on legislators to “step up and unite the country.”

PM meets with Julie Payette today

It’s a formality but Justin Trudeau will meet with the Governor General today.  The newly re-elected PM will confirm that he intends to form government.  After the 2015 election it took almost a month for MP’s to return to work.  The Liberals have a minority government and will need at least one opposition party to help prop them up and get legislation passed.

Not enough Canadian adults are physically active

Canadian adults get a failing grade for being active.  In a study done by the non-profit group Participaction adults are given an F, with only 16-percent getting the recommended heart pumping 150 minutes of physical activity a week.   The study finds adults spend an average of 3.6 hours a day in a reclined or seated position in front of a screen.

RCMP working with American authorities to find missing reservist

The RCMP is still searching for a missing army reservist with links to a neo-Nazi group.   Master Corporal Patrick Mathews was being fast tracked out of the military when he went missing in late August.  The RCMP says they are working with American authorities to track him down but he is not wanted by the police service and his case is being treated as any other missing persons case.

Midnight Saturday is the deadline for software update for old iPhones

If you are still holding on to an old iPhone from 2012 or before you need to upgrade its software.  Apple says the iPhone 5 needs to be updated to iOS version 10.3.4.  If you don’t do it you may be locked out of some apps that rely on accurate date and time just before midnight Saturday.

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Ottawa not moving national-threat level higher following death of Islamic State leader

Ottawa is not moving the national-threat level higher following the weekend death of Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

It will remain at medium despite concerns in some countries of retaliatory attacks by sympathizers after he died during a U.S. special forces raid in Syria.

Fires wreak havoc across California

A fire that broke out early Monday morning has prompted evacuation alerts in some of the most exclusive real estate in California, where celebrities and executives live in mountain and ridgetop retreats that cost tens of millions of dollars.

The fire roared up hillsides of west Los Angeles within hours and tens of thousands of people were quickly ordered to clear out. Another fire that broke out last week north of San Francisco has exploded in size to at least 267 square kilometres and left nearly 200-thousand people under evacuation orders.

Young protestors banned from Parliament Hill following protest

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says young people are pushing their governments for a more sustainable future.

She's commenting after more than two dozen young people left a Parliamentary tour this morning to stage a climate protest in the House of Commons. The members of the group Our Time say being ticketed for trespassing and banned from Parliament Hill for 30 days was worth it because there is limited time to prevent a climate emergency.

New report finds it would take Canada 164 years to close the economic gap between men and women

A report says it would take Canada 164 years to close the economic gap between men and women if things keep going as they are.

The review of how close or far Canada is from meeting United Nations gender equality goals it signed on to in 1995 shows ``uneven'' progress over the past five years. Ottawa submitted its own progress report to the UN last spring.

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MPP’s back after longest break in 25 years

After five months off MPP’s are heading back to work.  The Ford government is promising a new tone when the Ontario legislature resumes sitting today.  The Tory house leader says the government is going to move away from partisan squabbles and self-congratulatory standing ovations by working with opposition members.

ISIS will likely regenerate; experts

Experts say the death of the leader of ISIS does not mean the terrorist group will die with him.  American forces trapped Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Saturday and he killed himself in a suicide bombing.  It is widely expected another group will form under new leadership.

Whispers among some Conservatives suggest Scheer shouldn’t be leader

At least one former MP is saying Conservative leader Andrew Scheer has to go.  Terence Young, who was defeated in his Toronto area riding, tells the Globe and Mail says he never heard good things about Scheer while he was campaigning.  The Conservatives lost to the Liberal Party in last week’s federal election.

Straschnitzki leaves later this week for surgery

A Humboldt Bronco player paralyzed in the crash is off to Thailand for surgery.  The surgery may help restore some of Ryan Straschnitzki’s movement. The 20-year old will be gone for five weeks.  He was one of 12 people injured when a truck plowed through a stop sign in April of last year.  16 people died.

Cigarette packages stripped of logos and colour

Smokers will start noticing a change to their cigarette packages.  New federal rules kick in on November 9^th that will see all cigarette packages stripped of logos and will be brown in colour with grey messaging.  Store owners will have 90-days to get rid of their more colourful inventory.

Brexit delayed to end of January

For the second time the European Union has agreed to delay Brexit.  The United Kingdom was due to leave in just three days but a divorce agreement has not been finalized.  The EU Council agreed to a January 31^st deadline.

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