Category Archives: Social
New data shows impact of immigration system slowing sharply amid pandemic
OTTAWA — New data is painting a stark picture of how the marked slowdown of the immigration system due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected thousands of lives. The figures show that approvals for immigration applications fell by about three-quarters ...
Singh calls for end to for-profit long-term care homes owned by government
OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and union officials are calling on the federal government to put a stop to its role in for-profit long-term care homes, where deadly COVID-19 outbreaks are worsening as the second wave of the pandemic
Ending withdrawal rules from registered retirement funds would cost $1B, PBO says
OTTAWA — A new review by Parliament's spending watchdog says waiving mandatory withdrawal amounts from seniors' retirement savings would cost federal coffers about $1 billion annually. Each year, seniors with registered retirement income funds have to ...
Liberal MP took too long with ethics disclosure, ought to apologize in Commons: Dion
OTTAWA — The federal ethics watchdog said Thursday a Liberal MP broke the rules when he took far too long to comply with the conflict of interest code. Now, Toronto-area MP James Maloney is being told to apologize to the House
RCMP needs structural changes to address racism: MMIWG commissioner
OTTAWA — A commissioner who served on the inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls says top-down attitudes and the centralized structure of the RCMP are leading to racist practices against Indigenous people in Canada. Speaking in Fr...
Tories disappointed by Scheer’s decision to hire family as they call for better rules
OTTAWA — Conservative MPs vented some disappointment in their former leader — and current caucus colleague — Andrew Scheer Wednesday after revelations he twice hired family members to work in his office. Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs was one of them, sayin...
Halifax to review use of ‘Micmac’ on street signs and city buildings
HALIFAX — Use of the word "Micmac" on city signs, buildings and other municipal assets in Halifax is under review. Regional council on Tuesday unanimously endorsed a motion by councillor Sam Austin requiring city staff to review how the word is
NDP raises more questions about Morneau, WE in letter to ethics watchdog
OTTAWA — NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus is asking the federal ethics commissioner to consider new questions about the relationship between former finance minister Bill Morneau and WE Charity. In a letter to commissioner Mario Dion, Angus says he think...
Battle over housing rights for people with intellectual disabilities in N.S. court
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's highest court heard arguments Wednesday that the province's failure to offer people with disabilities timely access to housing and care in the community amounts to a violation of their basic rights. "It's a form of discriminatio...
Simple messages and coherent policy needed to clear up COVID confusion: experts
Simple, direct messaging from officials is necessary to clear up confusion about shifting public health restrictions amid skyrocketing COVID-19 infections in Canada, experts in health and communications say. At the same time, officials need to be reali...
