Budget officer says Liberals’ student aid revamp may cost more than estimated
OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget office is estimating that the Liberals' revamped student-aid package could end up costing half-a-billion dollars more than government expects. The Liberals proposed a sweeping package in the April budget to ease studen...
Legault says he’s confident Quebec-Ontario boundary will reopen in ‘next few days’
MONTREAL — The boundary between Quebec and Ontario, closed since April to reduce COVID-19 transmission, will likely reopen within days, Quebec Premier François Legault said Thursday. "We are in discussion with the Ontario government, and I am confident...
Liberals table bill to make criminal pardons quicker, cheaper
OTTAWA — The federal government is tabling legislation to make it easier and less expensive to obtain a criminal pardon. Introduced in the House of Commons on Thursday, the bill to amend the Criminal Records Act would undo measures brought in
Wife of drug kingpin ‘El Chapo’ pleads guilty to US charges
WASHINGTON (AP) — The wife of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman pleaded guilty Thursday to charges in the U.S. and admitted that she helped her husband run his multibillion-dollar criminal empire.
Ontario unlikely to balance budget by 2030 despite post-pandemic growth: report
TORONTO — Ontario's fiscal watchdog says the province's economy will rebound over the next two years but the government is unlikely to reach its goal of a balanced budget by the start of the next decade. The Financial Accountability Office released
EU lawmakers threaten to sue, to speed up rule of law action
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers threatened Thursday to sue the bloc’s executive branch within weeks if it fails to take action against countries allegedly violating democratic standards, notably Hungary and Poland.
No more kidney dialysis? Lebanese hospitals issue warning
BEIRUT (AP) — Hospitals in Lebanon warned Thursday they may be forced to suspend kidney dialysis next week due to severe shortages in supplies, the latest in Lebanon’s accelerating crises and collapsing health sector.
In retaliation, Russia expels diplomat from North Macedonia
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia’s foreign ministry said Thursday that Russia has expelled a diplomat from the small Balkan country, weeks after a Russian embassy official was ordered to leave Skopje.
Liberal House leader accuses Conservatives of ‘blocking’ progress on key legislation
Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez says the Conservatives are blocking the passage of "progressive legislation" put forward by the minority Liberals before MPs wrap up for the summer. In a news conference Thursday, Rodriguez said it's crucial to p...
Lithuania readies for more migrants entering via Belarus
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Lithuania will set up a border tent village to shelter increasing numbers of asylum-seekers from third countries who are entering through neighboring Belarus, officials said Thursday.