The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada has requested formal negotiations, under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, to hold Syria accountable for the countless human rights violations it has inflicted on the Syrian people since 2011. These violations formed the basis of a similar request by the Netherlands in September 2020 and have been well documented by the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, among others.

Today, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Catherine McKenna and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Philippe Champagne announced $2.75 billion in funding over five years, starting in 2021, to enhance public transit systems and switch them to cleaner electrical power, including supporting the purchase of zero-emission public transit and school buses. This funding is part of an eight year, $14.9 billion public transit investment recently outlined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and will also support municipalities, transit authorities and school boards with transition planning, increase ambition on the electrification of transit systems, and deliver on the government’s commitment to help purchase 5,000 zero-emission buses over the next five years.

Today, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $2.75 billion over five years, that can be accessed starting in 2021, to support the purchase of zero-emission public transit and school buses and enhance public transit systems by switching them to cleaner electrical power. This funding is sourced from $14.9 billion for public transit projects that was outlined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Phasing out unabated coal-fired power in a manner that supports workers and communities is one of the most important steps that we can take to support a healthier environment and economy. That is why following United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to curtail coal-fired electricity, Canada and the United Kingdom cofounded the Powering Past Coal Alliance in 2017. The Alliance brings together governments, industry, financial institutions, companies, labour, and civil society to accelerate the phase-out of unabated coal power and has put one third of coal capacity within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries on a path to close by the end of this decade.

The safety and well-being of Canadians are a top priority for the Government of Canada as the fight against COVID-19 continues. By demonstrating organizational agility and responsiveness, the Department of National Defence (DND) continues to work collaboratively with our colleagues across government to contribute positively to these efforts.

Today, Marc Serré, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Dave Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Member of Provincial Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and Gimaa Craig Nootchtai, Chief of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, announced joint funding for improvements to the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek community centre.

Advanced manufacturing is a cornerstone of Canada’s economy, producing goods for domestic and international markets while supporting well-paying jobs for Canadians across the country. As technology transforms manufacturing, companies are expanding and innovating their processes to stay on the cutting edge while they seek opportunities for growth in the face of COVID-19.

Energy efficiency helps businesses save money and stay competitive while contributing to a cleaner environment. The governments of Canada and Quebec are investing in initiatives that will lead to a clean energy future and provide a healthier planet for future generations.

Today, the CRTC clarified that the Wireless Code applies to all device financing plans sold with a wireless service plan, including plans over 36 months. Device financing plans must comply with all relevant protections of the Wireless Code to ensure consumers are fully protected.

Energy efficiency helps businesses save money and stay competitive while contributing to a cleaner environment. The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada are investing in initiatives that will help us build a clean energy future and provide a healthier planet for future generations.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation (A19O0178) into the fatal November 2019 accident involving a Piper PA-32-260 in Kingston, Ontario, highlights some of the risks of flying at night under visual flight rules (VFR), particularly when weather conditions are poor and over areas with little lighting.

Government of Canada grants over $1 million to help four organizations in the region go green and create and maintain 11 jobs.

Many people living in Canada, especially women and children, are victims of intimate- partner violence (IPV).

Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedNor, and Mayor Carman Kidd, City of Temiskaming Shores, will participate in a virtual announcement to reveal the complete list of businesses and organizations taking part in the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase at the PDAC 2021 virtual Convention, Trade Show and Investor’s Exchange.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important infrastructure event with Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction and Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; Amarjot Sandhu, Member of Provincial Parliament for Brampton West; and His Worship Patrick Brown, Mayor of the City of Brampton.

Members of the media are invited to attend a virtual infrastructure announcement with the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Member of Parliament for Beauséjour, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, the Honourable Margaret Johnson, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Carleton-Victoria, on behalf the Honourable Gary Crossman, Minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation, and his Worship Karl Curtis, Mayor of Florenceville-Bristol. Richard Bragdon, Member of Parliament for Tobique—Mactaquac, will also be in attendance.

Health Canada announces new guidance issued today by the Access Consortium—a coalition of regulatory authorities from Canada, the U.K., Australia, Singapore and Switzerland.

For many, child care is a necessity. For Indigenous children, culturally appropriate early learning and child care can be a crucial part of childhood development. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to promoting and investing in Indigenous-led early learning and child care to ensure all First Nations, Inuit and Métis children have the foundation they need to succeed in life.

Government of Canada grants $2,224,000 to help two businesses go green and contributes to the creation of 24 jobs.

Canadian women entrepreneurs are critical to the economic success of communities across the country. At the same time, they often face unique barriers when starting and growing their businesses and have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada has long supported women entrepreneurs, and is committed to making the necessary investments to position them for success in the future.

Communities in rural and northern Ontario came together to lay out short and long-term plans to grow their population. This includes the “Come North” 10-point action plan released in January 2021. Northern Ontario is facing labour shortages as well as an aging and declining population. For this reason, more than 300 people representing over 100 […]

The post Ontario’s Northern Regions look to make their communities more welcoming first appeared on CIC News.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, will make an important virtual announcement in Markham and participate in a fireside chat with local businesses.

On March 4, 2021, Government of Canada officials will hold a technical briefing to provide an overview on the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Government of Canada considers the environment and clean technologies as key elements of the economic recovery. With this in mind, Stéphane Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Argenteuil–La Petite-Nation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors, and the Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Member of Parliament for Honoré–Mercier, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Quebec Lieutenant, invite media representatives to a press conference regarding assistance from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions for Tricentris – tri, transformation, sensibilisation.

Government of Canada reiterates its support for the 22nd annual MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE