Yesterday, as part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to enhance confidence in the criminal justice system, particularly among survivors of sexual assault, changes to the Judges Act and Criminal Code received Royal Assent and came into force.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, are encouraging businesses and organizations to apply for free rapid tests for workplace screening projects. Workplace screening is another layer of protection for workers, the people they serve and their communities from COVID-19.

Kingston, Ontario, May 7, 2021 — Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) wishes to advise motorists of alternating lane closure on the LaSalle Causeway for repair work .

Yesterday, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, met with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners from across the country to discuss progress on the implementation of An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families. The Act affirms the rights of Indigenous Peoples to exercise jurisdiction in relation to child and family services for their communities. It also establishes guiding principles, including the best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality, to guide the provision of child and family services in relation to Indigenous children. It responds to the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action and to the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and supports the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Joint federal, provincial and municipal funding is being allocated to 10 recreational infrastructure projects which will be completed in communities in the Eastern Townships Region. These projects include renovations to recreation centres, playgrounds and other sports facilities.

As the pandemic has made us more aware of the importance of having a healthy population, the governments of Canada and Quebec are proud to support nearly 200 recreational and sports infrastructure projects across Quebec. Thanks to these investments, Quebec municipalities will have modern and safe facilities that are easily accessible, creating winning conditions for engaging in physical activities in our communities.

Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced the 24 semi-finalists for Streams A and B of the $20-million Food Waste Reduction Challenge, an initiative under the Food Policy for Canada.

The $20-million Food Waste Reduction Challenge was launched in November 2020 to accelerate and advance diverse and high-impact solutions to food waste in Canada.

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design to help Indigenous arts and craft producers grow their businesse

Thanks to a total investment of $50.1 million made as part of Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed, 6 930 households in the Centre-du-Québec region will have access to high-speed Internet services by September 2022.

Today, Ryan Turnbull, Member of Parliament for Whitby, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced $999,200 in federal funding to bring high-speed Internet to 4,557 underserved households in the communities of Orono, Hampton, Blackstock, Enniskillen, Columbus, Solina, Manchester, Burketon Station, Pontypool, Raglan, Ashburn, Myrtle Station, Kendal, Nestleton Station, North Oshawa and Macedonian Village. Ruralwave is investing an additional $542,000, and Bell Canada is investing an additional $210,000.

As more and more Canadians are receiving vaccines for COVID-19, it may be time to look at what is needed to safely reopen the border for international travel. Health Minister Patty Hajdu says that Canada is looking to come up with a form of certification that may allow vaccinated Canadians to travel abroad. In an […]

The post Looking forward: What is needed to restart international travel to Canada? first appeared on CIC News.

Under the new judicial application process introduced by the Minister of Justice on October 20, 2016, any interested and qualified Canadian lawyer or judge may apply for federal judicial appointment by completing a questionnaire. The questionnaires are then used by the Judicial Advisory Committees across Canada to review candidates and submit a list of “highly recommended” and “recommended” candidates for consideration by the Minister of Justice. Candidates are advised that parts of their questionnaire may be made available to the public, with their consent, should they be appointed to the bench. The information is published as it was submitted by the candidates at the time they applied, subject to editing where necessary for privacy reasons.

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, issued the following statement:“The Government of Canada remains committed to working with all international partners to reach a speedy and just end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) update to be given by the Prime Minister, Ministers and Government of Canada officials at May 7, 2021 news conference.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important announcement regarding active transportation and social infrastructure for the Abegweit First Nation with the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Dennis King, Premier of Prince Edward Island, and Chief Roderick W. Gould Jr. of the Abegweit First Nation.

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, and Andrés Valenciano, Minister of Foreign Trade, Costa Rica, met bilaterally for the first time, virtually, and discussed expanding Canada and Costa Rica’s already strong trading relationship.

Saskatchewan invited 259 immigration candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence on May 6. The invitations went to candidates who may be eligible for a nomination from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), specifically from the International Skilled Worker category. Of those invited, 136 may be eligible for the SINP’s Express Entry […]

The post Saskatchewan invites 259 in PNP draw first appeared on CIC News.

Today, Bill C-14, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020 and other measures received Royal Assent, providing support to Canadian families with young children, young people and recent grads, and businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.

The early results of Canada’s six new permanent residence streams have been surprising for all the right reasons. At 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today, Canada began to accept applications under a temporary public policy that will allow essential workers and international graduates to become permanent residents. The purpose of the streams is to provide […]

The post Canada’s new immigration streams have already surprised us first appeared on CIC News.

Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere pleasure to join this debate on Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures.

Collaboration with provincial partners and Indigenous communities is essential to walking the shared path of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Renewing that relationship includes upholding and protecting Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination, and ensuring community well-being and safety.

Today, Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable George Heyman, British Columbia’s Minister of Environment, and Michael McDaniel, President of the Coast Mountain Bus Company, announced funding for upgrades to the onboard bus systems and security systems.

Media representatives are invited to a virtual press conference during which the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Member of Parliament for Compton–Stanstead, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, and the Minister for Education and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Isabelle Charest, will make an announcement concerning recreational and sports infrastructure in the region.

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, spoke with Muhammad Lutfi, Indonesia’s Minister of Trade, to advance trade and investment relations between the 2 countries.