From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has been there for Canadians and provided them with the support they need to stay healthy, safe and solvent. Many workers and families across the country continue to face uncertain times as a result of the difficult but necessary public health measures put in place to save lives.

Members of the media are invited to an important infrastructure announcement with the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton–Riverview–Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Ernie Steeves, Minister of Finance and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Moncton–North; and Her Worship Dawn Arnold, Mayor of Moncton.

Today, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has released the 2020-21 Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP). The IFMP is developed in the fall of each year and describes the scientific results and proposed management measures for the upcoming season, including gear allocations, open areas and harvest levels. Prior to the release, a 30-day public consultation period was held to ensure that DFO’s fishery management decisions are transparent, developed through the best available science, and informed by First Nations groups, commercial harvesters and input from the public.

Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced that she will lead a group of Canadian business people on a virtual trade mission to France from March 29 to April 1, inclusive, and April 8, with a focus on creating opportunities for businesses to grow and contribute to a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery.

On February 14, 2021, at approximately 6:40 p.m., as a result of the vigilance of staff members, contraband was seized on the perimeter of Collins Bay Institution, a multi-level security facility.

Fishery officers require state-of-the-art aerial surveillance equipment to continue the important work they conduct protecting Canada’s marine resources, ensuring compliance with fisheries management measures and enforcing the Fisheries Act from coast to coast to coast.

As of February 26, the Plains of Abraham Museum offers you the opportunity to learn about the Plains’ sports heritage with Shoot, Score!, a family treasure hunt to take out.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions grants $300,000 in support to three regional businesses and helps create 12 jobs.

Today, the Honourable Blaine Higgs, Premier of New Brunswick; Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John—Rothesay, on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Catherine McKenna; the Honourable Gary Crossman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister Responsible for the Regional Development Corporation; and His Worship Don Darling, Mayor of Saint John, announced funding for four projects in support of the redevelopment of the Fundy Quay in Saint John.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions grants $350,000 in support to Custom Diamond International and helps create 20 jobs.

Canada has set out to welcome at least 401,000 immigrants annually beginning this year, with over one-quarter set to arrive through the Express Entry system. The immigration department is already starting the year off strong. On Saturday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held a historically large Express Entry draw with a historically low CRS […]

The post Why start the Express Entry process in 2021? first appeared on CIC News.

Minister Joly unveils the Government of Canada’s vision for official languages reform and planned modernization of Official Languages Act

Prince Edward Island has released the details of its scheduled February 18 draw. The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) issued a total of 121 invitations. Most of the invitations, 102, went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates. Business Impact candidates took home the remaining 19, as long as they had a minimum point threshold of 82. […]

The post PEI holds new PNP draw inviting 121 immigration candidates first appeared on CIC News.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, will make an announcement about the Food Policy for Canada during an address at the virtual Food Systems Summit Dialogue convened by the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan today concluded virtual discussions with his counterparts during the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions grants $390,000 in support to the Distillerie du St. Laurent and helps create one job and maintain another one.

Government of Canada officials will hold a media technical briefing on data and modelling informing public health action on coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ministers will also hold a news conference to provide an update on coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Stéphane Lauzon, Member of Parliament for Argenteuil‒La Petite-Nation and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors, and Élisabeth Brière, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), the Honourable Mélanie Joly, invite media representatives to a press conference regarding support for the St-Donat Bakery, Alice&Ambre, the Parc régional Montagne du Diable and the Corporation du Parc du Poisson Blanc.

Vancouver, B.C. – Fisheries and Oceans Canada will provide an update regarding the Pacific Herring Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for 2020-2021. These updates come following a 30-day public consultation period on the draft 2020-21 IFMP which was released on December 21, 2020.

The Government of Canada continues to implement a multi-layered framework of measures to protect Canadians from COVID-19, and help prevent air travel from being a source for the spread of the virus. Pre-departure testing of air travellers is a key component of the Government of Canada’s efforts to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

Social, economic, cultural, institutional and historical inequities contribute to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people, Black Canadians and marginalized populations, including those living with substance abuse and mental health challenges, in the criminal justice system.

The Government recognizes that there is systemic racism in Canada’s criminal justice system. We have heard Canadians, the courts and criminal justice experts, and seen the evidence of the disproportionate representation of Indigenous peoples, as well as Black Canadians in the criminal justice system. The proposed legislation would ensure courts can continue to impose tough sentences on violent and serious crimes without the disproportionate impact on Indigenous peoples, as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities.

On February 18, 2021, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, introduced proposed amendments to the Criminal Code and to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. One objective of this Bill is to repeal mandatory minimum penalties (MMPs) for certain offences, including drug offences, which have not deterred crime but have resulted in disproportionate outcomes for Indigenous people, as well as Black Canadians and members of marginalized communities.

The Fall Economic Statement (FES) proposes a number of important investments to address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. The FES funding would provide much needed support for organizations and programs that help address the inequities faced by Indigenous peoples, Black and racialized Canadians in the criminal justice, with the goal of creating a fair and more effective criminal justice system for all. These initiatives would help support the proposed legislation to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Bill C-22.

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the criminal justice system keeps all Canadians, their families, and communities safe.