The Government of Canada is renewing the relationship between the Crown and Indigenous people in Canada based on the affirmation of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.

To jointly address climate change and demonstrate global leadership on the climate crisis, Canada and the United States have joined to form a high-level dialogue. This dialogue will elevate and advance long-standing cooperation between the two countries, which share many of the same risks and can benefit from many of the same opportunities.

On February 19 and 20, 2021, as a result of the vigilance of staff members, two packages containing contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Cowansville Institution, a federal medium-security facility.

The Department of National Defence (DND) thanks the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) for its work, and welcomes its report on the Canadian Surface Combatant.

In addition to a $5 million penalty for FlightHub Group Inc., two company directors have agreed to penalties of $400,000 each after the Competition Bureau concluded that the online travel agency charged customers hidden fees, authored positive customer reviews to promote its services, and made numerous false or misleading claims about its prices and other flight-booking services.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting and serving Canadians through the challenge of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. That includes making sure our vital trade corridors and gateways remain open and functional and ensuring Canadians continue to receive the essential goods they need to remain safe while supporting Canada’s economy.

In recent weeks, as the result of the vigilance of staff members, two packages containing contraband and unauthorized items were seized at Drummond Institution, a federal medium-security facility.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced. It has highlighted fundamental gaps in our society and disproportionately impacted those who were already marginalized, vulnerable or struggling. Women have faced steep job losses or shouldered the burden of unpaid care work at home, and many have bravely served on the front lines of this crisis in our communities.

On February 23, 2021, Serge Robin, an inmate from Archambault Institution, died while in our custody of apparent natural causes.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important virtual infrastructure event with the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Adam Van Koeverden, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport) and Member of Parliament for Milton; Parm Gill, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Member of Provincial Parliament for Milton, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and His Worship Gordon Krantz, Mayor of the Town of Milton.

Internationally, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major contributor to the decline of fish stocks and marine habitat destruction. It also undermines the livelihoods of our legitimate fish harvesters.

Québec City, Quebec – The Canadian Coast Guard announces that spring icebreaking operations on the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and Québec will begin on the morning of Monday, March 1. However, these activities could begin earlier, given the risk to the fast ice posed by the combination of mild temperatures and high tides expected on February 26, 27 and 28. Icebreaking will continue thereafter on several streams, rivers and river mouths in Quebec.

On February 24, 2021, Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, issued the following statement on COVID-19.

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is closely monitoring the number of COVID-19 cases reported in First Nations communities across the country. Overall, active case counts continue to decline, with 1,443 active cases reported as of February 23, 2021.

Health care continues to be one of the most important issues for Canadians, and digital solutions can be instrumental in meeting Canadians’ health care needs. Today, the Competition Bureau published summaries of the feedback it received from Canadians and industry stakeholders through a survey and public consultation.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, will participate virtually in a roundtable discussion on supporting Black business owners and entrepreneurs, where she will provide an update on the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund.

This is why the Government of Canada is investing over $1.15 million in 25 new projects in Alberta communities through the Municipal Asset Management Program (MAMP), delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on behalf of the federal government. The program aims to strengthen local infrastructure planning and decision-making by increasing local asset management capacity through investments in activities such as asset management training, technology and software enhancements and information sharing.

Media representatives are advised that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, will meet with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, today at 1:00 p.m. (EST). Following yesterday’s bilateral meeting with President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau and the release of the ambitious Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, the Minister and Climate Envoy Kerry will get straight to work by further coordinating bilateral climate cooperation between the U.S. and Canada to increase ambition aligned to the Paris Agreement and net-zero objectives, and to explore opportunities to align policies and approaches to create jobs, while tackling climate change and inequality, and enhancing adaptation and resilience to climate impacts. Following the meeting, Minister Wilkinson will provide an update on next steps and take questions from media representatives.

The Governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories (NWT) are investing over $400,000 to increase the production of fresh, healthy and locally-grown food in the NWT’s agriculture sector.

To continue to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Government of Canada is investing in projects that focus on important issues like encouraging leadership and democratic participation among women and girls. Investments like these will help give them the tools they need to succeed.

Ace Machining will boost production capacity and create jobs.

The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) today presented its goals and commitments for diversity, equity and inclusion, with a plan to make significant and lasting changes in order to be an egalitarian, open and diverse organization.

In 2018, the Government of Canada made a historic commitment toward reducing poverty through Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy. Yesterday, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen, tabled in Parliament the first report on Canada’s progress, entitled Building Understanding: The First Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty.

Members of the media are invited to attend an important virtual infrastructure event with the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Federal Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Donna Skelly, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Member of Provincial Parliament for Flamborough—Glanbrook, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and representatives from the Ancaster Agricultural Society, the Dundas Valley School of Art, and the City of Hamilton.

Sinking of Atlantic Sapphire highlights recurring safety deficiencies in the commercial fishing industry