National News

Canada is ready to help in the aftermath of a disastrous earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday, as authorities in those countries reported that more than 3,400 people had died and thousands more were injured.

Rescue workers and residents searched the rubble of toppled buildings for survivors and officials feared the death toll would keep climbing.

The federal government can expect continued pressure from Manitoba’s Justice Minister to make changes to the Criminal Code to keep violent offenders behind bars. 

Kelvin Goertzen, also the MLA for Steinbach, says this concern has also been raised by other provinces. 

The federal defence minister says Canada "unequivocally supports" the United States government's decision to shoot down a high-altitude surveillance balloon that was suspected of spying for China, noting the balloon violated Canadian airspace.

Fighter jets downed the balloon off the Carolina coast on Saturday afternoon after it had travelled over sensitive military sites across North America.

The federal Liberals withdrew an amendment to their guns bill on Friday that had introduced a controversial new definition of an assault-style weapon.

On behalf of the government, Vancouver MP Taleeb Noormohamed asked for and received unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment to Bill C-21 at the House of Commons public safety committee Friday morning.

The amendment introduced a new definition of an "assault-style" gun that includes semi-automatic rifles and shotguns with a capacity of more than five cartridges.

The Department of National Defence says Canada is working with the United States to protect sensitive information from foreign intelligence threats after a high-altitude surveillance balloon was detected.

The U.S. says it is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted over U.S. airspace for a few days. 

The Pentagon says it decided not to shoot it down over concerns of hurting people on the ground.

A well-known clothing brand has recalled nearly 129 thousand sweaters and hoodies due to a flammability hazard. 

Health Canada issued a recall notice on Wednesday, urging consumers to immediately stop wearing specific Hally Hansen sweatshirts, sweaters and hoodies because the products, which incorporate brushed cotton fabrics that have undergone a specific treatment, either do not or may not comply with the textile flammability regulations. 

128,680 of the affected products have been sold in Canada since August 2019.

Jason Kenney, more than three months after stepping down as Alberta’s premier, has landed a new role as a Calgary-based adviser in law firm Bennett Jones.

Kenney, who is also a former federal cabinet minister, will work in the public policy group.

Kenney says on Twitter he looks forward to the new job and that his work won’t include lobbying the provincial government or its agencies.

He says Alberta’s ethics commissioner has signed off on his new role and Kenney says he won’t be accepting any other jobs without first checking with the commissioner.

Former Conservative interim leader and longtime Manitoba member of Parliament Candice Bergen has announced she is stepping down. 

Bergen said in a video posted to Twitter that she submitted a letter of resignation as the representative for Portage-Lisgar after meeting with her party's caucus. 

The MP said last September, after serving as interim leader of the party following the ouster of former leader Erin O'Toole, that she was not planning to run in another federal election.

Anyone wanting to book a camping or RV spot at a national park in Canada will have to wait longer than usual. 

This year, visitors will be able to begin making reservations in March. Manitoba has two campgrounds in a national park, including Moon Lake which is open year-round and the highly popular Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park.

This year campers will be able to make reservations for Wasagaming on March 27, including the yurt options. 

Parks Canada says visitors will be able to start booking reservations for camping and other activities at its sites across the country in March.

The reservation dates, which are posted online, are different at each national park, historic site and marine conservation area.

Parks Canada says in a statement that the bookings are a couple months later than recent years because the reservation system was getting outdated and needed some upgrades.

The agency says the system will look different from the previous one, but it will offer the same features and functions.