National News

Canada needs to meet NATO's minimum defence spending target, and present a plan on how it will reach it as a way to show authoritarian regimes that Western allies are aligned, said the alliance's secretary general on Wednesday.

Numbers NATO released this week show Canada is expected to spend 1.37 per cent of its gross domestic product on defence this year, well below the two per cent target.

Health Minister Mark Holland says he hopes to launch a national pharmacare program by April 1, 2025. 

A pharmacare bill drafted by the Liberals and the NDP has made its way through the House of Commons, but still needs to be studied by the Senate.

The idea is to make birth control and diabetes medication available to anyone with a health card as part of a universal, single-payer program. 

The Liberals budgeted $1.5 billion for the program over five years. 

Statistics Canada says the country's population topped 41 million people in the first quarter of this year as it grew by 0.6 per cent.

The agency says the population reached 41,012,563 on April 1, a gain of 242,673 people in the first three months of the year.

Statistics Canada said the increase came as the country welcomed 121,758 immigrants in the first quarter.

Net emigration amounted to 12,613 people for the quarter.

Canada also added 131,810 non-permanent residents to the population.

Alberta is moving to ban cellphones in kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms starting in the fall.

Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said Monday that cellphones help with learning but can also be a distraction and lead to cyberbullying.

He said there will be exceptions for students who use phones for health needs, such as monitoring blood sugar levels.

Otherwise, personal devices must be turned off and stored out of sight during class time. School internet networks will also have to limit access to social media, Nicolaides said.

Mourners, dignitaries and first responders filled a park in western Manitoba on Saturday afternoon for the unveiling of a monument honouring the 17 victims of a deadly bus crash that took place one year ago.

Roughly 200 people — including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew — were on hand for the official unveiling in the city of Dauphin, with many setting up lawn chairs in CN park and others embracing under overcast skies.

Volunteers handed out programs with small packets of seeds of forget me not flowers to plant after the ceremony.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says a recent spy watchdog report shows a "number of MPs" have knowingly provided help to foreign governments — behaviour he calls unethical or even illegal.

Singh said Thursday he is "more alarmed today" after reading an unredacted version of a report on foreign interference by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed into the second day of the G7 leaders' summit, which will feature a special appearance by Pope Francis.

The pontiff is slated to deliver an address to leaders about the promises and perils of artificial intelligence. 

He is also expected to renew his appeal for a peaceful end to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. 

In the fall of 2024, the Government of Canada will introduce legislative changes that will expand early pension eligibility for frontline employees. Frontline workers play crucial roles and deserve a pension plan that reflects the demanding nature of their jobs. Firefighters, paramedics, correctional service employees, border services officers, parliamentary protection officers and search and rescue technicians will all be included with these proposed changes.

The Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides (LFCDG) is looking for the support of Canadians on their latest fundraising campaign. "The Difference" is a $50 Million Fundraising Campaign to build a brand-new state-of-the-art training school. During a celebratory event, Pet Valu and their Companions for Change™ program were able to donate $500,000 to go towards The Puppy Training Room.  

The Manitoba government has given environmental approval to a planned search of a landfill for the remains of two slain First Nations women.

For some family members who have been fighting for a search for more than 18 months, the news was a welcome relief.

"They're going to be starting right away, hopefully by the end of summer or something, and they can work right through winter. So it's good," Donna Bartlett, the grandmother of Marcedes Myran, said after meeting with Premier Wab Kinew on Tuesday.