National News

The deadly mid-air crash in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night is likely the result of unique air traffic patterns in the area and shouldn't cause wider fears over air safety, says an aviation expert.

John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, said the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport has seen rising activity over the years while military aircraft also frequently fly in the area to make it a higher-risk airspace.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he still plans to force a spring election when Parliament returns at end of March.

He says that before that vote to topple the Liberal government happens, he could work with the governing party for about two months to rush through Parliament relief measures for workers who could be affected by a looming tariff war with the U.S.

Many of the 300,000 Ukrainians who have come to Canada on three-year emergency visas since 2022 face an uncertain future as their temporary resident permits come closer to expiring, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress warned Wednesday.

Congress executive director Ihor Michalchyshyn said he met with Immigration Minister Marc Miller last week to ask his department to automatically renew the visas for another three years.

U.S. President Donald Trump could be just days away from hitting Canada with punishing tariffs. Here's a look at the industries that would be hit the hardest.

Statistics Canada says the value of Canadian exports to the United States in 2023 exceeded $594 billion. More than 43 per cent of that came from just six industries: oil and gas extraction, oil and gas refining, auto manufacturing, aluminum production and processing, aerospace and crop and animal production.

A 25 per cent tariff applied across the board would increase the cost of those exports by $148.5 billion.

The Bank of Canada delivered another interest rate cut on Wednesday, reducing its policy rate by a quarter-percentage point to three per cent. But looming U.S. tariffs are weighing on the central bank’s economic outlook.

The cut, the central bank's sixth consecutive one since June, comes as the bank said inflation is sitting around its two per cent target and the economy is picking up speed.

"There are signs economic activity is gaining momentum as past interest rate cuts work their way through the economy," Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said in prepared remarks.

The union representing RCMP members is calling on Canada and the U.S. to make it easier to buy new technology, boost staffing and improve collaboration to deal with security challenges at the Canada-U.S. border.

In a news release published Tuesday, the National Police Federation says it met with Canadian and U.S. police and public safety unions to talk about illegal migration, drug and firearms smuggling and human trafficking.

The union says that the discussions helped it draft a set of recommendations for the Canadian and U.S. governments.

U.S. President Donald Trump's press secretary says the plan to slap Canada with tariffs on Saturday is still in play, as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for Parliament to return to prepare for the threat of devastating duties.

Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that she spoke with the president Monday night and he indicated Feb. 1 was "still on the books" for imposing tariffs against Canada and Mexico.

The federal public inquiry into foreign interference is calling on the leaders of all political parties to get top-secret security clearances — a recommendation that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not following.

In her final report, commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said party leaders should seek such clearance as soon as possible after they are elected. She recommended that all parties in the House of Commons ensure at least two of their members have top-secret clearance.

Peavey Mart, a Canadian retailer with almost 60 years of history, announced on Tuesday it will close all its remaining stores across the country.

In a post to X (Twitter) the company says it has obtained creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) from the Court of King’s Bench Alberta.

This decision affects 90 Peavey Mart locations and six MainStreet Hardware stores. Liquidation sales will start immediately. Earlier this month, the company said it would close 22 stores in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

A well-known chain of hardware and agriculture supply stores is set to close nearly two dozen locations across Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Peavey Mart announced last week the closure of 22 stores as part of "a strategic plan to address ongoing challenges in the retail sector and strengthen its business for the future." The closures will take place by the end of April 2025.