Ukraine investigating 28,000 Russian war crimes, including child deaths: ambassador

Ukraine's ambassador to Canada says her country is investigating more than 28,000 suspected war crimes, including the killing of 373 children by Russian forces. 

Ambassador Yulia Kovaliv says the crimes being documented and probed, with help from Canadian investigators, include the kidnapping of children taken to Russia, and the murder of fleeing civilians. 

"What we want to do is to properly document each and every crime and we will bring Russia to justice," she said in an interview, during which she was called by Ukraine's prosecutor general about the issue. 

Thousands of Afghans who helped Canada trapped in Afghanistan, struggling to leave

The federal government needs to do more to help thousands of Afghans who assisted Canadian Forces but remain trapped in Afghanistan a year after the Taliban seized Kabul, aid groups and opposition parties say.

As the grim anniversary passed Monday, NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan warned at a news conference that Canada will have blood on its hands if it does not take immediate action to help Afghans whose lives are in danger because they helped Canadians.

More than half of Canadians oppose Oath of Allegiance to the Queen

Most people in Canada do not think people should have to swear an Oath of Allegiance to the Queen, according to a poll ahead of Canada Day.

A Leger poll for the Association of Canadian Studies found that 56 per cent of respondents did not agree with swearing allegiance to the Queen. 

New Canadians have to swear an oath to the monarchy at citizenship ceremonies including a pledge to “be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors."

MPs rush over 150 amendments to streaming bill; Senate says it won't be pressured

MPs have been forced to rush through over 150 amendments to the online streaming bill to meet a deadline imposed by the government, prompting accusations of secrecy and legislative bungling. 

But senators have signalled they will not be pressured to speed up consideration of the bill, claiming they have thwarted government ploys to push it through the upper house. 

The online streaming bill, which the government rushed through the Commons heritage committee on Tuesday, is now subject to a pre-study by the Senate committee on transport and communications.

"Flag war" with Denmark over tiny Arctic island set to end peacefully with deal

A deal has been reached settling a dispute with Denmark over a 1.3-square-kilometre island in the Arctic and is expected to be signed today, according to a government minister. 

Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, confirmed Monday that there will be an "official signing" of the accord over Hans Island on Tuesday.

The barren rock has been the subject of decades of diplomatic disputes between the two nations, as it sits in the territorial waters of both. 

Law combating modern slavery and child labour a priority: federal minister

Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan says the Liberal government is planning legislation to make Canadian companies ensure that they are not using slave labour or exploiting child workers overseas.

In an interview, O’Regan said he is preparing a "comprehensive" bill that would require Canadian firms and government departments to scrutinize supply chains with the aim of protecting workers.

There is widespread support in Parliament, including among Liberal and New Democrat MPs, for such a law, he said.

Holocaust denial — and downplaying the Nazis' murder of Jews — to be outlawed

Holocaust denial is to be outlawed in Canada, in a further effort to stamp out rising antisemitism.  

The federal government is set to make it a criminal offence to make a statement denying the Holocaust took place or condoning or downplaying the killing of Jews by the Nazi regime, except in a private conversation.

Ministers plan to use a bill enacting the budget to swiftly change the Criminal Code, budget documents show. 

The move to outlaw Holocaust denial comes as MPs and anti-hate groups warn about the rise of white-supremacism and antisemitism in Canada.

Rise in online child abuse prompts call for new law forcing removal of harmful images

One of Canada's foremost experts on child protection online said she is "very optimistic" that a panel advising cabinet ministers about combating online harm can map out a way to protect minors from sexual exploitation on the internet.

Lianna McDonald, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, was among a dozen people appointed last week to the expert panel asked to help the government craft a new online safety bill.

Government tells arts bodies to suspend cultural events funded by Russian state

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has asked arts bodies that get federal funding to suspend all cultural activities involving Russians linked to Vladimir Putin's regime in protest of his invasion of Ukraine.  

Canadian Heritage has written to organizations receiving the department's funding, asking them to cancel tours and co-productions bankrolled by Russian or Belarusian state organizations.