federal government

Victoria Airport Authority president/CEO Geoff Dickson, joined by transport minister parliamentary secretary Annie Koutrakis, speaks about new federal funding for the airport. The Wednesday announcement at YYJ came less than 24 hours after the airport was shut down for several hours upon discovery of a suspicious package at the departures check-in. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Victoria International Airport receives $1.3 million for safety upgrades

Pandemic-spurred federal help for YYJ over $4 million, including past relief funding

Victoria Airport Authority president/CEO Geoff Dickson, joined by transport minister parliamentary secretary Annie Koutrakis, speaks about new federal funding for the airport. The Wednesday announcement at YYJ came less than 24 hours after the airport was shut down for several hours upon discovery of a suspicious package at the departures check-in. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault stands during question period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, April 1, 2022.A Liberal cabinet minister from Alberta says Jason Kenney is the latest Conservative leader to be pushed out by their party for not being “extreme enough.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

First O’Toole, now Kenney: What some are saying it means for state of conservatism

Kenney has announced his resignation as United Conservative Party leader and Alberta premier

Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault stands during question period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday, April 1, 2022.A Liberal cabinet minister from Alberta says Jason Kenney is the latest Conservative leader to be pushed out by their party for not being “extreme enough.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. The Liberal budget laid out money for a new dental care program Thursday, but not necessarily a plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. The Liberal budget laid out money for a new dental care program Thursday, but not necessarily a plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Tories blast Liberals for ‘tax and spend’ budget

Conservative finance critic Ed Fast criticized the federal Liberal budget in question…

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. The Liberal budget laid out money for a new dental care program Thursday, but not necessarily a plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tables the federal budget in the House of Commons as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. The Liberal budget laid out money for a new dental care program Thursday, but not necessarily a plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Suzanne Cowan, president of the Liberal Party of Canada, introduces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a donor appreciation event in Toronto on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Liberals planning national policy convention for May of next year

The party’s 2021 national convention was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Suzanne Cowan, president of the Liberal Party of Canada, introduces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a donor appreciation event in Toronto on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak with members of the media before the release of the federal budget, on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Canada’s premiers say they’re disappointed the federal government didn’t put forward a sustainable plan to financially shore up the country’s ailing health systems in its newly tabled budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada’s premiers disappointed in lack of federal funds for struggling health systems

The budget states that the Liberals want to make sure that any extra federal funds will improve the system

Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak with members of the media before the release of the federal budget, on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Thursday, April 7, 2022. Canada’s premiers say they’re disappointed the federal government didn’t put forward a sustainable plan to financially shore up the country’s ailing health systems in its newly tabled budget. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Second-year medical student Nina Hadzimustafic delivers a COVID-19 booster shots at Jabapalooza, a pop up vaccine clinic, in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds consider definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ in review of federal worker mandate

Public Service Alliance of Canada says it expects a renewed policy on April 6

Second-year medical student Nina Hadzimustafic delivers a COVID-19 booster shots at Jabapalooza, a pop up vaccine clinic, in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A cyclist navigates the shoulder in traffic along Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria. The capital city and federal government want to cut transportation emissions by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)

Victoria sees local benefits from federal 2030 emissions reduction plan

City sees potential funding sources, shares goal of addressing transportation pollution

A cyclist navigates the shoulder in traffic along Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria. The capital city and federal government want to cut transportation emissions by 2030. (Black Press Media file photo)
Laurel Collins is the NDP candidate for Victoria. (Courtesy Laurel Collins campaign)

Victoria residents to benefit from dental, housing aspects of NDP-Liberal deal: MP

Laurel Collins expects agreement to spur huge health-care expansion

Laurel Collins is the NDP candidate for Victoria. (Courtesy Laurel Collins campaign)
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney called the agreement “a meaningful win for the lives of Canadians.” Photo courtesy Youtube.

Confidence and Supply agreement ‘meaningful win’ for Canadians — MP Blaney

Agreement ensures Liberal government until 2025, government delivery on NDP platform policies

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney called the agreement “a meaningful win for the lives of Canadians.” Photo courtesy Youtube.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, left to right, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole take part in the federal election English-language Leaders debate in Gatineau, Que., on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Liberals, NDP reach deal to keep minority government in power till 2025

Trudeau says the deal is a “confidence and supply” agreement and it takes effect today

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, left to right, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole take part in the federal election English-language Leaders debate in Gatineau, Que., on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
FILE - Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, right, arrives for the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Seamus O’Regan, right, arrives for the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. Labour Minister O’Regan says he has tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a rapid test.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Labour minister set to nudge provinces, territories on paid sick leave

In December Parliament approved 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers

FILE - Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, right, arrives for the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Seamus O’Regan, right, arrives for the cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. Labour Minister O’Regan says he has tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a rapid test.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A pedestrian walks alongside businesses on a rainy day while wearing a protective mask during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, June 18, 2021. There is a noticeable decline in how trusting Canadians are of their leaders and institutions as the pandemic drags on, and it’s particularly striking among those who remain anxious or stressed about COVID-19, a new survey suggest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Poll says Canadians less trusting of governments, politicians as pandemic drags on

Survey finds 22 per cent trust governments, politicians, compared with 40 per cent in early pandemic

A pedestrian walks alongside businesses on a rainy day while wearing a protective mask during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Friday, June 18, 2021. There is a noticeable decline in how trusting Canadians are of their leaders and institutions as the pandemic drags on, and it’s particularly striking among those who remain anxious or stressed about COVID-19, a new survey suggest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay rises during Question Period, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

Veterans Affairs poised to lose hundreds of staff hired to deal with claims backlog

Officials warned the minister last May that the department had already lost some of the 560 temporary staff

Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay rises during Question Period, Tuesday, December 14, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough speaks during a news conference on the state of emergency in British Columbia, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Liberals eye easing access to maternity, parental leave in EI review, minister says

‘It’s something I’m super keen to figure out how to address’

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough speaks during a news conference on the state of emergency in British Columbia, in Ottawa, on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Mona Fortier holds a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Treasury Board Pesident Mona Fortier says 95 per cent of federal public servants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Vast majority of federal public servants comply with mandatory vaccination policy

Treasury board president thanks public servants for their co-operation

Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Mona Fortier holds a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Treasury Board Pesident Mona Fortier says 95 per cent of federal public servants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
An array of seafood. Public domain image.

Marine watchdog urges federal government to crack down on seafood fraud

Oceana Canada want boat-to-plate traceability to address misrepresentation of seafood products

An array of seafood. Public domain image.
The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Pacheedaht First Nation wants feds to expedite plans for marine rescue centre

Chief Coun. Jeff Jones says talks stalled on $22-million project for Port Renfrew

The water off Port Renfrew could be threatened without a federally-funded search and rescue and environmental response service in Port Renfrew, says the Pacheedaht First Nation. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
A syringe is loaded with COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic run by Vancouver Coastal Health, in Richmond, B.C., Saturday, April 10, 2021. The federal Conservatives’ refusal to disclose how many of their elected members are fully vaccinated makes them something of an outlier in the Canadian political sphere. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

O’Toole’s Tories outliers in Canadian politics for keeping vaccination status secret

Most federal and provincial parties are open about the immunization status of their members

A syringe is loaded with COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic run by Vancouver Coastal Health, in Richmond, B.C., Saturday, April 10, 2021. The federal Conservatives’ refusal to disclose how many of their elected members are fully vaccinated makes them something of an outlier in the Canadian political sphere. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino says his department will accelerate the processing of the families of interpreters and others who supported Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to evacuate as many approved people as possible quickly. Refugees from Afghanistan and Canadian Citizens board a bus after being processed at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021, after arriving indirectly from Afghanistan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada ramping up evacuation from Kabul with faster processing, fewer hurdles

The main obstacle remains the Taliban checkpoints that Afghans have to go through to reach the airport

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino says his department will accelerate the processing of the families of interpreters and others who supported Canada’s mission in Afghanistan to evacuate as many approved people as possible quickly. Refugees from Afghanistan and Canadian Citizens board a bus after being processed at Pearson Airport in Toronto, Tuesday, Aug 17, 2021, after arriving indirectly from Afghanistan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A line of vehicles wait to enter Canada at the Peace Arch border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but America kept similar restrictions in place, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus travel bans. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

United States extends border restrictions for Canada, Mexico to Sept. 21

The restrictions, which have been in place since March 2020, were set to expire Saturday

A line of vehicles wait to enter Canada at the Peace Arch border crossing Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Blaine, Wash. Canada lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but America kept similar restrictions in place, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from coronavirus travel bans. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)