Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks before President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

‘They suck’: Lutnick criticizes Canada’s trade strategy

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:27 PM CDT

OTTAWA - U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick attacked Canada's trade strategy on Friday, adding, "They suck."

Lutnick was responding to a report in the Financial Post quoting Canada's former chief trade negotiator Steve Verheul saying time is on Canada's side in trade talks because the pressures on the U.S. will only increase.

During a discussion with Semafor World Economy in Washington, D.C., Lutnick said that is "the worst strategy" and the U.S. is "the consumer of the world."

He went on to claim that Prime Minister Mark Carney "has a problem" with the U.S. and criticized his recent outreach to China.

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Federal Liberals’ promised one-time affordability benefit coming June 5

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Federal Liberals’ promised one-time affordability benefit coming June 5

The Canadian Press, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals' one-time payment that aims to help families struggling with the high cost of living will land on June 5.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in January that Ottawa would issue a direct payment worth 50 per cent of the full-year value of the government's existing GST/HST credit, which will now be called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

That program offers support to lower-income households, and any eligible family which has filed its 2024 tax return and already receives the quarterly tax credit will get the one-time "top-up" automatically.

Ottawa says a family of four with a net income of $40,000 would receive $533 in June, while a single person earning $25,000 annually would get half that amount.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

Prime Minister Mark Carney makes his way though a aisles to an event at a grocery store in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Carney calls for resumption of shipping during Strait of Hormuz talks

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Carney calls for resumption of shipping during Strait of Hormuz talks

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:36 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Canada welcomes efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stands with Persian Gulf states hit by strikes during the Iran war, Prime Minister Mark Carney told world leaders on Friday.

The Prime Minister's Office said Carney took part virtually in a meeting with dozens of world leaders to talk about securing the strait. Participating countries also welcomed a reported ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister declared the strait open to commercial vessels on Friday, just as the meeting of some 50 countries was happening.

The narrow strait, a key strategic choke point for global exports, was closed off by Iran during its war with the United States, destabilizing the global energy market. Iran had laid mines and opened fire on commercial vessels.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:36 PM CDT

Backdropped by ships in the Strait of Hormuz, damage caused according to local witnesses by recent airstrikes is seen on a fishing pier in the port of Qeshm Island, Iran on Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Asghar Besharati)

Farming groups applaud private member’s bill aimed at speeding up product approvals

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

Farming groups applaud private member’s bill aimed at speeding up product approvals

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press 4 minute read 5:00 AM CDT

OTTAWA - Canadian agriculture groups are applauding a Conservative private member's bill that would allow Canada to rely on scientific reviews of new products conducted in "trusted" countries to speed up approvals of the products here.

Conservative MP David Bexte introduced Bill C-273 on Tuesday, saying farmers in Canada can wait years to get access to products that places like New Zealand, the European Union and the United States already have approved and used safely for years.

"In some cases, these products never come to Canada," he said at a news conference outside the House of Commons.

The bill would allow Canada to give provisional approval to feeds, fertilizers, seeds and pest control products within 90 days of an application if the product has already been approved in at least two "trusted" jurisdictions.

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5:00 AM CDT

Dairy cows graze outdoors in Saint-Pie, Que., on Friday, July 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

‘Extraordinary’: Back on Earth, Jeremy Hansen describes his long journey in space

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

‘Extraordinary’: Back on Earth, Jeremy Hansen describes his long journey in space

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:31 PM CDT

HOUSTON - When Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen first floated to the window after the Orion capsule's bone-rattling launch into space early this month, what he saw and felt left him grasping for words.

He saw the sweep of the ocean first, and then, drifting into view, the rich, dusty red of Australia. And behind it all was the vastness of space, with the edge of Earth's atmosphere shining like a bubble of blue glass in the black.

"It was pretty extraordinary," Hansen told The Canadian Press at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston Thursday.

The enormity of what Hansen and his Artemis II crewmates experienced is still settling in a week after they returned to Earth, splashing into the Pacific Ocean following a 10-day lunar fly-around.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:31 PM CDT

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, a member of the NASA's Artemis II crew, listens to a question during a press conference on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Champagne says Conservative probes into Alto connection are ‘just politics’

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Champagne says Conservative probes into Alto connection are ‘just politics’

David Baxter, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:15 PM CDT

OTTAWA - Finance Minister Francois Philippe Champagne is brushing off Conservative calls for an investigation into his personal relationship with an Alto executive and the proposed high-speed rail project as "just politics."

Michael Barrett, the Conservative ethics critic, is trying to get the ethics committee to summon Champagne and Ethics Commissioner Konrad von Finckenstein to answer questions.

In September, Champagne recused himself from decisions about the high-speed rail project a month after his partner, Anne-Marie Gaudet, became an Alto vice-president.

“As far as I'm concerned, I've been very, very transparent, very upfront in a sense that you don't need to take my words, but the words of the commissioner, who says not only there's no conflict, but he said there's no risk of conflict because Alto is a Crown corporation that reports to Parliament,” Champagne said during a media conference from Washington.

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Updated: Yesterday at 2:15 PM CDT

Finance and National Revenue Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Internal audit informed Liberals’ defence procurement reforms, government says

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Internal audit informed Liberals’ defence procurement reforms, government says

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:53 PM CDT

OTTAWA - A recent internal audit that outlined major problems in military procurement led to some of the changes to the system introduced under Prime Minister Mark Carney, the federal government said on Friday.

A spokesperson for Stephen Fuhr, secretary of state for defence procurement, said the audit "helped inform" some of the policies being advanced through the new Defence Investment Agency.

Spokesperson Laurent Blanchard said this agency has "already accelerated several procurements to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with the tools it needs to defend our sovereignty."

The agency is a new government office, created last fall, to streamline decision making and improve military procurement. It has already been at the centre of a number of high-profile purchases, such as the acquisition of a half-dozen Bombardier Global 6500 jets.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:53 PM CDT

Prime Minister Mark Carney steps off a Canadian Forces CC-130 Hercules plane with Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) Stephen Fuhr as he arrives in Bardufoss, Norway, Friday, March 13, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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FOI documents suggest plant-based milk facility linked to deadly outbreak was ‘haven for listeria,’ experts say

Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press 9 minute read Preview

FOI documents suggest plant-based milk facility linked to deadly outbreak was ‘haven for listeria,’ experts say

Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press 9 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

TORONTO -

Documents detailing an inspection of a beverage production facility that regulators say was the source of a deadly listeria outbreak reveal it was cited for several infractions that have not been shared previously, including some that experts say suggest may have created a "haven for listeria."

The Canadian Press obtained through a Freedom of Information request a copy of an inspection conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency into a Pickering, Ont., facility that packaged several types of plant-based milk initially recalled on July 8, 2024 by the agency due to concerns of listeria contamination. The Public Health Agency of Canada said the outbreak led to 20 reported illnesses, 15 hospitalizations and three deaths.

The problems observed by inspectors between June 26, 2024 and Aug. 22, 2024 include condensation on the ceiling and peeling paint on the floor in pasteurization areas at Joriki, the third-party facility that packaged soy, almond and coconut milk under the Silk and Great Value brands. The Pickering production line was immediately shut down after the recall and never resumed.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:11 PM CDT

Signage for Joriki Beverages is seen in Toronto on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Nova Scotia man accused of sexually abusing children since the 1970s: RCMP

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

Nova Scotia man accused of sexually abusing children since the 1970s: RCMP

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:09 PM CDT

HALIFAX - A 71-year-old Nova Scotia man is facing multiple charges for alleged sexual offences against children that started in the 1970s and continued until earlier this year.

RCMP issued a statement today saying Terry Hill Sr. of Cambridge, N.S., was arrested April 7 and charged with 14 offences, including sexual assault, sexual interference and uttering threats.

Investigators say all of the complainants were known to the accused and were children or youth when the alleged assaults occurred.

Police say the latest allegation of a sexual assault came from a child earlier this month.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:09 PM CDT

Montreal brings in sandbags, pumps as several provinces on flood alert

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Montreal brings in sandbags, pumps as several provinces on flood alert

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:57 PM CDT

MONTREAL - Communities in three provinces were bringing in pumps and laying sandbags on Friday, as river levels continued to rise and forecasts called for more rain in some already waterlogged areas.

In Montreal, officials said that water levels on the Outaouais and des Prairies rivers were rising and may spill their banks in the coming days. The city said teams had brought in flood protection infrastructure such as pumps, dikes and inflatable barriers in parts of the West Island and the city's north end.

Parts of the city experienced major flooding 2017 and 2019, and Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said officials are preparing in case water levels reach similar heights.

"We’re here to say we’re ready if ever it happens," she told reporters.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:57 PM CDT

City workers construct a dike using sandbags near a flooded park as they prepare for flooding in Ile-Bizard, Que., on Friday, April 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

B.C. ‘chemical fingerprint’ scheme to track illicit drugs is likened to DNA tests

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Preview

B.C. ‘chemical fingerprint’ scheme to track illicit drugs is likened to DNA tests

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:34 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - Tucked in the basement of the chemistry building at the University of British Columbia, an arm-sized robot carries out the repetitive task of collecting and weighing colourful vials as machinery whirrs in the background.

It's part of a unique blend of robotics, chemistry and artificial intelligence aimed at helping police and health officials trace the path of batches of illicit drugs.

Police hope the "chemical fingerprinting" program is a game-changer in B.C.'s battle against toxic illicit drugs, with one senior officer likening it to DNA testing.

The provincially funded program will use technology developed at UBC by Aidos Innovations that looks at the chemical makeup of drugs and calculates their method of production, which police say could help them learn how drugs move over time.

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Updated: Yesterday at 8:34 PM CDT

A fentanyl test strip is used at Vancouver Coastal Health in Vancouver, Tuesday, January, 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

P.E.I. deficit brings pressure, not crisis, says credit ratings agency

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview

P.E.I. deficit brings pressure, not crisis, says credit ratings agency

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:07 PM CDT

CHARLOTTETOWN - At least one credit rating agency deems Prince Edward Island's finances manageable, despite a recent budget that projects a record deficit.

Still, Morningstar DBRS says the 2026-27 budget suggests a weaker fiscal performance than previously estimated as the province spends more than it brings in.

It says in a brief report that a 38.1 per cent net debt-to-GDP ratio remains manageable but is rising as the province borrows more cash to fund projected deficits and capital projects.

The Progressive Conservative government tabled a budget on Tuesday that projected a record $410-million deficit, adding to a net debt expected to grow to $4.9 billion over the next two years.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:07 PM CDT

Prince Edward Island's provincial flag flies on a flagpole in Ottawa, Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds launch consultations on improving employer-employee relations

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Feds launch consultations on improving employer-employee relations

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:36 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The federal government is launching consultations on ways to improve labour relations to support Canada's economy and communities.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is looking for feedback from employers, unions and employee groups on collective bargaining timelines, training and supports for workers affected by artificial intelligence, and updates to workplace health and safety protections.

She is also seeking input on how to strengthen protections against wage theft, and options to ensure union rights carry over when contracts are re-tendered.

"We need to ensure that we have stronger labour relations across the country for the continuity of business, but also to protect workers," Hajdu said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:36 PM CDT

Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu rises during question period on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Crown can seek forfeiture of seized assets in derailed Quebec drug cases: top court

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Crown can seek forfeiture of seized assets in derailed Quebec drug cases: top court

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 3:11 PM CDT

OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada says the Crown can seek the forfeiture of assets seized in a drug probe even though the criminal cases against most of the accused were set aside.

The matter began when several people were charged with offences related to cannabis production in Quebec.

One of the accused individuals pleaded guilty and charges against the others were stayed due to unreasonable delays that violated their Charter rights.

The Crown made an application in the Court of Québec for the forfeiture of assets, including cash and homes, that were frozen or seized during the investigation.

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Updated: Yesterday at 3:11 PM CDT

The Supreme Court of Canada is shrouded in fog in Ottawa on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

New Brunswick premier meeting Mark Carney, federal ministers next week

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Preview

New Brunswick premier meeting Mark Carney, federal ministers next week

The Canadian Press 1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 1:12 PM CDT

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt will meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney next week during a two-day visit to Ontario.

Her office says Holt will push for federal partnerships on defence investments, energy infrastructure, critical minerals development and for long-term predictable funding for health care.

Holt will also meet with Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, National Defence Minister David McGuinty and other Liberal cabinet ministers.

She says her focus is making sure New Brunswick is at the centre of Canada's plans for economic growth.

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Updated: Yesterday at 1:12 PM CDT

Premier of New Brunswick Susan Holt arrives for a First Ministers Meeting in Ottawa, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Anthropic’s Mythos shows need to ‘come to grips’ with AI risks: BoC governor

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Anthropic’s Mythos shows need to ‘come to grips’ with AI risks: BoC governor

Craig Lord, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 6:21 PM CDT

Global financial systems need to "come to grips" with the risks posed by rapid advances in artificial intelligence models like Anthropic's Mythos, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Friday.

Developer Anthropic claims the upcoming Mythos model of its Claude AI is capable of quickly detecting long-hidden cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

The model has not yet seen a wide commercial release, but major financial market players and regulators are still anxious about the technology's disruptive potential.

Mythos was discussed at a meeting last week of the Bank of Canada’s financial sector resiliency group, which includes representatives from the finance department and major Canadian banks. U.S. officials have reportedly convened similar roundtables.

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Updated: Yesterday at 6:21 PM CDT

April 18, 2026

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