Poilievre slams Carney's plan to recognize Palestinian state
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CBC
43 minutes ago
- CBC
Transport committee meeting to study B.C. Ferries' $1B loan for Chinese ships
Social Sharing Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland told MPs Friday she is "dismayed" by a $1 billion federal loan for B.C. Ferries' purchase of four new electric-diesel ships from a Chinese shipbuilder — but did not call for the contract's cancellation. The House of Commons transport committee launched a study of the Canada Infrastructure Bank loan today. B.C. Ferries announced in June that it had hired China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build the new ships after a five-year procurement process that did not include a Canadian bid. The Canada Infrastructure Bank contributed $1 billion to the deal and said in June that the new ferries "wouldn't likely be purchased" without this financing. In her opening remarks before the committee Friday, Freeland said she was troubled by the planned purchase and she believes in supporting Canadian jobs. She said she has sent 71 letters directing all organizations under the Transport Canada umbrella to prioritize Canadian content in their major procurements where feasible, particularly Canadian steel, aluminum, and lumber. When Canadian options aren't available, she said, the preferred option is to buy from countries with trade deals that include reciprocal procurement agreements. Freeland also said Transport Canada will be convening a meeting with provinces and territories, ferry owners and operators, shipyards, labour representatives and the steel industry. She said she's also assembling a second meeting with major rail operators. Freeland did not directly respond to questions from MPs about whether she would reject the loan. She said she agrees that this is a moment of crisis for the steel and aluminum sectors and they need the government's support. WATCH | Mayors say there's a pressing need for new ferries, no matter who builds them: Calls to cancel B.C. Ferries contract with China misguided, say some mayors 19 days ago Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson and the CEOs of B.C. Ferries and the Canada Infrastructure Bank are set to testify at the meeting later today. The Canada Infrastructure Bank is accountable to Parliament through Robertson. Jeff Groot, executive director of communications for B.C. Ferries, said the company signed the loan with the bank before the contract with the Chinese shipyard was finalized. Dan Albas, Conservative transport critic and committee co-chair, requested the study and has asked questions about why $1 billion in public funds was earmarked to finance overseas shipbuilding in the middle of a trade war with the U.S. Freeland sent her B.C. counterpart, Mike Farnworth, a letter in June saying she was disappointed that B.C. Ferries would choose a Chinese state-owned shipyard "in the current geopolitical context," and asking him to confirm that no federal funding would be diverted to purchase the ferries. Before Friday's meeting began, Bloc MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval said he'd like to see an apology from the government and from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. He said it's "unacceptable" and "problematic" that the government plans to invest in foreign infrastructure when Canada's steel industry is facing tariffs from the United States. The new vessels are expected to join the B.C. Ferries fleet between 2029 and 2031.
Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
‘A dark day for the LGBTQ+ movement': Montreal Pride Parade organizers bar Jewish groups from march
Article content Fierté Montréal has faced internal strife in recent years that has been amplified after Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023. During the 2024 Pride Parade in Montreal, the parade was shut down for nearly an hour by a contingent of supporters carrying Palestinian and Lebanese flags, resulting in a tense standoff with police. Article content On Wednesday, just before the decision to bar Jewish groups from participating in the parade was announced, Samya Lemrini, a local activist and immigration lawyer, published a message in French on Instagram acknowledging the decision was imminent but did not reflect any sympathy on the part of Fierté Montréal towards Palestinians. Article content 'Please don't be fooled friends — it's a reaction to an internal crisis because they were going to lose all their employees and because artists and groups are withdrawing one by one,' the lawyer wrote. 'They don't care about us, they never did. They just have no other choice.' Article content Article content Lemrini is part of a breakaway LGBTQ group – Wild Pride – that has planned an alternate festival during the same time and place in Montreal. Social media posts from the group include calls to 'Liberate Judaism from Zionism,' and members also participated in an event on Thursday entitled 'Intifada on the Dancefloor.' Article content According to Godoy, just one performer, Safia Nolin, had announced she would not participate in Pride festivities due to the presence of Zionist groups. Nolin took to Instagram on Thursday and wrote that she was recently 'made aware of the presence of Ga'ava, an LGBTQ+ Zionist group' and an Israeli flag had been flown at last year's parade. 'How does that make you feel? This is unacceptable.' Article content Godoy called on Fierté Montréal's major sponsors, including TD Bank and the Quebec government, to condemn the announcement and ensure the organizers maintain an inclusive and safe space.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘An opportunity for us to look within': Mississauga mayor reacts to Trump's tariff hike
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish reacts to U.S. President Trump imposing 35 per cent tariffs on Canada.
