Canada treads carefully on U.S.-Iran strikes amid delicate trade talks
CTV political commentator Scott Reid shares what to watch as PM Carney looks to strengthen ties in Europe and shape outcomes at the 2025 NATO Summit.
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National Post
14 minutes ago
- National Post
Alberta minister wants 'illegal immigrants' to be counted in federal targets
OTTAWA — Alberta Immigration Minister Joseph Schow says he wants Ottawa to stop turning a blind eye to illegal immigration in Canada and have an honest conversation about the strain he says it's putting on infrastructure and public services. Article content 'I'm not going to sugarcoat it, we believe there's 500,000 illegal immigrants currently spread across Canada and these individuals are benefitting from taxpayer-funded services.' said Schow. Article content 'The federal government is choosing to disregard this number and that's a real problem.' Article content Article content Schow, who is also Alberta's minister of jobs, economy and trade, is calling on federal officials to account for the estimated number of undocumented migrants in the country when setting next year's immigration targets. Article content 'These illegal migrants must be taken into account, as every province is feeling the pressure of Ottawa's mismanagement of the immigration system,' said Schow. Article content An immigration levels plan recently put forward by Ottawa projects a 19 per cent reduction in temporary arrivals and eight per cent drop in permanent resident admissions over the next three years. Article content Prime Minister Mark Carney has also promised to cap Canada's non-permanent resident numbers at below five per cent of the population. Article content Schow says these efforts are likely to fall short of what's needed, with federal officials still flying blind on the question of illegal immigration. Article content 'If they're leaving out this huge chunk of data, how can they set real targets?' said Schow. Article content The exact number of undocumented migrants in Canada is unknown, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada disclosed in a briefing note last year that the number could be as high as 500,000. Article content Some 114,373 irregular border crossers petitioned to stay in Canada between February 2017 and June 2025, according to the federal government. Article content Schow said the lack of hard numbers on illegal immigration is all the more reason for Ottawa to pump the brakes on its intake of migrants. Article content 'The fact that they don't have an exact, or close to exact, number just shows again how badly they've lost control of the system,' said Schow.
CTV News
14 minutes ago
- CTV News
Bonnie Critchley - Independent Byelection Runner-up
Edmonton Watch Independent runner up in Battle River-Crowfoot byelection Bonnie Critchley on Alberta Primetime, August 20, 2025.
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Poilievre calls on Canada to designate Bishnoi gang a terrorist group
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has added his voice to the list of politicians calling on the federal government to declare a gang based in India a terrorist organization in Canada. Speaking in Surrey, B.C., on Wednesday, where police say they've received 10 extortion reports in six months, Poilievre asked for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to be added to Canada's list of terrorist organizations. "There's evidence now that their violence is linked to terror and to political motivations," Poilievre said. Police in B.C. have said members of the province's South Asian community are being extorted for cash under threat of death or violence, and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has been linked to some of those threats. For example, a Surrey businessman has received threats demanding $2 million while businesses he's associated with have been targets of gunfire three times. The Bishnoi gang is also tied to cases of extortion and targeted shootings in Ontario's Peel Region, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown previously said. WATCH | Bishnoi gang has 'terrorized communities,' Poilievre says: Poilievre says listing Bishnoi Gang as terrorist entity would help end extortion 56 minutes ago Poilievre said designating the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity will give police greater authority to crack down on the group's activities. "Law enforcement has spoken out about the organized chaos and violence this group has done in our country, and that is why mayors across the country, premiers have also said … this organization should be put on the list of banned terrorist entities," he said. Other political leaders calling for the terrorism label include Brown, B.C. Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The Conservatives asked for the designation last week, but Wednesday was the first time Poilievre has addressed the matter publicly. Listing the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code would make certain activities illegal, including those related to financing, travel and recruitment. The Criminal Code already includes provisions for dealing with criminal organizations. Simon Lafortune, press secretary for the public safety minister, didn't say if the Bishnoi gang is being considered for inclusion on the terrorist list, explaining the government's "national security experts independently evaluate and provide recommendations on whether any entity meets the thresholds set out in the Criminal Code. "That process is rigorous and ongoing, and all potential threats are continually assessed to ensure we are keeping Canadians safe," he added. The federal government has taken similar action against seven criminal organizations including cartels and street gangs involved in fentanyl trafficking. Among them are the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels, two of Mexico's largest and most powerful organized crime groups. Canadian police sources have told CBC News the Bishnoi gang is one of a number of criminal enterprises in northern India that have spread into North America in recent years. The group's founder, 32-year-old Lawrence Bishnoi, has been in Indian prisons since 2014, "but his network is wide and vast" to this day, Poilievre said Wednesday. "His organization takes orders from him and carry out extortions and other crimes around the world," Poilievre said. Indian media outlets have described extortion as one of the gang's biggest sources of income, at home and abroad. Wednesday's news conference was Poilievre's first media availability since winning a byelection Monday in the rural Alberta riding of Battle River-Crowfoot. He used his stop in Surrey to condemn the Liberals' response to crime. Poilievre supports mandatory jail time for people found guilty of extortion. He also wants the government to repeal Bill C-5, which expanded the availability of conditional sentences, allowing some convicted criminals to serve time under house arrest, and Bill C-75, which requires judges to release some people charged with a crime while on bail at the " earliest reasonable opportunity" and with the "least onerous conditions."
