Carney government introduces bill to beef up border security
OTTAWA—The Carney government is proposing sweeping new powers for law enforcement authorities and restricting asylum claims in a wide-ranging bill meant to beef up security at the Canadian border and fight organized crime and money laundering.
Dubbed the 'Strong Borders Act,' the bill tabled Tuesday is the latest in a series of measures taken by Ottawa in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's complaints about illegal immigration and drugs like fentanyl coming across the Canadian border. It also comes as Canadian security officials and political leaders warn organized crime groups are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to fight.
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National Observer
14 minutes ago
- National Observer
Modi accepts Carney's invite to mend fences and attend G7 conference
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday he will attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., later this month after accepting an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The invitation prompted anger from the World Sikh Organization of Canada which wrote to Carney in May asking him not to invite Modi as tensions remain high between Canada and India over accusations about Indian government agents being involved in the murder of a Canadian activists for Sikh separatism in British Columbia in 2023. Carney extended the invitation to Modi in a phone call between the two leaders on Friday morning. The summit runs from June 15 to 17. "As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit," Modi said in a social media statement. In a Canadian readout of the call Carney said he and Modi agreed to continue a discussion on law enforcement to address "security concerns." Tensions between Canada and India have been high since former prime minister Justin Trudeau first informed the House of Commons in September 2023 that Canada was looking at "credible allegations" that agents of the Indian government were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, B.C., in June 2023. At the time of his death, Nijjar was organizing a non-binding referendum in Canada on establishing a Sikh state in Punjab, to be called Khalistan. The Indian government rejected Trudeau's accusation and said Canada was supporting "Khalistani terrorists." In May 2024, Four Indian nationals were arrested and charged in connection with Nijjar's death. In October 2024, the RCMP said it had evidence linking agents of India's government to homicides and other criminal acts in Canada, including coercion and extortion. In response, the federal government announced it had expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials "in relation to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India." In a media statement, Global Affairs Canada said that it had asked India to waive diplomatic and consular immunities "and to co-operate in the investigation," but India declined. India responded in kind by expelling six diplomats, including Canada's high commissioner. Later that month, the U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges against an Indian government employee in connection with an alleged foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting a Sikh separatist leader in New York City. Balpreet Singh, legal counsel and spokesman for the World Sikh Organization of Canada said Carney's invitation to Modi is a "betrayal of Canadian values." "It is the betrayal of our community. And the timing could not be worse. Today is the day we commemorate the 41st anniversary of the Indian government's storming of our holiest shrine, Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar," Singh said. "And the summit to which Mr. Modi is being invited falls on the anniversary of the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago. So for us, this is unacceptable, it's shocking and it's a complete reversal of the principled stand that Prime Minister Trudeau had taken." Singh said that the World Sikh Organization wrote Carney a letter on May 21 asking that Modi not be invited to the G7. While India is not a G7 member, the country has been invited to the summit by the host nation every year since 2019. "We didn't want to make this into a public issue but there was no response. There was no acknowledgment of receipt. But this is, it really boggles the mind," Singh said. "How can a country that has engaged in criminal operations in Canada, which is engaged in multiple murders, extortions, receive a red-carpet welcome?" During the final days of the federal election campaign, former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said that in December 2023 he was put under heavy police protection due to a credible threat to his life. He said the RCMP did not identify a specific source for the threat but the implication was that it originated with a foreign government. Singh said the World Sikh Organization doesn't plan on sending further correspondence to the prime minister about Modi's invitation. "What's the point? I mean, we sent something out on May 21 and received no response," he said. "And clearly, our voices don't matter to him." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are among the other non-member world leaders invited to the summit. As of May 28, Sheinbaum had not said whether she would attend.
Toronto Sun
28 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Republicans urge Donald Trump and Elon Musk to end their feud
Published Jun 06, 2025 • 3 minute read Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., flanked by Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., left, and Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., talks with reporters to discuss work on President Donald Trump's bill of tax breaks and spending cuts, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Photo by J. Scott Applewhite / AP WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Republican Party braces for aftershocks from President Donald Trump's spectacular clash with Elon Musk, lawmakers and conservative figures are urging detente, fearful of the potential consequences from a prolonged feud. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account At a minimum, the explosion of animosity between the two powerful men could complicate the path forward for Republicans' massive tax and border spending legislation that has been promoted by Trump but assailed by Musk. 'I hope it doesn't distract us from getting the job done that we need to,' said Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington state. 'I think that it will boil over and they'll mend fences' Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, was similarly optimistic. 'I hope that both of them come back together because when the two of them are working together, we'll get a lot more done for America than when they're at cross purposes,' he told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night. Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, sounded almost pained on social media as Trump and Musk volleyed insults at each other, sharing a photo composite of the two men and writing, 'But … I really like both of them.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Who else really wants ↕elonmusk and ↕realDonaldTrump to reconcile?' Lee posted, later adding: 'Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.' So far, the feud between Trump and Musk is probably best described as a moving target, with plenty of opportunities for escalation or detente. One person familiar with the president's thinking said Musk wants to speak with Trump, but that the president doesn't want to do it — or at least do it on Friday. The person requested anonymity to disclose private matters. In a series of conversations with television anchors Friday morning, Trump showed no interest in burying the hatchet. Asked on ABC News about reports of a potential call between him and Musk, the president responded: 'You mean the man who has lost his mind?' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump added in the ABC interview that he was 'not particularly' interested in talking to Musk at the moment. Still, others remained hopeful that it all would blow over. 'I grew up playing hockey and there wasn't a single day that we played hockey or basketball or football or baseball, whatever we were playing, where we didn't fight. And then we'd fight, then we'd become friends again,' Hannity said on his show Thursday night. Acknowledging that it 'got personal very quick,' Hannity nonetheless added that the rift was 'just a major policy difference.' House Speaker Mike Johnson projected confidence that the dispute would not affect prospects for the tax and border bill. 'Members are not shaken at all,' the Louisiana Republican said. 'We're going to pass this legislation on our deadline.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He added that he hopes Musk and Trump reconcile, saying 'I believe in redemption' and 'it's good for the party and the country if all that's worked out.' But he also had something of a warning for the billionaire entrepreneur. 'I'll tell you what, do not doubt and do not second-guess and don't ever challenge the president of the United States, Donald Trump,' Johnson said. 'He is the leader of the party. He's the most consequential political figure of this generation and probably the modern era.' Read More Ontario NHL Toronto & GTA Ontario Celebrity
Winnipeg Free Press
28 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety
LONGUEUIL – The Canadian and European space agencies say economic and geopolitical turmoil are forcing them to work closer together. Leaders at both organizations signed a joint statement today at Canadian Space Agency headquarters south of Montreal reaffirming their co-operation. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, says space programs are having to contend with economic uncertainty and global conflicts. His visit comes as the United States is pressuring NATO members to increase their spending on defence — a sector of the economy that is tightly linked to space. As well, Aschbacher says the United States' space agency — NASA — could be facing deep budget cuts. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Canadian Space Agency president Lisa Campbell says that in uncertain times it's important to reaffirm relationships with like-minded allies. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
