Latest news with #MarkCarney
The Guardian
26 minutes ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Canada wildfires: thousands in Manitoba ordered to evacuate / as state of emergency declared
More than 17,000 people in Canada's western Manitoba province were being evacuated on Wednesday as the region experienced its worst start to the wildfire season in years. 'The Manitoba government has declared a province-wide state of emergency due to the wildfire situation,' Manitoba's premier, Wab Kinew, told a news conference. 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory.' Kinew said he had asked the prime minister, Mark Carney, to send in the Canadian military to help with the evacuations and firefighting. Military aircraft, Kinew said, would be deployed 'imminently' to help move people out of endangered remote northern communities to safety, along with additional firefighting resources. The climate crisis has made wildfires in Canada more frequent and intense. The country has been hit with devastating fires in recent years, including in 2023, the most destructive on record. There are now 134 active fires across Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Half are considered out of control. The evacuations include the town of Flin Flon, where 5,000 residents were told earlier to get ready to flee on a moment's notice as a major wildfire bore down on the mining town, which is named after a fictional character in a 1905 paperback novel. Residents of several other remote towns and Indigenous communities have also now been told to leave. Most of the evacuees are expected to be transported to the Manitoba capital of Winnipeg. Evacuee Sheryl Matheson said the wildfires had surrounded her small town of Sherridon, northeast of Flin Flon. 'It's been overwhelming,' said the owner of a fishing lodge. 'It was very smokey. You could see the fires four or 5km away and moving fast.' She added, 'The flames were shooting over 121ft high and firefighters couldn't get close enough to the fire to do anything.' Elsaida Alerta told public broadcaster CBC she was having 'major anxiety' as she and her family readied to leave Flin Flon, where she has lived for three years. 'Especially for somebody that lived in a big city [previously], that never had to evacuate, this is definitely nerve-racking,' she said. The only highway out of Flin Flon still open was jammed with traffic and local stations had run out of petrol, she said. 'We basically gathered all our essential things, important documents, medications and, you know, things that our animals will need,' she said. 'We're just gonna make our way and hope for the best.' Premier Kinew said the widespread nature of the fires was cause for alarm. 'For the first time, it's not a fire in one region, we have fires in every region. That is a sign of a changing climate that we are going to have to adapt to,' Kinew said. Twenty-two wildfires were active in the province. Nearly 200,000 hectares of forests have been scorched in just the past month, or triple the annual average over the previous five years, Kirstin Hayward of the Manitoba wildfire service said. 'Manitoba has the highest fire activity in Canada so far this year, due in part to a prolonged period of warm and dry conditions,' she said. About 1,000 residents of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation in Manitoba and 4,000 people from the northern village of Pelican Narrows and other communities in neighboring Saskatchewan had already been evacuated earlier in the week. A firefighter was also severely injured when he was struck by a falling tree while battling blazes. He was being treated in hospital, Kinew said. The Manitoba premier said emergency shelters were being set up and companies and communities across the province were being asked to 'open your doors' to displaced residents. Earlier this month, two residents of the small community of Lac du Bonnet died after being trapped in a major wildfire northeast of Winnipeg.
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Climate
- Al Arabiya
Thousands to evacuate as Canada's Manitoba province declares wildfire emergency
More than 17,000 people in Canada's western Manitoba province were being evacuated on Wednesday as the region experienced its worst start to a wildfire season in years. 'The Manitoba government has declared a province-wide state of emergency due to the wildfire situation,' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told a news conference. 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory,' he said. Kinew said he asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to send in the Canadian military to help with the evacuations and firefighting. Military aircraft, Kinew said, would be deployed 'imminently' to help move people out of endangered remote northern communities to safety, along with additional firefighting resources. The evacuations include the town of Flin Flon, where 5,000 residents were told earlier to get ready to flee on a moment's notice as a major wildfire bore down on the mining town named after a fictional character in a 1905 paperback novel. Residents of several other remote towns and Indigenous communities have also now been told to leave. Most of the evacuees are expected to be transported to the Manitoba capital of Winnipeg. Evacuee Sheryl Matheson told AFP the wildfires had surrounded her small town of Sherridon, northeast of Flin Flon. 'It's been overwhelming,' said the owner of a fishing lodge. 'It was very smoky. You could see the fires four or five kilometers away and moving fast.' 'The flames were shooting over 121 feet high and firefighters couldn't get close enough to the fire to do anything.' Elsaida Alerta told public broadcaster CBC she was having 'major anxiety' as she and her family readied to leave Flin Flon, where she has lived for three years. 'Especially for somebody that lived in a big city (previously), that never had to evacuate, this is definitely nerve-wracking,' she said. The only highway out of Flin Flon still open was jammed with traffic and local petrol stations had run out of gasoline, she said. 'We basically gathered all our essential things, important documents, medications and, you know, things that our animals will need,' she said. 'We're just gonna make our way and hope for the best.' Premier Kinew said the widespread nature of the fires was cause for alarm. 'For the first time, it's not a fire in one region, we have fires in every region. That is a sign of a changing climate that we are going to have to adapt to,' Kinew said. Twenty-two wildfires were active in the province. Nearly 200,000 hectares of forests have been scorched in just the past month, or triple the annual average over the previous five years, Kirstin Hayward of the Manitoba wildfire service said. 'Manitoba has the highest fire activity in Canada so far this year, due in part to a prolonged period of warm and dry conditions,' she said. Climate change has increased the impact of extreme weather events in Canada. About 1,000 residents of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation in Manitoba and 4,000 people from the northern village of Pelican Narrows and other communities in neighboring Saskatchewan had already been evacuated earlier in the week. A firefighter was also severely injured when he was struck by a falling tree while battling blazes. He was being treated in hospital, Kinew said. The Manitoba premier said emergency shelters were being set up and companies and communities across the province were being asked to 'open your doors' to displaced residents. Earlier this month, two residents of the small community of Lac du Bonnet died after being trapped in a major wildfire northeast of Winnipeg. In 2023, the worst wildfire season in the country's history, the only recorded deaths were among firefighters. There are currently 134 active fires across Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Half are considered out of control.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Carney government tables $486B spending plan
Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously said his government will not present a federal budget until the fall, but it's already spending money. David Akin looks at how the Liberals have tabled $468 billion in spending plans, and what's missing from the proposal.
The Province
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Province
Carney's straightforward response after Trump offers Golden Dome membership for free as the 51st state
'Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one': Prime Minister Mark Carney's office U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office at the White House on May 6, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Prime Minister Mark Carney offered a simple statement regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's US$61 billion (CAD$83 billion) offer for Canada to join his vaunted Golden Dome defence system or gain membership for free by becoming the 51st state. 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. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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 'Never negotiate in public,' he said as he whisked past reporters parked outside a Liberal caucus meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday. Liberal members of parliament offered a stiffer retort to Trump's latest comment. Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher said Trump's 'got to give that stuff up,' adding it's 'never going to happen.' Winnipeg MP Doug Eyolfson called it 'outrageous.' 'A bribe is a bribe. That's just not acceptable. We're not going to bribe Canadians into becoming a 51st state. We're Canadians. This is Canada, and we're a sovereign nation and becoming part of the States is not an option.' The Prime Minister's office didn't say whether it received the purported $61-billion offer when contacted by National Post, but said discussions on NORAD and the Golden Dome have been part of 'wide-ranging and constructive discussions' Carney and his ministers have had with U.S. counterparts. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But while acting on his citizen-driven mandate to establish a new relationship with the U.S., his office said, 'the Prime Minister has been clear at every opportunity, including in his conversations with President Trump, that Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one.' National Defence Minister David McGuinty said when it came to Trump's stated price tag of $61 billion, he said he was not 'in a position to evaluate the numbers.' 'I learnt a long time ago, when it comes to managing relationships with other countries, you can only control what you can control, and what we can control here now is decisions around strengthening our sovereignty and our security,' he said prior to the caucus meeting. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. 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. Minister of National Defence David McGuinty. Photo by Justin Tang / The Canadian Press He said more would be revealed when the Liberal government tables its budget in the fall. McGuinty also pointed to Canada's modernization initiative for NORAD and Carney's recent announcement of putting $6 billion towards bolstering early warning detection over the Arctic. 'We're going to continue to do what's right for Canadians, and that includes making sure that we are secure, that we are sovereign.' He said not only is Canada focused on its relationship with the U.S., when it comes to security, but also the European Union. 'A separate but unequal nation' Within five hours of Canada's sovereignty being made abundantly clear by King Charles III in a historic and symbolic speech from the throne in the nation's capital, he posted on Truth Social that Canada would have to pay if it chose to remain 'a separate but unequal, Nation.' But join the U.S. as its 'cherished 51st state' and protection from the 'fabulous Golden Dome' will cost Canada 'zero dollars.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. ( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )( Donald J. Trump - May 27, 2025, 5:41 PM ET ) I told Canada, which very much wants to be part of our fabulous Golden Dome System, that it will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO… — Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) May 27, 2025 National Post has contacted the White House press secretary and is awaiting a response. The president first announced the Golden Dome initiative in the Oval Office last week, remarking during his address and in questioning from reporters that 'Canada wants to be part of it' and will 'pay their fair share.' 'We are dealing with them on pricing,' he said. Carney later confirmed that discussions on the project are underway, but he did not provide a figure on how much Canada might contribute. The project has already been awarded its first $25 billion with the passage of Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' — legislation that covers reforms in several sectors, including defence. Carney has made multiple commitments on defence spending, the most recent being in Tuesday's throne speech, which confirmed Canada would join ReArm Europe, the European Commissions's plan to give member nations more 'financial flexibility' to mobilize a combined 800 billion euros (CAD$1.25 trillion) for a 'massive ramp-up of defence spending.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Carney later told CBC he hopes to finalize that deal by July 1. 'Seventy-five cents of every dollar of capital spending for defence goes to the United States. That's not smart,' he said. As part of a pledge that Canada would hit NATO's defence spending target of two per cent of gross GDP by 2030, the Liberals' election platform included $130 billion in new defence spending over the next four years. Canada's position as one of just eight member nations that aren't hitting the mark has been a bone of contention from multiple U.S. administrations, not just Trump's. When the pair had their first face-to-face at the White House in early May, Trump remarked that 'Canada is stepping up the military participation.' Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. U.S. is 'hurt, too': Ambassador to Canada On the heels of that meeting, Pete Hoekstra, the new U.S. Ambassador to Canada, told National Post that both his and Trump's standpoint, '51st state's not coming back.' 'The president may bring it up every once in a while, but he recognizes it's not going to happen unless the prime minister engages with the president,' he added. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra. Photo by Paul Sancya / AP Last week, Hoekstra told the Hill Times that while he appreciates Canadians' concerns about Trump's continued rhetoric, he's not going to be distracted by it. 'I'm moving forward. The president sent that message clearly when he was with the prime minister. Now we're waiting to see how Canada responds,' he said regarding the request for a proposal on how it wants to proceed on future trade agreements. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hoekstra said he was 'not very sympathetic' to Canadians feeling slighted, suggesting the U.S. is 'hurt, too,' citing Canada's lengthy NATO spending shortfall. 'International diplomacy is tough. The world is a tough place. Getting prosperity, security, and safety for people, which are the top priorities of the president, that's hard,' he said. 'So, no, I'm not very sympathetic.' — With files from Stephanie Taylor Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here. News Vancouver Canucks News Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks
CBC
2 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Opposition slams Carney on budget plan in his 1st question period
Prime Minister Mark Carney was grilled in his first question period, with MPs from opposition parties fiercely criticizing his plan not to table a budget until the fall.
