Latest news with #Ottawa-based
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Liberal border security bill poses serious risk to rights, liberties, coalition warns
OTTAWA – A national coalition of civil society groups says the Liberal government's new border security bill poses a serious risk to human rights and liberties. The Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group is calling on the government to withdraw the bill and replace it with a more targeted response to specific border concerns. The coalition brings together dozens of non-governmental organizations, unions, professional associations, faith groups, environmental organizations, human rights and civil liberties advocates and groups representing immigrant and refugee communities. The Strong Borders Act, introduced this week, would give authorities new powers to search mail, make it easier for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications and expand the Canadian Coast Guard's role to include security activities. The government says the legislation aims to keep borders secure, fight transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and crack down on money laundering. The civil liberties monitoring group says the government is using the bill to seek powers on immigration and police access to personal information that are not related to securing the border. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2025.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council of Yukon First Nations, AFN to combine leadership roles into 1
Yukon First Nations have decided to unify a couple of regional leadership roles into one — meaning the next grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) will have some new responsibilities. Starting in October, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will no longer have a Yukon regional chief who's independent of CYFN. That person's duties and responsibilities will be taken up by the next CYFN grand chief. The two organizations began discussing the idea since last year and both passed resolutions last month to make it happen. The goal, according to a joint news release on Wednesday, is to "streamline governance, reduce duplication and strengthen national and political advocacy grounded in the shared priorities of all 14 Yukon First Nations." Currently, Yukon is represented at the AFN — an Ottawa-based national advocacy group — by Yukon Regional Chief Kluane Adamek, who has served in that role since 2018. CYFN is a non-profit political organization based in the territory that represents and advocates for Yukon First Nations, with the grand chief serving as the main political spokesperson. Peter Johnston has held that role since 2016 and has said he won't be running for another term. Under the new model, the CYFN grand chief will now represent Yukon First Nations at AFN executive meetings. However, that person "will not lead an AFN portfolio or sit on the AFN corporate board without a direct mandate from Yukon First Nations," reads Wednesday's news release. "This approach reflects a made-in-Yukon solution — directed by all 14 Chiefs — that aligns with regional governance realities while maintaining a strategic national presence." The next grand chief of CYFN will be elected this month. They would take on the new AFN-related responsibilities as of Oct. 1. In a written statement, Johnston called the change "a significant step forward in unifying our effort and advancing the interests of all Yukon First Nations." Adamek also touted the decision as a way to ensure Yukon First Nations have a stronger voice through "co-ordinated advocacy." "This is about amplifying the collective voices of all Yukon First Nations in a way that reflects who we are: united, visionary and rooted in our values," she said.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Opinion: Canada needs to start building out the leisure industry as AI takes hold
Article content Tobi Lütke, the founder of Ottawa-based Shopify Inc., has a new mantra for his workforce: 'AI first.' Article content In a recent memo, the CEO urged staff to seek artificial intelligence solutions before requesting additional resources or new hires, a directive that's rippling through Canada's tech sector. Lütke has emphasized that AI is not about cutting jobs, but about reimagining work. Article content Article content Article content For many, the message is clear: AI is reshaping the workplace, and for the worse. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, released in January, paints a stark picture. By 2030, AI and automation are expected to displace 92 million jobs globally, from coders to customer service reps. Article content In Canada, where tech and manufacturing employ more than 1.5 million people, the impact could be profound. Micha Kaufman, chief executive of freelancing platform Fiverr International Ltd., didn't mince words in a recent e-mail to his employees that he shared on X: 'AI is coming for your jobs. Heck, it's coming for my job too.' Article content But in this upheaval lies an unexpected opportunity, one that's already transforming industries and redefining how we live. Article content Article content The fear of an AI-driven dystopia — mass layoffs, strained social safety nets — dominates headlines. Yet history suggests economies adapt to technological shocks. Article content Article content For example, the Industrial Revolution displaced weavers, but birthed factory jobs. The internet killed travel agencies, but spawned digital marketing. E-commerce displaced a million retail jobs between 2000 and 2020, only to replace them with distribution centre and parcel delivery jobs. Article content As AI automates routine tasks, it's not just threatening jobs; it's unlocking a leisure revolution. From pickleball courts to brand-new sports leagues reimagining the audience experience, the global leisure sector is poised for a boom, and Canadian businesses must capitalize on it.
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Extend GST housing rebate to seniors who want to downsize, report recommends
Article content OTTAWA — The federal government's GST rebate on new homes should be extended to seniors who want to downsize, a new report says, to help boost the supply and cut the price of family homes. The report, released Tuesday by the Ottawa-based Missing Middle Initiative, says that Canada's housing crisis is being partly fuelled by market bottlenecks preventing seniors from downsizing.
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Extend GST housing rebate to seniors who want to downsize, report recommends
OTTAWA — The federal government's GST rebate on new homes should be extended to seniors who want to downsize, a new report says, to help boost the supply and cut the price of family homes. Article content The report, released Tuesday by the Ottawa-based Missing Middle Initiative, says that Canada's housing crisis is being partly fuelled by market bottlenecks preventing seniors from downsizing. Article content Article content Article content The document says that Canada's housing supply problems include a lack of smaller homes with access to seniors' preferred facilities and services, which creates disincentives for empty nesters to downsize. That leaves many seniors with homes that are larger than they need, while further restricting the supply of family homes and raising prices. Article content Article content This under-appreciated piece of Canada's housing crisis is exacerbated by high transaction costs, such as the GST and land-transfer taxes, that create further disincentives for seniors to downsize, the report adds. Article content Eliminating these transaction costs would help spur more downsizing, the report says. 'Not only would this help increase the supply of seniors' friendly housing (but) would also free up larger, child-friendly homes for the next generation of families.' Article content Paul Smetanin, the president of the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis, said he agrees with the report's conclusions and that Canada's current housing problems were completely predictable and the product of a series of government policy and municipal planning failures. Smetanin said his company estimates that there are 4.4 million empty rooms in Ontario alone, in part because of the empty nesters who can't downsize. Article content Article content Those empty rooms are the equivalent to what would normally take more than 20 years to build, he said. 'It really burns my chops.' Article content Article content Canada's housing crisis has been a high-profile and far-reaching problem in recent years. As the population has increased, particularly in urban areas, demand for both home purchases and rentals has soared, leaving many Canadians under-housed or even homeless. Article content The federal government's response in recent months has been to try to make homes more affordable while increasing supply, including greater reliance on pre-fabricated homes. Article content The Missing Middle Initiative report also found that homeownership rates are dropping for those under the age of 40 as they are being priced out of many markets. Many young families are also facing a 'second-time homebuyers' barrier in that they own a small home, often a one-bedroom residence, but they have been priced out of transitioning to something that meets their growing family's needs.
