Alex Ballingall

Liberals in closed-door talks to boost NDP funding, claim it’s not related to upcoming budget vote The Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a min...

The Liberal government has had discussions about increasing parliamentary resources for the shrunken caucus of New Democrats, the Star has learned, as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Grits navigate a minority Parliament where the party is just three votes shy of a controlling majority.

Supporters of Freedom Convoy leaders- Chris Barber and Tamara Lich get into a scuffle ahead of their sentencing today. Both have been found guilty of mischief. Their lawyers want full discharge, crown seeking 8yrs for Barber and 7years for Lich.

Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training funds Groups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found

New: Clients of lobbying firms with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and his nephew have been hugely successful in applying to the province’s Skills Development Fund.

Full analysis: www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

#onpoli

Autumn, Digby Neck
Maud Lewis
c. 1962

Mark Carney’s austerity budget raising fears gender equality programs will end Members of the Liberals' women's caucus of MPs are pressing their government to make sure funding for programs started under the previous government continue to receive funding, two Liberal insiders

Some concern us also present inside the Liberals’ women’s caucus, where some are pressing their government to make sure programs started under the previous government continue to receive money, two Liberal insiders told the Star.

Liberals’ push for gun buyback program fuelled by pressure from Quebec, public safety minister says in leaked audio A gun-owning tenant recorded a conversation with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree without the minister’s knowledge.

@markramzy.bsky.social reports

What to watch, who’s hot and who’s not as MPs return to Parliament Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre each have certain advantages as the 45th Parliament resumes Monday.

Parliament is back and the Star will be covering it all. To get primed on the big storylines, here's our bureau chief Tonda MacCharles with a good survey of the political landscape at the start of the fall sesh:
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

This is very much worth reading.

Mark Carney says he had no choice but to end the Air Canada impasse Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu issued an order calling on the industrial relations board to end the strike and impose binding arbitration on Air Canada and CUPE.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government had no choice but to impose binding arbitration on Air Canada flight attendants this weekend because negotiations were not ending the dispute.

Pierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight begins Greater challenges are waiting for him, Conservative insiders and analysts say, as the Tory leader tries to keep his broader voting base intact, and set the stage for the victory

Pierre Poilievre’s political exile is expected to end within days. Then the real fight begins, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

Gun-control advocates fear Mark Carney will delay buyback program An imminent delay, a lack of updates from Ottawa, and Mark Carney's attempts to keep premiers happy, vow to drastically cut spending, and emphasis on border security, are raising questions

Gun-control advocates fear Mark Carney will delay buyback program

Canada will recognize Palestine in September, Mark Carney says The move comes amid increasing international pressure and outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

#Breaking: Mark Carney says Canada will recognize Palestine as a state

Trump’s tariff threats keep changing. We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has responded Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada. Here’s what’s in effect.

Donald Trump’s tariff war with Canada is escalating with new measures from the U.S. and retaliatory responses from Canada.

We’re tracking what’s active, what’s coming and how Canada has responded.

In photos: Kamloops historial Canada Day parade photos Old Kamloops parade photos show how Canada Day evolved from attempts to erase Indigenous and immigrant contributions to embracing them.

#Kamloops’ archival parade photos show how early Canada Day celebrations evolved — from attempts to erase Indigenous and immigrant contributions to the city, to embracing them. The latest from @lyssamartin.bsky.social

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote Housing Minister Gregor Robertson expressed his “disappointment” with city council’s decision last month to not allow sixplexes citywide in a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow.

‘No compromises’: Ottawa issues warning to Toronto about housing funding over sixplex vote www.thestar.com/news/gta/no-...

Live updates: Carney meeting with premiers in Muskoka; Doug Ford announces agreement with Alberta, Saskatchewan Canada’s leaders are sitting down in cottage country days before U.S. tariffs are threatened to take effect on Aug. 1.

The ⁦‪@TorontoStar‬⁩ has complete coverage of the first ministers’ meeting and the Council of the Federation conference at Deerhurst Resort on Peninsula Lake in Huntsville.
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#cdnpoli

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Sans intervention immédiate, les derniers reporters de Gaza vont mourir 21 juillet 2025 L'AFP travaille avec une pigiste texte, trois photographes et six pigistes vidéo dans la Bande de Gaza depuis le départ de ses journalistes staff courant 2024. Avec quelques autres, ils sont aujourd'hui les seuls à rapporter ce qu'il se passe dans la Bande de Gaza. La presse internationale est interdite d'entrer dans ce territoire depuis près de deux ans. Nous refusons de les voir mourir. L'un deux, Bashar, collabore pour l'AFP depuis 2010, d'abord comme fixeur, ensuite comme photographe pigiste, et depuis 2024 comme principal photographe. Samedi 19 juillet, il est parvenu à poster un message sur Facebook: « Je n'ai plus la force de travailler pour les médias. Mon corps est maigre et je ne peux plus travailler ». Bashar, 30 ans, travaille et vit dans des conditions égales à celles de tous les Gazaouis, allant d'un camp de réfugiés à un autre camp au gré des bombardements israéliens. Depuis plus d'un an il vit dans le dénuement le plus total et travaille en prenant d'énormes risques pour sa vie. L'hygiène est pour lui un problème majeur, avec des périodes de maladies intestinales sévères. Bashar vit depuis février dans les ruines de sa maison de Gaza City avec sa mère, ses quatre frères et sœurs et la famille d'un de ses frères. Leur maison est vide de tout aménagement et confort, à part quelques coussins. Dimanche matin, il a rapporté que son frère aîné était « tombé, à cause de la faim ». Même si ces journalistes reçoivent un salaire mensuel de l'AFP, il n'y a rien à acheter ou alors à des prix totalement exorbitants. Le système bancaire a disparu, et ceux qui pratiquent le change entre les comptes bancaires en ligne et l'argent liquide prennent une commission de près de 40%. L'AFP n'a plus la possibilité d'avoir un véhicule et encore moins de l'essence pour permettre à ses journalistes de se déplacer pour leurs reportages. Circuler en voiture équivaut de toutes les façons à pre…

🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency.

They are out of energy and they are starving to death.

I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it.

🧵

Apparently we share an ancestor from mid-19th century Scotland, but we're not related in any meaningful sense.

Brace for layoffs, budget watchdog says, as Carney government aims to slash spending by $25B The Liberal government wants to find roughly $25 billion in annual savings from the federal budget within the next three years, the Star has confirmed, a higher than expected target

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

It is still the law, they're just not collecting the tax and committing to rescinding it. www.canada.ca/en/departmen...

What if killing Canada’s digital tax is just the beginning for Donald Trump? The mercurial nature of the U.S. president means what happens next is anyone's guess.

Here's an analysis of the decision to dump the Digital Services Tax, and what it might say about the Trump World we're living in.

Over half of Canada’s 2025 study permits going to international students already here Postsecondary education sector will continue to see enrolment drop for at least the next three years, analysis warns.

Over half of Canada’s 2025 study permits going to international students already here.

Postsecondary education sector will continue to see enrolment drop for at least the next three years, analysis warns.

www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Mark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill The proposed law, Bill C-5, has sparked warnings of Indigenous resistance in the coming weeks, along with condemnation from environmental groups, and some reservations within the Liberal caucus.

Mark Carney’s government reviewing suggested changes to infrastructure bill, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com

Mark Carney makes some Liberals uneasy with parliamentary hustle for infrastructure bill Some Liberal MPs are expressing reservations about Prime Minister Mark Carney’s push to fast-track major development projects.

Some Liberals have reservations about Bill C-5, which would give cabinet special powers to fast-track development projects like mines, pipelines and ports, and to approve them by skirting environmental laws and regulations. Our story here:

An advance look at “On Parade,” David Plunkert’s cover for next week's issue. #NewYorkerCovers

(Bloomberg) -- The US and Mexico are closing in on a deal that would remove President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on steel imports up to a certain volume, according to people familiar with the matter, a revamp of a similar deal between the trade partners during his first term.

Why some Canadians are alarmed by Mark Carney’s pledge to act with urgency With the unveiling of a bill to supercharge the economy and efforts to improve the country’s relations with India and China, there’s growing concern that Carney’s plans to boost Canada could involve u...

Some Canadians are alarmed by Mark Carney’s pledge to act with urgency.

With the unveiling of a bill to supercharge the economy and efforts to improve relations with India and China, there’s growing concern that Carney’s plans to boost Canada could involve unsavory trade offs. #Analysis

Insiders say Mark Carney could compromise on emissions cap Once hailed under prime minister Justin Trudeau's leadership as a marquee plank of Canada's climate action under the Liberal government, the proposed emissions cap is also politically contentious, wit...

Insiders say Mark Carney could compromise on emissions cap, @aballinga.bsky.social reports. www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

Find out more at nationalnewswatch.com