Patty Hajdu: Canada is paying inflated prices for personal protective equipment

The United States is signalling that Canada should not expect full relief from American tariffs in any future trade agreement, according to comments from President Donald Trump’s chief trade representative following the State of the Union address. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday night, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said any new trade arrangement with Canada would likely include tariff measures. He indicated that even a renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement may not guarantee a fully tariff-free framework. Greer su

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two day official visit, marking his first trip to the country in nearly nine years. He was received at the airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his spouse, Sara Netanyahu. During the visit, Modi and Netanyahu held a one on one meeting in Tel Aviv to discuss bilateral cooperation. Officials indicated that security and strategic partnerships are expected to feature prominently in the talks, reflecting the growing ties between the two countries in recent years. Modi is also scheduled to address the Isr

Richmond RCMP say 14 people were taken into custody during a one day retail theft enforcement operation earlier this month, marking the first Boost and Bust initiative of 2026. The February 15 operation focused on businesses in the city’s downtown core and commercial areas. Police said 13 individuals were arrested in connection with alleged shoplifting incidents. Investigators plan to recommend charges in 10 of those cases. Two of those arrested were youths and will be referred to restorative justice programs. Officers also offered referrals to social services for everyone who was taken into

Police in Nanaimo are urging residents to remain cautious after a local resident lost about $24,000 in a fraud scheme involving suspects posing as bank officials. The Nanaimo RCMP say the victim believed they were communicating with representatives from the Royal Bank of Canada after receiving multiple phone calls and text messages that appeared to come from an official bank number. According to investigators, some of the messages included security verification codes. The victim, thinking the communication was legitimate, shared personal details with the caller. Police say that information was

The Alberta government is once again asking the courts to strike down Ottawa’s Impact Assessment Act, arguing that recent amendments still infringe on provincial jurisdiction over natural resources and development. The Alberta Court of Appeal began hearing arguments in Calgary this week in the province’s renewed constitutional challenge. The legislation, first enacted in 2019, establishes a federal review process for major infrastructure and resource projects, including pipelines, mines and energy developments, assessing potential environmental, economic, health and social impacts. Alberta