The crisis in France will not stay in France. Canada, beware

The crisis in France will not stay in France. Canada, beware

What happens in France won’t stay in France. The country, mired in riots and a worsening economic crisis, is but the weak link in a global chain. Although Canada may be spared the worst if a bondfire breaks out, it won’t avoid getting singed by the spreading flames.

At one time during my academic career, I had an annual teaching gig in the south of France. Spring in Provence has its virtues, not least since as a visiting professor I had no administrative or supervisory duties. After a morning seminar, I’d enjoy wine-fuelled “working” lunches in bistros off cobblestoned lanes, then spend the afternoon idling with my notebook in a cafe, nursing pastis. Someone had to do it. And I could see why the French would never want to give up this way of life.

h/t Clink9

Share

Conservatives accuse government of ‘cooking the books’ over immigration data presentation

Conservatives accuse government of ‘cooking the books’ over immigration data presentation

The federal Conservatives are accusing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada of exaggerating the decrease in new permanent residents in official messaging posted online.

Immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner is calling for better data disclosure following the publication of a graph promoting efforts to restore immigration to sustainable levels.

The graph shows the number of new permanent residents each month since 2023. But starting in 2026, instead of one bar showing the total number of permanent residents, it breaks them into three separate bars.

Share

Google warns lawful-access bill creates a ‘surveillance infrastructure,’ undermines transparency

Google warns lawful-access bill creates a ‘surveillance infrastructure,’ undermines transparency

Google is urging the government to make further changes to its lawful-access bill, warning that, as currently worded, it would allow Ottawa to create a “new surveillance infrastructure” and to impose blanket data-retention demands on tech companies that treat users as “potential criminals.”

A briefing note sent by the tech giant to Senators, who are now scrutinizing bill C-22, suggests they make changes to the text to protect encryption. Other suggested amendments would curb the power of a minister to issue secret orders to tech companies demanding they make changes to their systems.

Share

LILLEY: PM Mark Carney’s steel spin won’t save a single job

We’ll build a new LNG export terminal using Chinese steel, keep letting in cheap welded pipe from Turkey and refuse to negotiate lower tariffs on Canadian steel with the Americans.

But by hook or by crook, the Carney government is going to force Stelco in Hamilton to bring back 500 laid-off workers and produce steel it can’t currently sell.

Share

Canada will be ‘a living hell’ if it becomes associate member of EU, claims MEP

Canada will be ‘a living hell’ if it becomes associate member of EU, claims MEP

A Member of European Parliament (MEP) said that becoming an associate member of the EU would turn Canada “into a living hell” and asked “is Mark Carney stupid enough to fall for it?” during a debate on Thursday.

Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, ahead of the EU-Canada summit in Montreal next week, German MEP Christine Anderson accused the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, of looking to wipe out industry, censor speech and “flood” Canada with “even more illegal migrants.”


I see no reason to doubt Ms. Anderson.

Share

BARBER: Mark Carney’s European ‘associate membership’ delusion

BARBER: Mark Carney’s European ‘associate membership’ delusion

A year ago, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, issued a stark warning regarding the European Union’s (EU) competitiveness. She noted that internal barriers are throttling innovation, productivity, and investment. In response to France’s proposal to expand the ECB’s mandate to include growth objectives, Lagarde added that monetary policy was inadequate to address these challenges; the EU must therefore undertake structural reforms. These internal barriers limit both services and goods. In some cases, national regulations exceeding EU requirements exacerbate the problem. She recommended the creation of an EU Capital Markets Union. She also advocated for joint European bond issuance, explicitly referencing defence spending. However, such reforms face resistance within the EU. To underscore her warning, Lagarde claimed that Europe is experiencing an “existential crisis!”

Share

Carney defends doing business with countries that don’t share Canada’s values

Carney defends doing business with countries that don’t share Canada’s values

Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his government’s approach to balancing human rights and trade on Friday, saying very few countries in the world can meet Canada’s standards.

He made the remarks near the end of his trip to Turkey, where he signed a strategic partnership with the government of President Recep Erdogan, which has faced sustained criticism from human rights groups.

The complaints intensified this month when the Turkish government executed several high-profile operations to systematically silence opposition voices, suppress independent journalism, and restrict marginalized groups.

Share

Conservatives call for cuts to permanent residency admissions in immigration plan

Conservatives call for cuts to permanent residency admissions in immigration plan

OTTAWA — The Conservatives are calling on the government to implement temporary resident exit tracking, boost collaboration with the provinces and further reduce permanent residency admissions in the coming immigration levels plan.

Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner outlined these and other demands in a press conference Thursday. She also blamed government policy for a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in recent years.

She pointed to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent New York Times interview in which he discussed a link between Canada’s slow GDP growth and declining immigration.

Share

Global Affairs did not Google staff during vetting when NATO spy suspect was given clearance

Global Affairs did not Google staff during vetting when NATO spy suspect was given clearance

OTTAWA — Global Affairs Canada would not have Googled or done an open-source search before granting security clearance to someone like the Canadian woman charged with spying at NATO headquarters.

That’s according to David Morrison, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s senior diplomatic and international affairs adviser and the former top bureaucrat at Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

Share

John Ivison: Carney’s pro-immigration temptation beckons the cobra effect

John Ivison: Carney’s pro-immigration temptation beckons the cobra effect

Federal Liberals could be forgiven a sense of hubris on viewing recent polls that suggest more than half of all voters support their party.

But they should remember that the balloon can be popped by a single pinprick of reality.

Share

Border Service charges five in alleged visa fraud involving 209 Bangladeshis

Border Service charges five in alleged visa fraud involving 209 Bangladeshis

TORONTO — The Canada Border Services Agency has charged five people in an alleged immigration fraud scheme that involved 243 temporary resident visa applications for 209 Bangladeshi nationals.

Rashel Mirza and Mohammed Aminul Islam, both of Montréal, Md Mudassar Alam Bhuiyan of Toronto, and Md Rakibul Hassan of Bangladesh appeared at the Valleyfield courthouse on Thursday. A warrant has been issued for Hassan, who is reportedly in Bangladesh. CBSA said a fifth unnamed accomplice is also facing charges.

The Liberal Party cannot be trusted to manage immigration.

h/t Hermes

Share

Canada Bans Its Diplomats From Being Seen With US Candidates

Canada Bans Its Diplomats From Being Seen With US Candidates

Canadian diplomats working in the US have been directed to stay away from candidates running in the midterm elections, and to keep a low profile to avoid allegations by the Trump administration of political interference, people familiar with the matter said.

Under written guidance distributed Tuesday, Canadian officials are barred from meeting with or even being in the same room as midterm candidates — all House candidates and a third of the Senate — unless given special permission.

Share

Carney announces trade and defence partnership with Turkey

Carney announces trade and defence partnership with Turkey

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s political and economic tightrope act began Thursday as he and Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding trade and defence co-operation.

It is the latest step in the warming of relations between the two nations and an important moment in the prime minister’s plan to co-operate more closely with other middle-power countries.

Carney praised Turkey as an “exceptional” partner.

Share

Canada’s reliance on foreign workers could hold back wages and productivity, economist says

Canada’s reliance on foreign workers could hold back wages and productivity, economist says

Temporary foreign workers can be financially attractive to businesses, says a University of Waterloo economist, but access to that worker pool can undermine the push to be more productive.

“Labour shortages are not a problem, they’re a blessing,” said Mikal Skuterud, a professor in the university’s Department of Economics.

His comments come as Ottawa prepares to release its next Immigration Levels Plan and introduce changes to how Canada selects skilled immigrants for permanent residence.


Carney is the worst of men. Evil, greedy, serpentine.

Share