smg_federal

With COVID vaccines losing effectiveness, what does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated’?

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With COVID vaccines losing effectiveness, what does it mean to be ‘fully vaccinated’?

OTTAWA—For the past six months, anyone who has tuned into a federal coronavirus briefing has heard the same refrain: get up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, and do it now. In fact, during last week’s public health briefing, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos urged Canadians to get their booster shots no less than five times, framing the … Read more

Convoy leader Tamara Lich discussed a strategy to ‘gridlock’ Ottawa, court told

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Convoy leader Tamara Lich discussed a strategy to ‘gridlock’ Ottawa, court told

OTTAWA—Convoy protest leader Tamara Lich discussed a strategy to “gridlock” the capital in the early days of the protests that paralyzed the streets around Parliament Hill for three weeks this winter, according to evidence presented in court Tuesday. Crown lawyer Moiz Karimjee submitted the evidence, which was obtained through a police search of a cellphone … Read more

Patrick Brown disqualified from Conservative leadership race

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Patrick Brown disqualified from Conservative leadership race

The Conservative party of Canada’s leadership election organizing committee says it has disqualified candidate Patrick Brown from the race. Election committee chair Ian Brodie says in a statement the party became aware of “serious allegations of wrongdoing” by Brown’s campaign that appear to violate financing rules in the Canada Elections Act. The statement did not … Read more

Families and protesters flock to Ottawa’s Canada Day

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Families and protesters flock to Ottawa’s Canada Day

OTTAWA — Hundreds of protesters marching in the name of “freedom” returned to the capital’s downtown streets Friday, capping off a Canada Day which began with a call for unity from the prime minister. “Canada is about people who are constantly fighting for something instead of against,” Justin Trudeau said, after arriving at a daytime … Read more

‘Freedom’ protesters are angry and returning to Ottawa

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‘Freedom’ protesters are angry and returning to Ottawa

The honking. The semi-trucks clogging the streets around Parliament Hill. The constant bellows of “freedom!” For three weeks this winter, that scene was a crisis for police, politicians and downtown Ottawa residents that only ended after the federal government invoked the never-before-used Emergencies Act to clear what it described as a dangerous damaging and illegal … Read more

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner doubles down after Star reveals push to eject her for criticalizing colleagues

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Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner doubles down after Star reveals push to eject her for criticalizing colleagues

OTTAWA — A law that allows MPs to eject fellow members from their caucus encourages abusive behavior inside political parties and that’s unacceptable, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner said Friday. Her comments came in the wake of revelations by the Star that some fellow Conservatives have been threatening Rempel Garner with expulsion from the party’s … Read more

Michelle Rempel Garner calls out her fellow Conservatives

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Michelle Rempel Garner calls out her fellow Conservatives

OTTAWA — Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner walked away from running for leadership of Alberta’s United Conservative Party on Thursday, citing the inhospitable internal political environment she’d inherit and a lack of time to fix it. But the high-profile MP is not returning to an overly hospitable federal political environment either. The Star has learned … Read more

NDP had good ideas, but Liberals are in charge, Freeland says

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NDP had good ideas, but Liberals are in charge, Freeland says

OTTAWA—The NDP may not like what the federal Liberal government is doing — or not doing — to combat inflation, but Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says their agreement to give stability to the minority Parliament stands and it’s the Liberals who are in charge. “This is not a coalition,” she said. Appearing at the … Read more

Airport chaos could get worse as Ottawa removes vaccine mandates

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NDP had good ideas, but Liberals are in charge, Freeland says

OTTAWA—“Science” — not politics or airport delays — is the reason the Liberal government gave for why it has finally halted — or “suspended” — federal vaccine mandates starting next Monday. Yet if politics is the art of the possible, politics were definitely in play. Some Liberal MPs say caucus pressure played a role. Cabinet … Read more

Liberal MP apologizes for coarse language on Instagram

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Liberal MP apologizes for coarse language on Instagram

OTTAWA — Liberal MP Adam van Koeverden has issued a mea culpa after it surfaced on social media that he swore at a woman on Instagram who contacted him about her opposition to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. “Last week, I let my emotions get the better of me and I responded in an unacceptable way to … Read more