ArriveCan faces more scrutiny as Public Sector Integrity Commissioner opens investigation
Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Harriet Solloway is launching an investigation into alleged wrongdoing related to the ArriveCan app, as well as accusations that two former border agency officials faced reprisals after criticizing their superiors.
The commissioner says that her office takes note of a motion approved unanimously last month by the Commons government operations committee asking her office to investigate.
The motion passed after MPs heard testimony from two former Canada Border Services Agency officials who worked on the ArriveCan app and who said they were suspended without pay in retaliation for testimony they provided to the same committee in November.
Ms. Solloway’s office is an independent watchdog that reports directly to Parliament and was created in 2007. It investigates wrongdoing in the federal public sector and was created as a way to help protect whistle-blowers from reprisal.
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Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Harriet Solloway is launching an investigation into alleged wrongdoing related to the ArriveCan app, as well as accusations that two former border agency officials faced reprisals after criticizing their superiors.
The commissioner says that her office takes note of a motion approved unanimously last month by the Commons government operations committee asking her office to investigate.
The motion passed after MPs heard testimony from two former Canada Border Services Agency officials who worked on the ArriveCan app and who said they were suspended without pay in retaliation for testimony they provided to the same committee in November.
Ms. Solloway’s office is an independent watchdog that reports directly to Parliament and was created in 2007. It investigates wrongdoing in the federal public sector and was created as a way to help protect whistle-blowers from reprisal.
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🇨🇦🇨🇳 Chinese tourism to Canada falls sharply amid geopolitical tensions
Before the pandemic, Canada welcomed roughly 750,000 visitors a year from China, who collectively spent nearly $2-billion on hotels, meals and other items during their stays. Today, arrivals are nowhere close to what they were.
In 2023, there were around 225,000 Chinese visitors to the country, according to figures from Statistics Canada. While that was up sharply from the year before, it was still less than one-third of peak volumes in 2018 and 2019.
There has been a sharp drop in direct flight service between the countries, and since China eased its pandemic restrictions on outbound travel, it has not put Canada on its list of approved destinations for group tours – a decision that reflects heightened diplomatic tensions.
Destination Canada, a Crown corporation that promotes the country to overseas markets, doesn’t project a recovery in Chinese visitors until 2027.
#China
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Before the pandemic, Canada welcomed roughly 750,000 visitors a year from China, who collectively spent nearly $2-billion on hotels, meals and other items during their stays. Today, arrivals are nowhere close to what they were.
In 2023, there were around 225,000 Chinese visitors to the country, according to figures from Statistics Canada. While that was up sharply from the year before, it was still less than one-third of peak volumes in 2018 and 2019.
There has been a sharp drop in direct flight service between the countries, and since China eased its pandemic restrictions on outbound travel, it has not put Canada on its list of approved destinations for group tours – a decision that reflects heightened diplomatic tensions.
Destination Canada, a Crown corporation that promotes the country to overseas markets, doesn’t project a recovery in Chinese visitors until 2027.
#China
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😡Most Canadians think Canada is broken and are angry with Trudeau government
Most Canadians believe “everything is broken in the country right now,” and more people agree with that statement than just one year ago, according to a new national survey.
🔹Canadians across political lines were on the same page when it came to the perception that Canada is broken, with 70 per cent agreeing with the statement.
Most Conservative voters (85 per cent) backed the idea. Notably, two-thirds of NDP voters (66 per cent) agreed, in addition to 58 per cent of Bloc Québécois voters and 43 per cent of Liberal ones.
🔹Overall, 59 per cent of Canadians polled in 2024 were angry over how the country is being managed, up nine percentage points from last year.
#Trudeau
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Most Canadians believe “everything is broken in the country right now,” and more people agree with that statement than just one year ago, according to a new national survey.
🔹Canadians across political lines were on the same page when it came to the perception that Canada is broken, with 70 per cent agreeing with the statement.
Most Conservative voters (85 per cent) backed the idea. Notably, two-thirds of NDP voters (66 per cent) agreed, in addition to 58 per cent of Bloc Québécois voters and 43 per cent of Liberal ones.
🔹Overall, 59 per cent of Canadians polled in 2024 were angry over how the country is being managed, up nine percentage points from last year.
#Trudeau
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✈️ 70 per cent of Air Canada pilots willing to walk away if pay doesn't improve, union boss says
Air Canada pilots union, representing nearly 5,300 pilots, is demanding parity with American counterparts. A decade ago, pilot salaries at Air Canada and United Airlines were nearly equal; today, the Americans earn twice as much.
According to union chair Charlene Hoody, seven out of 10 pilots are considering working south of the border, moving overseas or leaving the profession altogether if salary negotiations fail.
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Air Canada pilots union, representing nearly 5,300 pilots, is demanding parity with American counterparts. A decade ago, pilot salaries at Air Canada and United Airlines were nearly equal; today, the Americans earn twice as much.
According to union chair Charlene Hoody, seven out of 10 pilots are considering working south of the border, moving overseas or leaving the profession altogether if salary negotiations fail.
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Auditor-General fires two employees for failing to disclose government contracts
Two employees in the Auditor-General’s office have been fired for failing to disclose they had contracts with the federal government and a third case is under investigation.
The cases related to the two fired employees have been referred to law enforcement.
The issue of connections between government employees and federal contracts is under heightened scrutiny on Parliament Hill following a report last month by Auditor-General Karen Hogan into spending and management decisions related to the ArriveCan app. Ms. Hogan’s report raised several concerns about the government’s interactions with GCStrategies, which has won millions of dollars in federal contracts across several departments since 2015.
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Two employees in the Auditor-General’s office have been fired for failing to disclose they had contracts with the federal government and a third case is under investigation.
The cases related to the two fired employees have been referred to law enforcement.
The issue of connections between government employees and federal contracts is under heightened scrutiny on Parliament Hill following a report last month by Auditor-General Karen Hogan into spending and management decisions related to the ArriveCan app. Ms. Hogan’s report raised several concerns about the government’s interactions with GCStrategies, which has won millions of dollars in federal contracts across several departments since 2015.
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Half of all Canadians say there are too many immigrants: poll
High immigration levels have traditionally enjoyed multi-partisan support in Canada, but half of all people now say that there are too many newcomers, according to a new poll.
The survey conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute found 50 per cent of Canadians agree that there are too many immigrants coming into Canada — a number that has more than doubled since January 2023 but has remained consistent across polls conducted in the past six months.
Last January, only 21 per cent of Canadians said there were too many immigrants in the country, according to a government survey.
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High immigration levels have traditionally enjoyed multi-partisan support in Canada, but half of all people now say that there are too many newcomers, according to a new poll.
The survey conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies and the Metropolis Institute found 50 per cent of Canadians agree that there are too many immigrants coming into Canada — a number that has more than doubled since January 2023 but has remained consistent across polls conducted in the past six months.
Last January, only 21 per cent of Canadians said there were too many immigrants in the country, according to a government survey.
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💸 Quebec runs historic $11B deficit in budget
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard delivered Tuesday the most challenging budget of his mandate with a projected $11-billion deficit for the next fiscal year. He said that, in real dollars, it could be the highest in the province's history.
The deficit for 2024-25 is more than three times higher than what the government had forecast for 2023-24.
Of the latest projected deficit, $4 billion is structural, Girard said, and the rest is related to new spending and managing the province's debt. He attributed increased spending to expenses that were considered temporary during the pandemic, but have since become permanent.
New collective agreements with the public sector will also lead to a hike in expenses over the next five years.
#Quebec
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Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard delivered Tuesday the most challenging budget of his mandate with a projected $11-billion deficit for the next fiscal year. He said that, in real dollars, it could be the highest in the province's history.
The deficit for 2024-25 is more than three times higher than what the government had forecast for 2023-24.
Of the latest projected deficit, $4 billion is structural, Girard said, and the rest is related to new spending and managing the province's debt. He attributed increased spending to expenses that were considered temporary during the pandemic, but have since become permanent.
New collective agreements with the public sector will also lead to a hike in expenses over the next five years.
#Quebec
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More than three quarters of Canadian workers want to leave their jobs
A new report says 71 per cent of Canadian workers want to leave their jobs this year and look for better opportunities.
The report by recruitment firm Hays says employers need to brace themselves, as even more people say they would start looking for a new job if the economy and unemployment rate improve.
Hays says more than half of Canadian employees feel more stressed this year than last year, and nearly half are unmotivated to work.
Hays says workers need more than a raise to stay engaged — they also want other benefits and incentives such as vacation days, professional development and promotions.
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A new report says 71 per cent of Canadian workers want to leave their jobs this year and look for better opportunities.
The report by recruitment firm Hays says employers need to brace themselves, as even more people say they would start looking for a new job if the economy and unemployment rate improve.
Hays says more than half of Canadian employees feel more stressed this year than last year, and nearly half are unmotivated to work.
Hays says workers need more than a raise to stay engaged — they also want other benefits and incentives such as vacation days, professional development and promotions.
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🌱🔌Alberta commission finds renewables pose little threat to agriculture, environment
Alberta’s utilities regulator has released a report saying the province’s booming renewables industry poses little threat to its agriculture or the environment.
says the Alberta Utilities Commission report, released Wednesday.
The report is the first of two the United Conservative government asked the commission to produce as part of its inquiry into the province’s booming solar and wind power industry. The release of the report comes shortly after the government removed its six-month moratorium on approvals for new renewables generation.
#Alberta #energy
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Alberta’s utilities regulator has released a report saying the province’s booming renewables industry poses little threat to its agriculture or the environment.
Assuming all renewable development locates on (some of Alberta’s best) land, the percentage of (such) agricultural land loss is estimated to be less than one per cent by 2041.
says the Alberta Utilities Commission report, released Wednesday.
The report is the first of two the United Conservative government asked the commission to produce as part of its inquiry into the province’s booming solar and wind power industry. The release of the report comes shortly after the government removed its six-month moratorium on approvals for new renewables generation.
#Alberta #energy
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💰Households owed $1.79 for every dollar of disposable income in Q4
Statistics Canada says households owed $1.79 in credit market debt on average for every dollar of disposable income in the fourth quarter.
The federal agency said Wednesday that seasonally adjusted household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income fell for the third quarter in a row.
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Statistics Canada says households owed $1.79 in credit market debt on average for every dollar of disposable income in the fourth quarter.
The federal agency said Wednesday that seasonally adjusted household credit market debt as a proportion of household disposable income fell for the third quarter in a row.
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Foreign-interference inquiry to grant opposition parties power to cross-examine witnesses
The head of the public inquiry into foreign interference is granting opposition parties the right to cross-examine witnesses at hearings that will investigate meddling in Canadian politics by countries such as China.
According to a March 11 letter, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue is making major changes – adjustments that could significantly affect the conduct of the hearings by giving more powers to those critical of Ottawa’s record on the matter.
The move from Justice Hogue follows months of criticism, particularly from the Conservative Party, which was denied full party standing at the inquiry despite being a target of meddling by China.
The letter outlines rights, including cross-examination, that will be extended to the Conservative Party, the New Democrats, the Bloc Québécois, as well as former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.
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The head of the public inquiry into foreign interference is granting opposition parties the right to cross-examine witnesses at hearings that will investigate meddling in Canadian politics by countries such as China.
According to a March 11 letter, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue is making major changes – adjustments that could significantly affect the conduct of the hearings by giving more powers to those critical of Ottawa’s record on the matter.
The move from Justice Hogue follows months of criticism, particularly from the Conservative Party, which was denied full party standing at the inquiry despite being a target of meddling by China.
The letter outlines rights, including cross-examination, that will be extended to the Conservative Party, the New Democrats, the Bloc Québécois, as well as former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.
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💰Freeland on track to miss deficit target
Canada is unlikely to meet its deficit goals unless it makes substantial spending cuts or finds new sources of revenue, according to the country’s largest financial co-operative.
An “outsized pace of spending” means Canada is on course to run a budget shortfall of about $47 billion for the fiscal year that ends March 31, according to estimates released Thursday by Desjardins.
The projection raises more questions about how Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will meet her pledge to keep the country’s budget shortfall at around $40 billion a year from now until 2026.
A chorus of analysts and economists is warning that without tax increases or spending reductions, deficits are likely to rise amid slow economic growth.
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Canada is unlikely to meet its deficit goals unless it makes substantial spending cuts or finds new sources of revenue, according to the country’s largest financial co-operative.
An “outsized pace of spending” means Canada is on course to run a budget shortfall of about $47 billion for the fiscal year that ends March 31, according to estimates released Thursday by Desjardins.
The projection raises more questions about how Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will meet her pledge to keep the country’s budget shortfall at around $40 billion a year from now until 2026.
A chorus of analysts and economists is warning that without tax increases or spending reductions, deficits are likely to rise amid slow economic growth.
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💸 ArriveCan contractor rejects auditor general report, blames government's poor record-keeping
One of the partners at GC Strategies is rebutting an auditor general's report that suggests his firm earned $19 million for the ArriveCan app, arguing that the government's poor record-keeping inflated that estimate.
Kristian Firth testified before the House government operations committee for more than three hours on Wednesday. It was the first time he's made public comments since Auditor General Karen Hogan released her report on ArriveCan last month.
GC Strategies was the contractor that received the most money for the project. But Firth told the committee that his records indicate his firm received only $11 million for ArriveCan, not the $19 million cited by the auditor general.
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One of the partners at GC Strategies is rebutting an auditor general's report that suggests his firm earned $19 million for the ArriveCan app, arguing that the government's poor record-keeping inflated that estimate.
Kristian Firth testified before the House government operations committee for more than three hours on Wednesday. It was the first time he's made public comments since Auditor General Karen Hogan released her report on ArriveCan last month.
GC Strategies was the contractor that received the most money for the project. But Firth told the committee that his records indicate his firm received only $11 million for ArriveCan, not the $19 million cited by the auditor general.
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Federal government reveals it ordered national security review of TikTok in September
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of popular video app TikTok in September 2023 but did not disclose it publicly.
a spokesperson for Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said.
The revelation comes after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
#US #China
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The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of popular video app TikTok in September 2023 but did not disclose it publicly.
This is still an ongoing case. We can't comment further because of the confidentiality provisions of the Investment Canada Act.
a spokesperson for Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said.
The revelation comes after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
#US #China
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🚙 Toronto police backtrack on advice to leave car keys 'at your front door' to prevent being attacked at home
Toronto police have backed away from a statement on how to prevent auto theft motivated home invasions following social media backlash.
At a town hall meeting in Etobicoke last month, Const. Marco Ricciardi told residents to leave their keys by the door, especially if they’re in a Faraday bag that prevents would-be thieves from stealing the signal needed to unlock the car and start it.
Riccardi said.
#Ontario
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Toronto police have backed away from a statement on how to prevent auto theft motivated home invasions following social media backlash.
At a town hall meeting in Etobicoke last month, Const. Marco Ricciardi told residents to leave their keys by the door, especially if they’re in a Faraday bag that prevents would-be thieves from stealing the signal needed to unlock the car and start it.
To prevent the possibility of being attacked in your home, leave your fobs at your front door. Because they’re breaking into your home to steal your car. They don’t want anything else.
Riccardi said.
#Ontario
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❌Trudeau rejects Quebec request for full powers over immigration
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has rejected Quebec’s request for full powers over immigration to the province.
Trudeau made the comments following a meeting in Montreal with Premier Francois Legault, adding that Quebec already has more control over newcomers than any other province or territory.
Quebec controls the number of economic immigrants to the province, but shares responsibility with Ottawa over refugees and newcomers who arrive through the family reunification stream.
Legault has said that Quebec needs complete authority over all immigration streams and that the province doesn’t have enough teachers, nurses and homes to accept more newcomers than it already does.
#Quebec #Trudeau
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has rejected Quebec’s request for full powers over immigration to the province.
Trudeau made the comments following a meeting in Montreal with Premier Francois Legault, adding that Quebec already has more control over newcomers than any other province or territory.
Quebec controls the number of economic immigrants to the province, but shares responsibility with Ottawa over refugees and newcomers who arrive through the family reunification stream.
Legault has said that Quebec needs complete authority over all immigration streams and that the province doesn’t have enough teachers, nurses and homes to accept more newcomers than it already does.
#Quebec #Trudeau
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🌱🔌Alberta government releases no-go zone map for renewable power projects
The Alberta government has released some details of where and how it will permit wind and solar development, prohibiting it along a broad stretch of the province's western edge, assessing its visual impact in five other large areas and restricting it on agricultural land.
said Affordability and Utilities ministry spokeswoman Ashley Stevenson.
The no-go zone, according to a map released late Thursday, includes the entire length of the Rocky Mountains, stretching as far east as Calgary and Highway 2 in the south.
#Alberta #energy
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The Alberta government has released some details of where and how it will permit wind and solar development, prohibiting it along a broad stretch of the province's western edge, assessing its visual impact in five other large areas and restricting it on agricultural land.
Wind projects are no longer permitted in the buffer zones due to the impact of their vertical footprint. With agricultural lands, development is still permitted as long as the project can coexist with livestock or crops.
said Affordability and Utilities ministry spokeswoman Ashley Stevenson.
The no-go zone, according to a map released late Thursday, includes the entire length of the Rocky Mountains, stretching as far east as Calgary and Highway 2 in the south.
#Alberta #energy
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🇨🇦🇵🇸 NDP motion to recognize a Palestinian state tests Liberal caucus divisions over Israel-Hamas
MPs are set to vote Monday on an NDP motion calling on the government to officially recognize a Palestinian state, testing deep splits in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal caucus over the Israel-Hamas war.
The motion also calls on the government to advocate for an end to the “decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.” It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, an arms embargo against Israel, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and a lifting of the “arbitrary cap” on the government’s temporary resident visa applications from Gazans.
#Palestine #Israel
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MPs are set to vote Monday on an NDP motion calling on the government to officially recognize a Palestinian state, testing deep splits in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal caucus over the Israel-Hamas war.
The motion also calls on the government to advocate for an end to the “decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories.” It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, an arms embargo against Israel, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and a lifting of the “arbitrary cap” on the government’s temporary resident visa applications from Gazans.
#Palestine #Israel
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Trudeau says he often mulls quitting his 'crazy job,' but will stay on
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he thought about quitting his "crazy job" every day but insisted he would stay in office until the next election.
Trudeau told Radio-Canada in an interview.
🤡 Stop complaining, just quit.
#Trudeau
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday said he thought about quitting his "crazy job" every day but insisted he would stay in office until the next election.
I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making the personal sacrifices. Of course, it's super tough, it's super not great at times. But my God, the path we're on is so precarious, democracies are under such attack around the world.
Trudeau told Radio-Canada in an interview.
🤡 Stop complaining, just quit.
#Trudeau
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🚙Ford on Toronto police officer’s auto theft advice: ‘Might as well leave cookies and milk’
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has compared controversial auto theft advice from a Toronto police officer to welcoming Santa Claus at Christmas.
The premier was asked on Friday about a Toronto police officer who told residents to leave their car keys by the door to avoid home invasions.
Ford said he couldn’t get his head around the advice and seemed to draw a parallel with leaving treats out on Christmas Eve.
Ford said.
#Ontario
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has compared controversial auto theft advice from a Toronto police officer to welcoming Santa Claus at Christmas.
The premier was asked on Friday about a Toronto police officer who told residents to leave their car keys by the door to avoid home invasions.
Ford said he couldn’t get his head around the advice and seemed to draw a parallel with leaving treats out on Christmas Eve.
I just didn’t understand the answer. We might as well leave cookies and milk at the front door along with a note. ‘Dear Mr. Criminal, the keys are in the mailbox, don’t kick my door in.'
Ford said.
#Ontario
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🇨🇦🇺🇦 Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade has died in Ukraine. Jean-Francois Ratelle, 36, was also known by the call sign "Hrulf."
Global Affairs Canada said it is aware that a Canadian has died in Ukraine, but would not provide the cause of death.
#Ukraine
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A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade has died in Ukraine. Jean-Francois Ratelle, 36, was also known by the call sign "Hrulf."
Global Affairs Canada said it is aware that a Canadian has died in Ukraine, but would not provide the cause of death.
#Ukraine
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