🪖Justin Trudeau called out by Americans over failure to hit NATO spending target

Discussions continued Tuesday over how Canada could demonstrate a timeline to hit the higher defence spending target — something that would require Ottawa to devote billions of extra dollars to the military.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Canada’s failure to hit the NATO target came up in meetings Trudeau held Monday and Tuesday with American politicians, and that the government was aware that Canada is being “called out” for falling short.

The spanking continues. The US needs Canadian tax dollars to fuel the military industrial complex or it will all collapse. Canada can barely support its own army, what more do you want?

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🎓Canada to stop processing study permits for colleges, universities that fail to track international students

The federal government plans to suspend processing of study permits from post-secondary students if the schools fail to keep track of international students’ enrolment.

The proposed regulations would compel colleges and universities to report to the federal Immigration Department whether a student is attending school and complying with all study permit requirements.

#immigration
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🪖Canada confirms plan to replace submarine fleet at NATO summit

Canada definitely plans to move forward with the purchase of new submarines, the federal government announced on the margins of the NATO Summit on Wednesday.

A senior government official, speaking on background, said they could not confirm how much the plan will cost, how many boats will be purchased or when they will arrive.

The submarine construction program will be separate from the National Shipbuilding Strategy because no shipyards in Canada currently have the capacity or technology to build sophisticated sub-surface vessels.

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⚛️🗑Ignace council votes in favour of potential nuclear waste repository

The northwestern Ontario township of Ignace is one step closer to hosting a $26-billion deep geological repository (DGR) for nuclear waste.

At a special meeting held Wednesday, Ignace council voted in favour of a recommendation by the township's willingness committee to continue with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) site selection process.

The vote does not guarantee the repository will be located in the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area, however. The final decision rests with the NWMO, which is also considering South Bruce in southern Ontario for the site. An announcement is expected later this year.

#Ontario #energy
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🏠Justin Trudeau suggests that many baby boomers live in houses that are "too much house" for them and that the government should create smaller housing options for them.

Trudeau could have stopped importing the third world into Canada to solve the housing crisis. But no, let's downsize grandpa.

#housing
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💸Trudeau says Canada can meet NATO's military spending benchmark by 2032

The Liberal government announced Thursday that it hopes to meet NATO's military investment benchmark of two per cent of alliance members' GDP by 2032. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the statement at the close of the alliance's annual summit in Washington.

So, 8 more years of bullying from fellow NATO members? By that time, Trudeau will be sipping cocktails lying on a Caribbean beach contemplating the climate emergency.

#NATO
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💰Canada invests millions to build chip network

Canada will invest $120 million over five years to build a national chip network, as calls intensify for the government to do more to bolster its lagging semiconductor sector.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the outlay from the federal Strategic Innovation Fund on Thursday. The investment supports a $220 million project led by the nonprofit research accelerator CMC Microsystems to help Canadian startups commercialize new technologies.

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Hundreds of people charged with murder while on bail

In 2022, there were 256 people charged with homicide while on some kind of release, including house arrest and parole. With 874 homicides in 2022, the 256 people charged while on release would equate to 29% of all homicides.

Thoughts?

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🇨🇦🇺🇸Trudeau praises Biden's world leadership

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Thursday that NATO and the G7 are "lucky" to have Biden leading "in some extraordinarily consequential times."

When asked by reporters whether Biden could lead on the world stage, Trudeau said "it has been, as always, a privilege and a pleasure to work alongside [Biden] on big issues."

At this point, praising Biden is like putting a nail in your coffin.

#US
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Trudeau says he still has 'full confidence' in Freeland, but has been talking to Carney

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he continues to have "full confidence" in Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, but he's also been talking to Mark Carney about entering federal politics.

Amid reports suggesting Freeland's role in cabinet could be on the table, Trudeau told reporters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday that Freeland "has been a close friend, an ally, and partner in doing really big things for Canada, and will continue to be."

#Trudeau #Freeland
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🇨🇦🇺🇦Canada to help train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets due to be flying by summer

Canada will help lead the training of Ukrainian fighter jet pilots on F-16s being delivered by NATO allies, which the U.S. expects will be flying by the summer.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will commit up to $389 million over the coming year to “enhance” the training, along with $500 million in additional military aid as part of NATO’s long-term pledge for Ukraine.

The show must go on.

#Ukraine
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Tear gas used as pro-Palestinian protesters, Montreal police clash

Several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in downtown Montreal, clashing with police on Thursday night.

This comes one day after McGill University hired a private security firm to take down the encampment on its lower field.

Videos posted to social media show several physical altercations as police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

#Quebec #Palestine
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Mad Max: Fury Road. Montreal edition.

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❌Poilievre won't commit to NATO 2% target

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he won't commit to meeting the two per cent NATO defence spending target if he becomes prime minister.

I make promises that I can keep and right now we are, our country, is broke. I'm inheriting a dumpster fire when it comes to the budget. Every time I make a financial commitment, I'm going to make sure I've pulled out my calculator and done all the math. People are sick and tired of politicians just announcing that they're going to spend money without figuring out how they're going to pay for it.

#Poilievre #NATO
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