Episodios

  • Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Unlocking Canada’s critical minerals

    Tim Hodgson Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Unlocking Canada’s critical minerals
    Mar 11 2026
    This substantial federal investment is projected to unlock an impressive $434 million in Canadian project capital, providing a significant economic boost that will be felt truly from coast to coast. These figures are not just statistics; they represent a transformational injection of capital with the power to revitalize both the national economy and our vital industrial sector.
    Crucially, these financial commitments are strategically aligned to support Canada’s long-term vision articulated in our new Defence Industrial Strategy. This strategy is a blueprint for national prosperity and security, focusing on strengthening Canada’s defence industrial base to foster economic growth and technological superiority.
    The overall investment is meticulously broken down across four key strategic programs, targeting critical areas for future growth and sustainability:1. Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D)
    • Investment: More than $25 million
    • Goal: This funding is designed to aggressively drive innovation and advance cutting-edge technologies within the critical minerals sector. It directly supports research into new extraction, processing, and manufacturing techniques, ensuring Canada remains a global leader in the supply chain for essential minerals required for green technology and high-tech manufacturing.
    2. Energy Innovation Program (EIP)
    • Investment: Nearly $18 million
    • Goal: The EIP funding is focused on accelerating the development and deployment of clean energy and advanced mining technologies. The core objectives are multifaceted: to enhance resource reliability, improve affordability for consumers and industry, bolster the competitiveness of Canadian energy and mining exports, and achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across these sectors.
    3. Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program
    • Investment: Nearly $3 million
    • Goal: This vital program is dedicated to strengthening and increasing Indigenous economic participation within the mining sector. The investment supports partnerships, capacity building, and business development initiatives, ensuring that Indigenous communities directly benefit from and have meaningful input into natural resource development projects on their traditional territories.
    4. Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data Initiative
    • Investment: More than $2 million
    • Goal: This strategic initiative aims to fundamentally enhance the accessibility and quality of geoscientific data available to explorers and investors. By generating new, high-quality insights and comprehensive datasets, the program significantly reduces the inherent risk associated with mineral exploration, thereby encouraging private sector investment and accelerating the discovery of new critical mineral deposits.
    In summary, this targeted investment package represents a comprehensive federal strategy to modernize Canada's industrial and resource sectors, drive clean innovation, ensure long-term national security, and promote inclusive economic growth.

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    1 h y 33 m
  • Canada Stand in the Middle East

    Canada Stand in the Middle East
    Mar 9 2026
    Tokyo, Japan - Wrapping up a rigorous 10-day, three-country tour aimed at expanding Canadian market access in Asia, Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed reporters on Saturday in Tokyo, focusing heavily on the escalating security situation in the Middle East. He confirmed that, as of yet, Canada has not received any formal requests for military assistance or aid from Persian Gulf states, stating that he does not "necessarily anticipate those requests."
    Carney's comments come against a backdrop of rising regional instability, primarily fueled by the Iran conflict, which was initially sparked by recent military strikes carried out by the US and Israel. This situation has heightened concerns among Canada's regional allies. Just days prior, on Thursday, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan publicly acknowledged that Gulf partners "may require defence and support" in light of the ongoing hostilities.
    A Contradictory Stance and Domestic Division
    The Prime Minister's handling of the crisis has drawn significant criticism domestically. Carney initially offered support for the US and Israeli strikes but subsequently expressed reservations, questioning whether the actions breached international law—a perceived contradiction that has fueled political debate.
    This policy ambivalence appears to reflect a divided public. A newly released Angus Reid poll indicates a sharp split among Canadians, with 48% voicing opposition to greater Canadian involvement or the government's current posture, compared to 35% who remain supportive. Adding to the scrutiny, prominent voices, including former Liberal Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy and current Liberal MP Will Greaves, have publicly criticized Carney's evolving stance as contradictory and lacking clarity.
    Upcoming Parliamentary Showdown
    The return of Parliament next week is set to bring the Middle East policy under intense scrutiny. The New Democrats have already signaled their intent to force a debate on the conflict and Canada's role, ensuring that the government will face immediate questions upon the session's resumption.
    In anticipation of this challenge, Mr. Carney has been reiterating that Canada's foremost priority remains the protection and evacuation of its citizens from the volatile region. He stressed that diplomatic "talks continue with Gulf leaders" to ensure the safety of Canadian nationals and coordinate a peaceful resolution where possible.
    Trade and Trump Define the Tour
    Beyond the immediate crisis, Mr. Carney’s lengthy tour was primarily focused on economic diplomacy. Analysts suggest that a major, though often downplayed, component of the trip was managing relations with the United States under President Donald Trump. While the Prime Minister sought to expand trade with Asian nations, his overall approach is widely seen as being shaped by the imperative of safeguarding Canada’s position in North America.
    This was evident in his consistent downplaying of separate, ongoing US-Mexico talks concerning the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a key trade pact that is foundational to the Canadian economy. The need to maintain stable relations with the Trump administration, according to observers, remains the central constraint guiding the Prime Minister’s foreign policy decisions.

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    1 h y 15 m
  • British Columbia Premier’s statement on online activity and Tumbler Ridge tragedy

    British Columbia Premier’s statement on online activity and Tumbler Ridge tragedy
    Mar 2 2026
    Premier David Eby has released the following statement in response to media reports regarding OpenAI and the shooting in Tumbler Ridge: “Reports that allege OpenAI had related intelligence before the shootings in Tumbler Ridge took place are profoundly disturbing for the victims’ families and all British Columbians. “The pain that these families have gone through is unimaginable. “We have confirmed with police that they are pursuing orders regarding the preservation of any potential evidence related to the shootings in Tumbler Ridge held by digital services companies, including social media platforms and AI companies. “I urge anyone with any information regarding this incident to immediately contact police and provide their full co-operation. “We will use all powers of government to ensure that police have the tools they need to investigate every aspect of this horrific tragedy.” Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Pink Shirt Day: “Today, as British Columbians wear pink to stand up against bullying, we do so during a time of deep sorrow. Our thoughts remain with the students, educators and families in Tumbler Ridge, who are marking this day under the weight of profound loss. In moments like this, the importance of safe, caring and connected school communities has never felt more urgent. “Pink Shirt Day started in response to a student experiencing homophobic and transphobic bullying. Since then, it has become a wider movement about making our schools and our society places where everyone feels safe, supported and celebrated for who they are. “As a parent of school-age kids, Pink Shirt Day hits close to home. Like so many families, we talk around the kitchen table about what it means to be kind, to stand up for others and to ask for help when something doesn’t feel right. “While we have made progress, bullying remains a serious and evolving challenge, particularly in the digital world. Online harassment and exploitation can follow young people everywhere, and we have seen some heartbreaking consequences here in B.C. “That is why our government is focused on keeping kids safe. We are taking action to address online harms, improve school safety, strengthen mental-health supports and ensure our education system is inclusive and welcoming for students. “Pink Shirt Day is a reminder that preventing bullying isn’t just about one day – it’s about the choices we make every day. Choosing to listen. Choosing to speak up. Choosing kindness, especially when it matters most. “Today, my family and I will wear pink and keep those conversations going around the kitchen table. I encourage everyone in British Columbia to do the same. When we stand together, we send a powerful message to every child: You are valued, you are supported and you belong.” Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care, said: “Pink Shirt Day reminds us to come together – to stand up against bullying – and to support school communities where every student feels safe, respected and included. Today, throughout British Columbia, people are choosing to show kindness in their words and actions. “This day comes during a period of deep sadness for many. Our thoughts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge, who are observing this day while continuing to process an unimaginable loss. We hold them in our hearts and stand with them in their grief. “As parents and caregivers, we all want our children to feel safe being themselves, to feel included and to know they belong. When schools are welcoming and supportive, students are better able to learn, build confidence and form positive relationships that carry with them throughout their lives. “This day also reminds us that preventing bullying is an ongoing responsibility we all share. By listening to student voices, supporting one another and taking action every day, we can continue building communities where everyone feels welcome and valued.” As the Province looks to reduce its reliance on the United States for trade, legislation before the house, if passed, will provide the Province with the tools needed to directly invest in high-impact private-sector projects through a $400-million B.C. Strategic Investment Fund. “As the federal government looks for projects to boost forestry, defence and shipbuilding, our goal is to make British Columbia businesses are at the front of the line,” said Premier David Eby. “By incentivizing large private-sector projects and participating in the upside, we can make sure people in our province are benefiting through high paying jobs and revenue for stronger services.” Currently, government’s ability to support private-sector companies is limited to providing grants, with little to no direct revenue upside for the Province. Other jurisdictions, including Ontario, Quebec, the governments of Canada and the U.S., have more funding flexibility, such as:taking equity in companiesissuing ...
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    1 h y 14 m
  • Human rights are under assault globally, says UN Secretary General

    Human rights are under assault globally, says UN Secretary General
    Feb 25 2026
    • Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as 'El Mencho', was killed in a military raid in Jalisco after being seriously injured in a shootout, dying during an air transfer to Mexico City.
    • The US provided intelligence support for the operation, as confirmed by Mexico's Defence Ministry.
    • The US had designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a terrorist organization and offered a reward for information leading to Oseguera's capture.
    • Following Oseguera's death, violent protests with roadblocks and burning vehicles occurred in Jalisco and other states.

    • At the Human Rights Council opening in Geneva, Guterres warned human rights are under attack globally and said `This assault is not coming from the shadows. It is happening in plain sight—and often led by those who hold the greatest power`.
    • Guterres blamed political choices and donor shifts, citing US President Donald Trump's 2025 aid cuts and other major donors' follow suit, weakening rights enforcement.
    • Across conflicts from Sudan to Myanmar, Guterres pointed to mass civilian suffering and said, "Humanitarian needs are exploding while funding collapses," targeting refugees, LGBTIQ+ communities, minorities, and indigenous peoples.
    • The U.N. human rights office is now in "survival mode", Guterres said, as funding shortages blocked two 2025 investigations and Washington paid about $160 million of over $4 billion owed.
    • Looking ahead, climate and AI pose accelerating threats to rights, the UN warned as António Guterres and Volker Türk said the two-state solution is being stripped away in broad daylight amid rising domination.


    • The United States will withdraw from the U.N. Human Rights Council and will not resume funding for the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees, as announced by President Donald Trump.
    • The U.S. previously left the Human Rights Council last year and cut funding to UNRWA after allegations from Israel that it housed Hamas militants, which UNRWA denies.
    • Trump's announcement coincided with a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims both the rights body and UNRWA are biased against Israel.
    • The decision to end funding to UNRWA follows legislation that halted American funding until March 2025, confirming it will not be restored under Trump.


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    1 h y 13 m
  • Canada get tough on foriegn extortion

    Canada get tough on foriegn extortion
    Feb 21 2026
    Minister Hodgson reaffirmed Canada’s enduring commitment to transatlantic stability and Arctic co-operation. The Minister and the Commissioner discussed further co-operation on multilateral critical minerals mechanisms, including the Critical Minerals Production Alliance and Critical Minerals Action Plan. Building on the direction provided in the EU–Canada Strategic Partnership of the Future launched in June 2025, the Minister and Commissioner discussed EU instruments that could facilitate enhanced Canada–EU trade and investment, including the EU’s aggregate liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchasing mechanism.


    “Extortion is a serious crime that harms Canadians, businesses, and communities. Our government is strengthening financial intelligence and working closely with law enforcement and financial institutions to better detect and disrupt extortion, support investigations, and help protect Canadians.” - The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

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    1 h y 42 m
  • BC budget 2026

    BC budget 2026
    Feb 19 2026
    n a world of ongoing and heightened economic uncertainty, Budget 2026 makes careful choices to protect what matters most to British Columbians through investments to protect services, such as health care, education and social supports, while securing B.C.’s future through skills training and targeted investments to spur economic growth. “Over the past eight years, we have built schools, hospitals and invested in the services British Columbians rely on every day,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance. “Our investments have allowed us to enter these uncertain times from a position of strength, but we need to be realistic about the difficult financial situation we face as a province. We are choosing to safeguard what we’ve built, while growing our economy to secure good jobs and economic prosperity for people and families.” Budget 2026 opens the door further for people to train for good-paying careers in the skilled trades through $283 million in new funding over three years. This will expand spaces for in-demand trades training programs, increase per-seat funding to training centres, and enhance the B.C. Employer Training Grant to double apprenticeship seats by 2028-29. A new $400-million British Columbia strategic investment fund will help B.C. invest quickly in collaborative opportunities and major projects as the federal government invests in Canada’s sovereignty. Budget 2026 supports businesses to leverage new opportunities through a new temporary Manufacturing and Processing Investment Tax Credit for investing in new buildings, machinery and equipment. To support B.C.’s maritime sector, which is the largest in Canada, Budget 2026 extends the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry Tax Credit until the end of 2027. Safeguarding what matters most in turbulent times Budget 2026 protects the most critical services that people rely on every day through $5.1 billion in funding to strengthen health care, K-12 education and supports for people who need care and assistance. This includes funding to recruit and train more health-care professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and long-term care support workers in communities across B.C. Budget 2026 includes $634 million in new funding for K-12 education over three years, including a $167-million investment in the Classroom Enhancement Fund, which will result in more teachers for everyone, as well as special-education teachers and teacher psychologists and counsellors. New investments of $131 million will support intensive, specialized mental-health and addictions treatment for people with concurrent challenges of complex mental illness, addictions and acquired brain injuries. It will also fund involuntary treatment beds in Prince George, Maple Ridge and Surrey. A new $330-million lift to ChildCareBC will protect the child care services families rely on by maintaining lower fees, and the spaces and support for operators and educators achieved over the past eight years. Budget 2026 also provides $25 million in new funding to support the expansion of child care options on school grounds. With $475 million in new funding for children and youth with disabilities, families will get direct funding for support services and better access to more service providers in their communities. Budget 2026 provides $139 million in funding over three years to reduce repeat, violent offending and chronic property crime, and support timely access to justice. Making disciplined spending choices to reduce spending and increase revenue Government has exceeded initial targets set in Budget 2025 for expenditure management through operational and program savings. Budget 2026 continues that work by introducing targets to reduce the size of the public sector, and generates new revenue over the three-year fiscal plan. “We are making careful choices to secure B.C.’s future,” Bailey said. “We are updating the tax system to raise revenue and prevent cuts to critical services, while keeping B.C. one of the lowest-taxed provinces for working and middle-class families. At the same time, we are reducing government spending and carefully repacing our capital plan to deliver services and infrastructure more efficiently.” To improve B.C.’s fiscal outlook and raise revenues to protect critical services, Budget 2026 increases the tax rate of the first income-tax bracket by less than 0.6 percentage points. The average increase will be $76 in 2026, and more than 40% of taxpayers will see savings when combined with an increase to the B.C. Tax Reduction Credit. The credit offsets the tax change for British Columbians with lower incomes. British Columbians with middle incomes will continue to have some of the lowest taxes in the country, and government funding continues to help people with costs through measures such as the BC Family Benefit, more affordable child care and lower car insurance. Budget 2026 also increases the speculation tax for foreign owners and untaxed worldwide...
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    1 h y 35 m
  • a community searching for answers after tragedy

    a community searching for answers after tragedy
    Feb 17 2026
    Canada is talking the tragedy in Tubler Rifge BC

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    1 h y 10 m
  • Voilence surging in South Sudan

    Voilence surging in South Sudan
    Feb 11 2026
    The United Nations on Tuesday warned of a sharp escalation in violence in South Sudan, driven by political deadlock among the signatories to the country’s fragile peace deal, as clashes, displacement and humanitarian access restrictions worsen. Briefing the UN Security Council, UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said rising tensions linked to stalled implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement had led to armed confrontations across several regions, particularly in Jonglei state. He said fighting between government and opposition forces had intensified in recent weeks, with reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric and mass displacement. More than 280,000 people have been displaced by violence in Jonglei alone, according to government figures, he added. Lacroix expressed concern over reports that government forces had ordered the temporary relocation of civilians, as well as UN and humanitarian personnel, from parts of Jonglei in late January ahead of a planned military operation, although authorities later denied issuing such instructions. He also warned that unilateral initiatives to amend the 2018 peace agreement, including proposals to delay constitution-making until after elections, risk undermining the accord’s primacy. The main opposition group, the SPLM/A-IO, has rejected the initiatives, citing ongoing legal proceedings involving First Vice President Riek Machar and demanding his release before engaging in political dialogue. South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous countries for aid workers, Lacroix said, noting that 350 attacks on humanitarian staff and facilities were recorded in 2025, up from 255 the previous year. Access constraints persist, particularly in opposition-held areas, as the country battles its worst cholera outbreak, with more than 98,000 cases reported since September 2024. He said violence in parts of Jonglei had forced the closure of nutrition sites and health facilities, cutting off care for thousands of children and pregnant women, while recent attacks and looting of humanitarian barges in Upper Nile state had further shrunk humanitarian space. Lacroix also warned that cost-cutting measures at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were limiting its ability to protect civilians, with patrols reduced by up to 70 percent in some areas and dozens of human rights monitoring missions cancelled. Despite these constraints, he said UNMISS continued to play a critical deterrent role, citing the mission’s presence in Akobo, Jonglei, as helping prevent possible aerial bombardments amid escalating fighting. Lacroix urged South Sudan’s leaders to step back from renewed conflict, return to inclusive dialogue and uphold the peace agreement, warning that elections held without consensus among all parties would lack credibility. “Without the participation of all those who have placed their hopes into this peace process, any election will not be credible and therefore not worthy of our support,” he told the council.

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    1 h y 10 m