Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is expanding its Visa Application Centre (VAC) Network in China, increasing its geographic reach as Canada looks for new ways to support the growth in applications. So far this year, more than 500,000 applications have been received from China, a 15 per cent increase from 2016. By offering greater flexibility and accessibility for Chinese …

According to statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales posted a modest monthly increase in October but remain below levels recorded one year ago. Home sales via Canadian MLS® Systems edged up 0.9% in October 2017 on the heels of monthly increases in August and September, but remained almost 11% below the record set …

Trudeau describes the meeting’s tone as ‘cordial,’ while Duterte says he was insulted The president of Philippines had made clear he’s no fan of Justin Trudeau, telling a crowd he felt personally insulted after the Canadian prime minister raised human-rights concerns and the bloody drug war in the southeast Asian country. Human rights activists have urged President Rodrigo Duterte to …

‘Can I get it to go?’ Canada’s Trudeau charms Manila while ordering fried chicken Trudeau, in Manila for a summit of regional leaders, dropped in at an outlet of fastfood giant Jollibee Foods Corp after a visit to a nearby women’s clinic that advocates family planning, a touchy subject in the Catholic-majority Philippines. He greeted nearly everyone in the store, …

Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and Science Minister Kirsty Duncan confirmed on Wednesday that they were freeing up $1.6 million in new federal funds to send a lifeline to the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) — arguably the most important Arctic research lab in the world. Key research scientists had warned that they were being forced to …

Despite the eagerness of some trading partners, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is in no hurry to sign a revised Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) this week at the APEC summit in Vietnam. “Let me remind everyone Canada will not be rushed into a deal that is not in the best interest of Canada and Canadians. I have always been very …

Nearly one million new immigrants will settle in Canada between 2018 and 2020, under what Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen has labeled “the most ambitious immigration levels in recent Canadian history.” The ambitious target has been set in the government’s new multi-year Immigration Levels Plan, which was tabled in the House of Commons on November 1. Economic migrants will make up …

The Trudeau Liberals are facing warnings to proceed cautiously and in as transparent a manner as possible as they weigh a Chinese state-owned company’s bid to take over Aecon construction, which has headquarters in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. CCCC International Holding Ltd. of China has made a $1.5-billion bid to buy Aecon Group Inc., which has a storied 140-year history …

Tolls not only discouraged driving at peak times, but raised revenue too, says Patrick Condon Bridge tolls were already bringing in revenue and helping to reduce traffic congestion in the region before the NDP government — and others before it  — removed them from the Port Mann, Golden Ears and Lions Gate bridges, says a University of British Columbia professor. “If we had …

The vast majority of Quebecers support Bill 62, the Quebec government’s ban on wearing face coverings when dealing with public services, but that support drops to about 40 per cent elsewhere in Canada, an Angus-Reid Institute poll suggests. The survey question focused on the niqab itself, and nationwide, 40 per cent of respondents replied the veil should be prohibited in government …