Canada in ‘exploratory’ talks to change Safe Third Country Agreement
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says Canada is in “exploratory” talks with the United States to re-open the Safe Third Country Agreement.The aim would be to stem the flow of asylum seekers that have been coming into Canada from the United States.
There have been reports this week that Canada wants the agreement rewritten to apply to the entire border. But Goodale says that would not be in Canada’s interests and could increase insecurity at the border.
MPs stricken at sudden death of Tory colleague Gord Brown
Ashen-faced MPs of all political stripes commiserated with their stricken Conservative colleagues after hearing the news May 2 that longtime Ontario Tory MP Gord Brown had died suddenly in his Parliament Hill office.The Conservative caucus was in the middle of its weekly meeting inside the Centre Block when the gathering was suddenly cut short around 11 a.m. Not long afterward, Tory MPs were called back into the meeting and given the news.
Many looked visibly shaken and close to tears as they emerged from the room.
Brown, 57, was first elected in 2004 and won re-election three more times, including most recently in 2015.
Kahnawake ’marry out, get out' law ruled unconstitutional
A Quebec judge has ruled that a Mohawk community’s so-called “marry out, get out” law is unconstitutional.Quebec Superior Court Justice Thomas Davis declared a membership rule designed to preserve Mohawk culture is discriminatory and violates the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The case was heard in court last year over a rule commonly referred to as “marry out, get out,” which states that anyone who marries a non-Indigenous person must leave the territory.
US delays tariffs for another month
The United States has delayed the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs for another month, with an announcement April 30 that pushed the internationally contentious issue off to June 1.The announcement came just before the deadline for the tariffs taking effect and marked the second such delay over an issue that has threatened to spark a global trade war.
Seven ex-Bloc Quebecois MPs mull forming new party
The seven MPs who quit the Bloc Quebecois in late February over Martine Ouellet’s leadership say they are considering forming a new political party.They held a news conference in Ottawa on May 1 to say they are cutting all ties to the Bloc. Their decision comes two days after Ouellet accused the seven of spreading “fake news” about her.
Bloc members will vote on Ouellet’s leadership in early June as well as on whether the party should focus on promoting Quebec independence on a daily basis.
The seven former Bloc MPs have accused Ouellet of constantly zeroing in on independence instead of defending Quebec’s interests on the federal scene.