Canada

A court document reveals what a criminologist calls a "striking list" of offences by a Winnipeg police officer who used his position to engage in a range of illegal activity for which he's now expected to serve prison time.

Const. Elston Bostock leaked police information to associates involved in illicit activity, shared a photo of a dead topless woman with other officers, used his connections to get contacts out of tickets, and took goods — including whisky and cigars — in exchange for favours and more, a court heard Friday.

"It really was quite a striking list of charges against this officer," said Frank Cormier, a criminologist and instructor in the sociology department at the University of Manitoba.

"The best way to describe it is that it's certainly not common, but it's not nearly as uncommon as it should be."

With flu cases now rising in Canada, medical experts are bracing for a difficult influenza season linked to the global spread of an evolving H3N2 strain that could be a mismatch for this year’s vaccine.

The ongoing flu season abroad has been marked by record case counts in the southern hemisphere, and an early start to the season across parts of Asia and the U.K. As Canada heads into the winter, it could be a bellwether of what’s to come.

There's speculation that a mutating type of H3N2 is behind that early surge. It's a strain of influenza A that's typically known for more severe infections, especially among older people. But what's particularly troubling some experts this year is that those latest mutations are widening the gap between this virus and our available flu shot.

For the first time in more than 100 years Albertans are talking about a general strike, inflamed by the provincial government's use of the notwithstanding clause to force striking teachers back to work.

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) includes 24 unions, representing 175,000 workers. Its president, Gil McGowan, also leads a larger collective called Common Front, which has agreed to treat an attack on some workers' rights as an attack on all workers’ rights.

McGowan has said unions will encourage workers — who are incensed by the provincial government’s suspension of bargaining rights — to volunteer for recall campaigns and prepare for a possible general strike.

But what are the legalities around a general strike? What moves could the Alberta government take to stop it? And if it does go ahead, when should it happen?

Mike Smith, the actor famous for playing Bubbles on Trailer Park Boys, has been charged with sexual assault.

According to court documents filed in Nova Scotia provincial court, Smith was charged on Oct. 2 in Halifax in relation to an alleged assault that occurred on Dec. 30, 2017 in Dartmouth, N.S.

According to a statement from Trailer Park Boys Inc., Smith has "stepped away" from his role as managing director of the company.

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• European nations and Canada are “pushing away” from the F-35, motivated by a desire for “strategic autonomy” and political friction with the Trump administration

• Spain officially canceled its F-35 purchase in August 2025, opting for European-built alternatives. Switzerland is now also reviewing its 36-jet deal after being hit with a “shocking” $1.3 billion price hike and new 39% U.S. tariffs, and recent reports suggest that Portugal has not opted to purchase the U.S. jets

• Instead of the F-35, they are increasingly looking to European alternatives, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

• Canada’s 88-jet deal is also in “limbo,” as PM Mark Carney, angered by Trump’s “51st state” comments and trade disputes, ordered a review of the 72 un-committed jets

• Technological and industrial sovereignty are significant reasons why some countries are opting not to purchase the F-35. Some European nations prioritize developing their own defense industries and technological bases. Buying American-made F-35s would make them dependent on US supply chains and could suppress the development of their own next-generation aircraft programs. ...

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A coalition of over 100 NGOs, led by Cooperation Canada and the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH), express their concern over the government’s decision to reduce Canada’s International Assistance Envelope in Budget 2025 tabled today. This marks a retreat from our global commitments, and breaks a promise made by Prime Minister Carney during the election campaign.

We are facing increased global instability. Authoritarian regimes have gained momentum, human rights are increasingly under threat, climate impacts are deepening global inequities, and humanitarian needs are at an all-time high. In this context, the government has chosen to reduce Canada’s international assistance by $2.7 billion over four years, including decreased development funding for global health.

Government leaders are navigating an exceptionally difficult moment. We recognize the precarious economic situation faced by Canadians, and international assistance is part of increasing prosperity at home. Evidence shows that these investments are cost effective and have real returns in terms of strengthening Canadian security, and expanding our global relationships and economic resilience.

“It is clear that any savings resulting from cutting the international assistance budget will be short-lived. Cuts erode Canada’s credibility with our global partners and blunt our capacity to shape outcomes that affect Canadians at home. Cooperation Canada and our members will continue to engage constructively with the government to reinforce that Canada’s global leadership cannot be taken for granted and that our commitments must be met,” said Kate Higgins, Chief Executive Officer for Cooperation Canada.

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Lai, arrested in 2020, calls the region his 'Canadian home,' niece says.

As G7 foreign ministers prepare to meet in Ontario's Niagara Region, family of hotel owner Jimmy Lai and Niagara-on-the-Lake’s lord mayor are calling for the pro-democracy activist's release from a Hong Kong prison.

Lai, who was arrested in 2020 and is being held in Lai Chi Kok prison, owns Vintage Hotels, a string of inns across the region. A British and Hong Kong citizen, he was founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.

“My uncle hasn’t done anything wrong that we don’t do in our own country on a daily basis,” his niece, Erica Lepp, who lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake, told CBC News on Thursday.

“Niagara-on-the-Lake is my uncle’s Canadian home,” Lepp said, “and this is where the majority of his Canadian family is.”

Gary Zalepa, Niagara-on-the-Lake's lord mayor, said in a public letter published on Nov. 3 that Lai and his family “have made a lasting contribution to our community.”

Lai and his family "have strengthened the local economy, created meaningful employment opportunities, and revitalized key heritage properties that attract visitors and sustain local businesses,” said the letter, which was released before Niagara Region hosts the G7 security, prosperity and economic resilience forum next week.

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