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☆ Trudeau Meets to Rally Ministers, Lawmakers Around Key Issues as Reelection Support Sags
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre would clobber Trudeau if an election were held today, according to an Angus Reid Institute poll published on Monday. Fewer than three-in-five (57%) of those who voted Liberal in 2021 say they would do so again, the pollster said. "This cabinet retreat is focused on issues as important as housing affordability and housing accessibility," Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters late on Sunday. While president, Trump forced the renegotiation of the North American trade pact, a vital agreement for the Canadian economy. Last week, Trudeau said a second Trump presidency would be challenging and would reflect "a lot of anguish and fury."

Persons: Steve Scherer OTTAWA, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre, clobber Trudeau, Angus Reid, Marc Miller, Dominic LeBlanc, Anita Anand, Donald Trump, Trump, Francois, Philippe Champagne, We've, Champagne, Trudeau, Steve Scherer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Canadian, Conservative, Angus, Angus Reid Institute, Liberal, Public, North, Industry, Trump Locations: Montreal, Ottawa, United States, North American, U.S, Canada

☆ Canada bans China’s Wechat from government devices citing security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Canada has banned Chinese super-app WeChat on official government devices citing cybersecurity risks, following similar action taken against short-form video app TikTok earlier this year. CNN has reached out to Tencent, the owner of Wechat, and Kaspersky Lab for comment. In February, the Canadian government banned TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, from government-issued mobile devices in light of cybersecurity concerns. Relative to TikTok, Wechat has been a less prominent target of global governments over the past year in part because it is much more popular among Chinese speakers. In August 2020, then-US President Donald Trump tried to ban Wechat along with TikTok by issuing executive orders.

Persons: Yintao Yu, Wechat, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Kaspersky, Treasury Board of Canada, CNN, Facebook, Twitter, PayPal, Chinese Communist Party, Trump Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Canada, Russian, China, Beijing, California

☆ Canada bans WeChat, Kaspersky applications on government devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOTTAWA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Canada on Monday banned Chinese messaging application WeChat and Russian antivirus program Kaspersky on government-issued mobile devices due to privacy and security risks, but said government information had not been compromised. WeChat and Kaspersky did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "The decision to remove and block the WeChat and the Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that government of Canada networks and data remain secure and protected and are in line with the approach of our international partners," the statement said. The applications will be removed from government-issued mobile devices on Monday, and users will be blocked from downloading them in the future. Canada in February banned TikTok, the short-video app owned by Chinese company Bytedance, from government-issued devices due to similar privacy and security concerns.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Kaspersky, TikTok, Ismail Shakil, Yuvraj Malik, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights OTTAWA, HK, Treasury Board of Canada, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Canada, Moscow, Ottawa, Bengaluru

☆ Factbox: Key moves in Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OTTAWA, July 26 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, appointing new heads at 30 of the 38 ministries, adding seven new faces. Bill Blair took over as defense minister, his fourth cabinet post under Trudeau since 2018, where he will oversee military efforts to help Ukraine and reinforce NATO. The former Toronto police chief, 69, had previously been in charge of border security, public safety and then emergency preparedness. Marc Miller, 50, was promoted to immigration minister from crown indigenous relations. Fraser, 39, had been immigration minister since October 2021.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Anita Anand, Anand, Bill Blair, Trudeau, Dominic LeBlanc, Marco Mendicino, Marc Miller, Sean Fraser, Mark Holland, Jean, Yves Duclos, Pablo Rodriguez, Arif Virani, David Lametti, Mona Fortier, Mendicino, David Ljunggren, Steve Scherer, Deepa Babington Organizations: OTTAWA, Canadian, WHO, Treasury Board, NATO, Toronto police, Liberal, Canadian Heritage, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Fraser, Ontario

One well-placed Liberal source said Defence Minister Anita Anand was in the running to take over at Treasury Board, which has overall control of government spending. The Liberal source said seven ministers would be leaving the cabinet. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp, which also said seven would go, named Justice Minister David Lametti and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino as among the departees. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, 53, said he would leave the cabinet immediately and not run in the next election. Public Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek, 72, and Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, 69, said they also would not run again.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, Francois, Philippe Champagne, Anita Anand, David Lametti, Marco Mendicino, Omar Alghabra, Helena Jaczek, Joyce Murray, Carolyn Bennett, Alghabra, David Ljunggren, Paul Simao, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: OTTAWA, Liberal Party, Innovation, Treasury Board, Liberal, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Public Safety, Public Procurement, Fisheries, Mental, New Democrats, Thomson Locations: Jaczek

☆ Some Canadian workers in wage pact with government to end strike from Monday
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Canada reached agreement for a new wage deal with a union representing 120,000 federal workers, the union said on Monday, bringing an end to the country's largest public sector strike that had crippled services from tax returns to immigration. "Strike action continues across the country for 35,000 members at Canada Revenue Agency," the union said, adding that talks would resume with a new mandate for a fair contract. Their key outstanding concerns include fair wages, the right to work remotely, and the role of seniority in layoffs. However, the Treasury workers' deal exceeded "the employer's original offer before the launch of strike action", the union added. Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Canadian government says it gave striking union 'final offer'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Picketers march on Parliament Hill as approximately 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) continue to strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File PhotoApril 29 (Reuters) - Canadian government negotiators have presented striking public workers with a "final offer," the Treasury Board of Canada said on Saturday, aiming to end a dispute that has disrupted services ranging from tax returns to passport renewals. The head of the union representing some 155,000 striking public workers earlier this week accused the government of stalling and called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved in negotiations. On Saturday, the Treasury Board, which oversees public administration, said it gave the union its offer on Friday. "This is a fair, competitive and reasonable final offer," the Treasury Board said in a statement.

☆ Canada calls public worker strike demands 'unaffordable'; union urges Trudeau intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Picketers march on Parliament Hill as approximately 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) continue to strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 26, 2023. REUTERS/Blair GableOTTAWA, April 26 (Reuters) - The union representing some 155,000 striking Canadian public workers is making "unaffordable" demands, the Treasury Board of Canada said on Wednesday, while the union head accused the government of stalling. The strike by federal government workers, represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, entered its eighth day on Wednesday, affecting services ranging from tax returns to passport renewals. Union President Chris Aylward called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to get involved in negotiations and give the Treasury Board a new mandate. Earlier Wednesday the union said it was escalating strike action, blocking ports in Vancouver, Montreal and Saint John’s.

[1/2] Picketers gather and march downtown as approximately 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) continue to strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 24, 2023. For the 155,000 Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) on strike, the main sticking point is wages. "If they do get the remote work language in the collective agreement, then others will be inspired to do the same." PSAC, which names remote work as its second priority after wages, said on its website that it is time to look to the future "by enshrining remote work protections" into collective agreements. On Tuesday the Treasury Board said remote work remained a sticking point.

TORONTO, April 23 (Reuters) - A strike by about 155,000 Canadian federal government workers is closer to a resolution, with progress made on remote work and wage increases for Treasury Board employees, the union said on Sunday. The strike is scheduled to continue for now amid ongoing talks about a deal for revenue agency workers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) said in a statement. "At Treasury Board we made some headway on remote work language, and both sides have moved in order to get closer to a resolution on wage increases," said Chris Aylward, National President of PSAC. The talks with the government about wage increases for revenue agency workers, who oversee tax returns, have not made progress, he added. The revenue agency workers wanted a pay hike of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers who oversee federal government administration were seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years.

OTTAWA, April 22 (Reuters) - A union representing some 155,000 striking Canadian public workers called on Saturday for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speed up negotiations over a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees. "I need to see the prime minister getting involved in these negotiations and helping and assisting to move these negotiations along," Aylward said. "There is no time, nor tolerance for stalling and misinformation," the office of Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said in a statement. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. Apart from wages, PSAC also wants the new agreement to recognize the right to work remotely.

☆ Factbox: Canadian public servants' strike: demands and impact
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] PSAC National President Chris Aylward speaks to media after more than 155,000 public sector union workers with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) began a strike, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada April 19, 2023. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. * New language in the agreement with the revenue agency to protect union members' work from being contracted out to private firms. About 48,000 union workers have been deemed essential and will continue to report to work during the labor disruption.

[1/5] A sign is pictured in front of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Chris WattieOTTAWA, April 19 (Reuters) - About 155,000 federal workers in Canada walked off the job on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees, a strike that affects a range of public services from tax returns to passport renewals. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union said contract negotiations would continue, and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the urgency of resolving the dispute. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years.

REUTERS/Chris WattieOTTAWA, April 19 (Reuters) - About 155,000 federal workers in Canada walked off the job on Wednesday after failing to reach a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees, a strike that affects a range of public services from tax returns to passport renewals. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union and the federal government said negotiations are ongoing, and Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the urgency of resolving the dispute. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees: 120,000 workers under the Treasury Board and more than 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. "There's obviously still the concern that this contract could set a precedent for other public sector union negotiations," he said.

☆ Canada public workers to strike over pay dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 18 (Reuters) - A union representing some 155,000 public sector workers in Canada called for a strike starting on Wednesday after failing to reach a new wage deal with the federal government, setting up a walkout that could affect tax filings and passport services. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union, which has been in collective bargaining for a new contract since 2021, had set a deadline of 9 p.m. The strike will affect federal services and could delay tax refunds since about 35,000 workers at the revenue agency would be walking out in the middle of tax filing season. The contract negotiations cover two main groups of employees - 120,000 workers under Canada's Treasury Board, which oversees public administration, and 35,000 revenue agency workers. Tax agency workers initially sought a pay bump of more than 30% over three years, while the other group is seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years.

☆ Canada bans TikTok from government devices citing security risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"This may be a first step, it may be the only step we need to take," he said referring to the action against TikTok. As government bans TikTok on work phones, "many Canadians, businesses and private individuals will reflect on the security of their own data and perhaps make choices in consequence," he said. The ban was issued "without citing any specific security concern or contacting us with questions," a TikTok spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Ottawa has also previously excluded Chinese firms from Canada's critical minerals and telecommunication sectors, citing risks to its national security. "The Communications Security Establishment’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) guidance strongly recommends that Canadians understand the risks and make an informed choice on their own before deciding what tools to use."

☆ Canada bans TikTok on government devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —The Canadian government is banning TikTok from official electronic devices, making it the latest to announce restrictions on the short-form video app in light of cybersecurity concerns. Government-issued devices will be blocked from downloading TikTok, and existing installations of the app will be removed, according to a statement by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. “Following a review of TikTok, the Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that it presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security,” the statement said. In a statement responding to the ban, TikTok said it was “curious” that Canada had announced the move “only after similar bans” in the EU and the United States, and without contacting TikTok about the concerns. “While the risks of using this application are clear, we have no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised,” the statement said.

☆ Canadian businesses urge federal govt to bring employees back to office
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 31 (Reuters) - Top Canadian business executives called on the federal government to bring public sector employees back to workplaces, saying deficiencies in public services due to virtual work was affecting the business community and individuals. The federal public service sector employed over 319,000 in 2021, according to data from Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. A majority of companies that largely shifted to remote work since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic are struggling to bring back employees to offices as they hesitate to give up the comfort of working from home. "We strongly urge the federal government to lead the way to a return to normal that will both foster economic growth and ensure that all Canadians receive the quality of public services that they have a right to expect," the letter said. Reporting by Mehnaz Yasmin in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini GanguliOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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