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☆ Record international migration spurs historic rise in Canadian population
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Total population grew by a record 1.05 million people to 39.57 million in the twelve months to Jan. 1, 2023, and about 96% of the rise was due to international migration, the statistics agency said. In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 immigrants and the number of non-permanent residents increased by a net 607,782 people. The agency counts both permanent and non-permanent residents in addition to net new births in calculating population figures. Canada has been experiencing an upward trend in total employment since September, and the statistics agency has previously said that non-permanent residents are a notable contributor to that gain. Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada's labor force growth and by 2036 immigrants are projected to be about 30% of Canada's population, up from 20.7% in 2011, according to Canada's immigration ministry.

[1/6] Migrants, transferred from Plattsburgh, New York to El Paso, Texas, disembark from a plane at the airport, in El Paso, Texas, U.S. March 21, 2023. U.S. Border Patrol has quietly transported about 100 migrants this month on two charter flights from Plattsburgh, New York, near the border with Canada, to the Texas cities of Harlingen and El Paso. At the same time, asylum seekers have been crossing from the United States into Canada in record numbers, straining resources. Gil Kerlikowske, a former commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Border Patrol's parent agency, said he could not recall the agency using charter flights for migrants caught crossing from Canada. "That's what caused more and more people to go to the northern border to cross into the United States," he said.

Biden will be in the capital Ottawa on Thursday and Friday to address Parliament and meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Despite the unity over Ukraine, the U.S. is less happy with Canada over its defense spending, which has long failed to meet the 2% target of GDP set by NATO members. But Canada's defense spending is around 1.3% of GDP, well below the NATO target of 2%. David Cohen, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, told CTV that defense spending would be "a topic of ongoing conversation ... because we do need more dollars for defense." Trudeau is likely make a commitment of sorts on Haiti but less than Washington is pressing for, said a source briefed on the summit.

☆ Canada PM Trudeau's top aide to testify in parliament on Chinese election meddling
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, March 21 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bowed to pressure from the opposition and agreed to allow his top aide to testify before a parliamentary committee probing alleged Chinese election interference, his office said on Tuesday. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has repeatedly called for Trudeau's chief of staff, Katie Telford, to speak in a parliamentary committee looking into the foreign election tampering. The government had refused until the leader of the New Democrat Party, which supports Trudeau in key parliamentary votes, on Tuesday backed the Conservative call. Demands for Telford's testimony stem from allegations in unconfirmed media reports that Trudeau's aides were made aware of specific Chinese interference attempts. In a bid to further address Chinese meddling, Trudeau last week appointed David Johnston, a former governor general, as an independent special investigator into the allegations.

[1/2] The processing facility at an oil sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17, 2014. The company joins Canada's biggest oil producers in urging policymakers to boost public funding for the costly technology that is seen as key to cutting emissions from the carbon-intensive oil sands. Until then, the company will pay Canada's carbon tax, set to rise to C$170 a tonne by 2030, Nicholson said. Canada's oil sands produced a record 3.15 million bpd in 2022 and are forecast to hit 3.7 million bpd by 2030, according to S&P Global. "The oil sands are long-life, low-decline assets," said Wood Mackenzie analyst Scott Norlin.

☆ Canada's B.C. province sets high emissions bar for new LNG projects
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The entrance to Shell's LNG Canada project site is shown in Kitimat in northwestern British Columbia on April 12, 2014. While the tougher regulation will not impact the huge Shell-led (SHEL.L) LNG Canada project already under construction, a proposed export terminal adjoining the small-scale Tilbury LNG facility and the early-stage Ksi Lisims LNG project in northern B.C will fall under the new rule. The province will start exporting 14 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) when LNG Canada enters service in 2025. "That (net-zero requirement) is a very high bar and a high hurdle to pass," said Mark Zacharias, executive director of think-tank Clean Energy Canada, adding the new framework rounds out B.C. 's new regulations also include an oil and gas emissions cap and plans to accelerate the electrification of the economy.

☆ U.N. aviation council votes to hear MH17 case against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Allison Lampert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MONTREAL, March 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations aviation council on Friday voted to hear a case against Russia over the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the foreign ministers of Australia and the Netherlands said. Australia and the Netherlands initiated the action over MH17 last year at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO upheld its jurisdiction to hear the matter during a session on Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a written statement. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra called the decision to hear the case "an important step towards establishing the truth, justice and accountability". In October, Russia failed to win enough votes at ICAO's triennial assembly to keep its council seat.

☆ Canada appoints investigator to probe alleged China election meddling
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, March 15 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday appointed a veteran former official to investigate alleged election interference by China, fulfilling a commitment he made earlier this month. Johnston, 81, served from 2010 to 2017 as Canada's governor general, the personal representative of Queen Elizabeth, the then head of state. Trudeau said on March 6 that he would name an independent special investigator to probe media reports China ran schemes to interfere in federal elections in 2021 and 2019. The government would comply with Johnston's recommendations, which could include a formal inquiry, the statement said. Trudeau and top security officials have acknowledged interference attempts by China, but they insist that election outcomes were not altered.

☆ Man charged with dangerous driving after 'premeditated' killing of two in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Firefighters stand near the site where a man ran down a group of pedestrians with a van in the in the Lower St. Lawrence region of Amqui, Quebec, Canada on March 13, 2023. Prosecutors told reporters that more charges would be filed as police completed their investigations but said it was too early to talk about possible murder charges. Police spokesperson Claude Doiron told reporters Gagnon was cooperating in the investigation. Quebec prosecutor Simon Blanchette told reporters it was too early to speak about a motive. "We see these types of events are happening more and more around the world, it's not unique to us," Quebec Premier Francois Legault told reporters.

TORONTO, March 13 (Reuters) - Last week's sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) could choke funding for Canada's technology start-ups and place them in the hands of domestic lenders who may be more selective in financing new ventures, financiers told Reuters. Companies including Shopify Inc (SHOP.TO) were examples of Canada's tech success story, which helped pull more investments into the sector. Benjamin Bergen, president at Council of Canadian Innovators, a lobby group for Canadian technology companies, agreed. "Before SVB went down, accessing capital was increasingly becoming tighter and tighter for Canadians for startups for scale ups," he said. Aside from the banks, the federal government also has a Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative program that invests in promising Canadian technology companies.

SummarySummary Companies Move comes shortly after Scout plant announcementPlant in Canada can also qualify for IRA subsidiesBASF also picked Canada for EV battery materials plantWOLFSBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) chose Canada to build its first battery cell plant outside Europe, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise electric vehicle production chain in the region. He said Volkswagen would be making "the largest single investment in the auto sector in the history of Canada" but did not give details. The plant will be based in the city of St. Thomas, around 195 km (120 miles) northeast of Detroit. "I think all the big manufacturers understand that if you need to green the supply chain, Canada is the place to do that," said Champagne. Chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) a year ago also secured land in Canada for a planned battery materials facility to better serve electric vehicle markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

[1/5] Asylum seekers board a bus after crossing into Canada from the U.S. in Champlain, New York, U.S., February 28, 2023. Many of the arrivals abandoned plans to seek asylum in the United States, deterred by long processing times and restrictive definitions for asylum, according to aid officials and interviews with asylum seekers. "We want to help asylum seekers stabilize their lives whether in New York City or elsewhere." The Quebec government has said the increase in asylum seekers is straining its capacity to house people and provide basic services. Immigration experts said closing off the border to asylum seekers could push migrants to take even riskier routes.

Many of the arrivals abandoned plans to seek asylum in the United States, deterred by long processing times and restrictive definitions for asylum, according to aid officials and interviews with asylum seekers. "We want to help asylum seekers stabilize their lives whether in New York City or elsewhere." REUTERS/Christinne Muschi Acquire Licensing RightsThe Quebec government has said the increase in asylum seekers is straining its capacity to house people and provide basic services. The federal government said it has relocated more than 5,500 asylum seekers to other provinces since June, the first time it has done so. Immigration experts said closing off the border to asylum seekers could push migrants to take even riskier routes.

Persons: Zulema Diaz, Maryangel Diaz, Carlos Osorio, Diaz, Justin Trudeau, Joe Biden, Sean Fraser, Alejandro Mayorkas, Trudeau, Biden, Zulema, Eric Adams, Kate Smart, Fabien Levy, Smart, Ilze Thielmann, Raymond Theriault, Theriault, Christinne, Pierre, Luc Bouchard, You’re, Jamie Chai Yun Liew, Anna Mehler Paperny, Ted Hesson, Denny Thomas, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: REUTERS, New, . Homeland, Washington , D.C, Ottawa, New York City, Department of Homeless Services, U.S . Department of Homeland Security, Reuters Graphics Canada, United, Colombian, Immigration, Refugee Board, Canadian, Reuters, U.S, . Citizenship, Immigration Services, TLC, Border Patrol, University of Ottawa, Thomson Locations: U.S, Quebec, Niagara Falls , Ontario, Canada, CHAMPLAIN , New York, WASHINGTON, Peru, United States, New York City, Plattsburgh, Washington ,, New York State, New York, Haitian, Syracuse, El Paso, West Virginia, Niagara Falls, Guatemala, Champlain , New York, Montreal, Canada's province, Manitoba, Washington

☆ Canada gains 21,800 jobs in February, jobless rate holds at 5.0%
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, March 10 (Reuters) - The Canadian economy gained a net 21,800 jobs in February, exceeding analyst forecasts, while the jobless rate also unexpectedly held steady at 5.0%, Statistics Canada data showed on Friday. Analysts surveyed by Reuters had forecast a net gain of 10,000 jobs and for the unemployment rate to edge up to 5.1%. The services sector added a net 4,200 jobs, helped by the gains in health care and public administration, while employment in the goods sector increased by a net 17,500 jobs, led by utilities and manufacturing sectors. The Canadian dollar strengthened to 1.3787 per U.S. dollar after jobs data, up 0.3% on the day. Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Dale Smith in Ottawa; editing by Jason Neely and John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Last month, Google started testing limited news censorship as a potential response to a Canadian government bill that aims to compel online platforms to pay publishers in Canada for news content. Google has claimed that the test is like thousands of other product tests the company conducts on a regular basis. The tests, which the company says affected less than 4% of Canadian users, began on Feb. 9 and were scheduled to run for five weeks. Speaking to a parliamentary committee investigating the tests, Google's public policy manager Jason Kee confirmed that the tests would end next week. During the panel, questions were raised about local journalism outlets, like the 13-14 local, weekly papers that MP Martin Shields has in his riding.

☆ Here's what's inside the nearly $125,000 gift bag given to Brendan Fraser, Steven Spielberg and other Oscar nominees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But on top of critical acclaim and higher earning potential, there's another benefit to getting an Oscar nod: the gift bag. "There's nothing like a first time nominee's enthusiasm about getting this gift bag," Fary says. Because of the large quantity of products that is being gifted, Distinctive Assets delivers everything packed into two suitcases. What's included in this year's 'Everybody Wins' gift bag? Director Steven Spielberg has received numerous "Everybody Wins" gift bags for past Academy Award nominations.

☆ Canada bans Russian aluminum and steel imports
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, March 10 (Reuters) - Canada on Friday banned the import of all Russian aluminum and steel products in a move that Ottawa said was aimed at denying Moscow the ability to fund its war against Ukraine. "We are ensuring Putin cannot pay for his war by selling aluminum and steel in Canada, in coordination with action taken by the United States today," Freeland said. Last month, the United States announced a 200% tariff on Russian aluminum and related products that came into effect on Friday. Russian aluminum is produced by Rusal (RUAL.MM), which accounts for about 6% of global supplies. Canada imported C$45 million of aluminum and C$213 million of steel products from Russia In 2021, according to official data.

OTTAWA, March 9 (Reuters) - Canadian Police said on Thursday they are investigating allegations that two Montreal-area centers are being used as Chinese state-backed "police stations" to intimidate or harass Canadians of Chinese origin. The investigation adds to mounting allegations of Chinese interference in Canada's internal affairs, including accusations by Ottawa that Beijing tried to influence the last two Canadian elections. In November, the RCMP also launched an investigation into similar reports of Chinese "police service stations" in the Toronto area. The RCMP's deputy commissioner for federal policing, Michael Duheme, told a parliamentary committee last week that the agency has "taken overt actions" that led to the ceasing of operations at four alleged Chinese police stations. The Quebec RCMP alleged that Canadians of Chinese origin have been "victims of the possible activities" conducted by two centers, in Montreal and nearby Brossard, it has identified as possible police stations run by Beijing.

☆ Canada's top general concerned military lacks capacity to lead Haiti mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

OTTAWA, March 9 (Reuters) - Canada's top general said he was concerned that his country's armed forces, already stretched thin by support for Ukraine and NATO, do not have the capacity to lead a possible security mission to Haiti. Canada over the past year has spent more than C$1 billion ($724 million) in military assistance to Ukraine. The armed forces are struggling with recruiting and donations to Ukraine have cut into some military stocks, Eyre said. Canada's military is "actively planning" expanding to brigade strength in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's defense mission in Latvia, called Operation Reassurance, which it leads, Eyre said. Canada Defence Minister Anita Anand on Thursday announced plans to purchase portable anti-tank missile systems, counter uncrewed aircraft systems, and air defence systems for the Latvian mission.

☆ How manufacturing chips in the US could make smartphones more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

So far, the law has spurred $200 billion of announced investment in U.S. chip manufacturing, the Semiconductor Industry Association said in December. How much of phone cost is in the chips On its face, a significant hike in chip prices has implications for consumers because chips are such a big component in overall phone manufacturing cost. For Samsung , the combined 5G modem and core apps processor add up to $193 of the $618 manufacturing cost of an S-22 Plus phone. Bringing chip manufacturing to the U.S. is expensive in many respects. "The high costs of construction includes labor costs, costs of permits, cost of occupational safety and health regulations, inflationary costs in recent years, and people and learning curve costs."

☆ Bank of Canada and Fed head for historic divergence, in a blow to loonie
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Fergal Smith | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A sign is pictured outside the Bank of Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, May 23, 2017. A lower expected peak for Canadian rates has pressured the Canadian dollar against its U.S. counterpart. ,Canadian rates have peaked below U.S. rates in the three major tightening cycles since the start of the millennium, with the gap ranging between 50 and 75 basis points. "Poring over the national accounts, it's increasingly clear that interest-sensitive demand has wilted in Canada," Warren Lovely and Taylor Schleich, strategists at National Bank of Canada, said in a note after the recent GDP data. Still, there could be a limit to how much interest-rate divergence the BoC will allow, say analysts.

☆ Bank of Canada says it needs more evidence that rates are high enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

By Steve Scherer and David LjunggrenOTTAWA, March 9 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada needs more evidence to gauge if interest rates are high enough to tame inflation, in part because the economies of major trading partners are doing better than forecast, senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers said on Thursday. She spoke a day after the central bank left its key overnight interest rate on hold at 4.50%, becoming the first major central bank to suspend its tightening campaign as inflation eases. "If evidence accumulates suggesting inflation may not decline in line with our forecast, we're prepared to do more." The economic growth and inflation outlooks for both the United States and Europe are higher than the bank had expected in January. (Additional reporting by Fergal Smith in Toronto)((Reuters Ottawa bureau; david.ljunggren@tr.com))Keywords: CANADA CENBANK/Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

OTTAWA, March 8 (Reuters) - The Bank of Canada on Wednesday left its key overnight rate on hold at 4.50%, as expected, becoming the first major central bank to suspend its monetary tightening campaign in the face of an anticipated easing of high inflation. In its statement, the BoC reiterated that it was "prepared to increase the policy rate further if needed to return inflation to the 2% target." The majority of the 32 economists surveyed by Reuters last week said the central bank would likely keep rates on hold through the end of this year, and all of them forecast it would stay on hold on Wednesday. Before the announcement, money markets had expected the policy rate to remain unchanged but were pricing in another tightening by September. The central bank said core inflation measures and short-term inflation expectations still needed to fall in order to return inflation to target.

☆ Exclusive: Canada will not retrospectively target Chinese investments in Canadian mining companies, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Divya Rajagopal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Canada's Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 7, 2022. REUTERS/Patrick DoyleTORONTO, March 8 (Reuters) - Canada will not force Chinese state-investors in three of its large mining companies to divest stakes, as such a move would create policy uncertainty, natural resources minister told Reuters. In November, Canada had asked three Chinese companies to sell their stakes in Toronto-listed lithium explorers following a national security review, drawing criticism from the mining industry and raising questions about the future of other Chinese investments in Canadian mining sector. Three of Canada's largest mining companies - Teck Resources (TECKb.TO), Ivanhoe Mines Limited (IVN.TO) and First Quantum Minerals Limited (FM.TO), - count Chinese state-owned enterprises as their biggest single shareholder. This is the first time Canadian government officials have clarified what the future holds for other Chinese investments in the three Canadian mining companies.

☆ Canada's trade surplus widens to C$1.92 bln in January on food, autos
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Total exports rose 4.2% in January on the back of gains in all product categories that more-than offset a fall in energy products exports. Farm, fishing and intermediate food products, motor vehicles and parts, and metal and non-metallic mineral products all contributed roughly equally to the rise in exports, Statscan said. By volume, total exports were up 5.3% in January. Imports increased 3.1% after two consecutive monthly declines, largely driven by motor vehicles and parts as well as industrial machinery, equipment and parts. By volume, total imports were up 4.1%.

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