Chinese Canadians tell inquiry of chilling effects of foreign interference publicity

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is condemning Iran’s missile attack on Israel, but says the international community must do everything it can to help avoid a bigger regional war.

Exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon over the last year erupted into broader violence in the last week as Israel ramped up its campaign against Hezbollah by air and Tuesday began sending in ground troops.

Also on Tuesday, Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, and warned of a “harsher” attack if Israel responds in kind.

Trudeau called Iran’s attack a further destabilizing action by a “terrorist regime” that put civilians at risk and runs the risk of a wider war.

He says he spoke to other G7 leaders in an early morning call and all agreed the international community must do everything it can to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that in just a week the alarming situation in Lebanon has gone from bad “to much, much worse,” and called for an end to the hostilities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.

— With files from The Associated Press

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

FREDERICTON – New Brunswick’s Liberal party is promising to improve how the province supports seniors if elected to govern on Oct. 21.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt campaigned in Neguac, N.B., this morning where she announced eight proposals, including a pledge to offer $250 a month to unpaid and informal caregivers who are looking after aging family members.

Holt says a Liberal government would improve home care by investing in the wages for personal support workers and resident attendants, as well as expanding programs that help seniors stay in their homes as long as possible.

As for nursing homes, Holt says the Liberals would improve wages and fill staffing gaps to ensure all existing nursing home beds are being used.

Holt says there are 1,108 people on waiting lists for long-term care and 550 are in hospital beds waiting for a place in a nursing home.

The Liberals also pledged to raise the “comfort and clothing allowance” for seniors from $150 to $200, and develop a strategy to improve support for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

“Our team will ensure that seniors receive the support they need in a way that promotes well-being and independence,” Holt said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

HALIFAX – The number of hate crimes reported by Halifax police in 2023 jumped by 62 per cent compared with the prior year.

Figures released last month by Statistics Canada show that Halifax police reported 121 hate crimes last year, more than 40 per cent of the total for the entire Atlantic region, at 300.

Halifax ranked fifth in the country for its hate crime rate, moving up from the seventh spot in 2022.

The country’s statistical agency says there were 23.3 police-reported hate crimes per 100,000 people in Halifax in 2023, up from a rate of 14.4 in 2022.

Canada-wide, hate crimes reported by police have been steadily increasing since 2019, and in 2023 there were 12 hate crimes per 100,000 people, up from 9.3 the previous year.

Warren Silver, an analyst with Statistics Canada, says the jump in numbers may not necessarily correlate to an increase in hatred, but to a rise in reporting.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.