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U.S. embassy says it ‘deeply values’ Canadian sacrifices after Trump adviser attack – Global News

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The American embassy in Ottawa issued a statement Thursday morning saying the country does, in fact, value the “service and sacrifice” of Canadians after a top Trump aide appeared to belittle the hundreds of deaths and casualties incurred during the war in Afghanistan.

“The United States deeply values the service and sacrifice of our Canadian allies in support of the defense of freedom and global security,” said Richard Mills, the embassy’s chargé d’affaires.

The chargé d’affaires is the top-ranking official in the embassy at the moment given Aldona Wos, who was nominated in February 2020 by the president to take over the ambassadorship, is not yet confirmed.

Read more:
Canada out of step with ‘Trump world,’ claims White House advisor

The statement also referenced a quote from Vice-President Mike Pence when he visited Canada last year.

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“The United States and Canada have stood shoulder to shoulder in the defense of freedom for generations. Our ancestors fought side by side in the great conflicts of the 20th century,” Pence said.

“And in recent years, our armed forces have fought against the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism across the Middle East. And both of our nations have endured great sacrifice.

“The United States will always honor this alliance — this alliance for freedom. And we will always honor the sacrifice of soldiers of both of our nations.”

Thursday’s statement is an unusual move by the embassy but one that comes after Peter Navarro, trade advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, was quoted in a new book on the current administration’s foreign policy.

Commentary:
Trump trade adviser’s comments about Canada’s role in Afghanistan grossly uninformed

In the interview, he suggested that the reason Canada signed up for the bloody war in Afghanistan was to “curry favour” with the U.S. administration at the time.

“Were they doing us a favour, or were they brought into the idea they needed to do that as part of the global effort against terrorists?” he was quoted as saying.

“I mean, if they were just doing us a favour, maybe their government should have been thrown out of office. I mean, every time that a Canadian shows up in a uniform, it’s doing us a favour? How’s that work?”

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He also added: “What’s good about Canada?”

Over the course of the decade-long war in Afghanistan, 158 Canadian Armed Forces members died.

More than 1,800 others were also injured, and the psychological and physical effects — including stress-related injuries — remain a challenging legacy that both the country and the military continue to work to address.

As well, seven Canadian civilians also died in that conflict: a diplomat, a government contractor, four aid workers and a journalist.

Canadian officials stress ‘sacrifices’, support after 9/11

A senior Canadian government official, speaking on background, described the comments as “disappointing” given the support Canadians offered in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, posted a tweet that highlighted the sacrifices Canadians have made standing by Americans and other allies in conflicts.

“You’ve left behind sons and daughters, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, to stand by our U.S. partners and allies around the world,” she tweeted.

“Many of your brothers and sisters never returned. We remember your sacrifices. We’re grateful for your service, [Canadian Armed Forces].”

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Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan issued a statement about the comments emphasizing the strong ties and shared sacrifices between Canada and the U.S.

“When our friend and ally was attacked on 9/11, Canada was there for America that day and throughout the entire Afghanistan campaign,” Sajjan said, pointing to the Canadians who made the “ultimate sacrifice in the name of our collective peace and security.”

“Canadians will not forget their sacrifice and having served alongside them, I know the American military and everyday Americans will not forget that Canada was there for them in their time of need.”

He also noted the ongoing military cooperation against ISIS in the Middle East, as well as the Canadians who have fought and died shoulder to shoulder with Americans in Normandy, Korea and other conflicts.

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1:36
Peter Navarro sorry for ‘special place in hell’ comment aimed at Justin Trudeau


Peter Navarro sorry for ‘special place in hell’ comment aimed at Justin Trudeau

It’s not the first time Navarro has launched verbal volleys north of the border.

Following the G7 summit held in Quebec in 2018, Navarro let loose a tirade against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on television, insisting there was “a special place in hell” for the leader of one of America’s longest-standing allies.

He made the comment after the U.S. imposed steep steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada as part of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which prompted Trudeau to say in a press conference when asked about the tariffs that Canada “will not be pushed around.”

Navarro later apologized for his tirade, calling it “inappropriate.”

He has not yet apologized in the current case.

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Talk of gender-based violence largely absent from N.S. election, says women’s group

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HALIFAX – Domestic violence has not been given enough attention during the Nova Scotia election campaign, with only one of the three major parties mentioning intimate-partner violence in their platform, says a group that advocates for women’s rights.

“Given the urgency with which (gender-based violence) needs to be addressed, we were hoping to have it be more present in the campaigns and platforms,” Ann de Ste Croix, executive director of Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, said in a recent interview. 

Transition House Association of Nova Scotia released a report earlier this week calling on the province to take immediate steps to reduce violence against women and girls. It also called on all political parties to commit to “epidemic-level” funding for groups that address intimate-partner violence, but it didn’t give a specific number. The report said the level of investment needed must reflect the urgency of addressing what it called the systemic and widespread violence toward women and girls in the province.

An increase in investment is especially pressing, said de Ste Croix, as three women in Nova Scotia were killed by their intimate partners since mid-October.

In September, the Nova Scotia house of assembly passed a bill, introduced by the NDP, declaring intimate-partner violence an “epidemic” in the province. At the time, NDP Leader Claudia Chender said Nova Scotia had the highest rate of intimate-partner violence of any province, with more than 30 per cent of women and about 22 per cent of men reported having been physically or sexually assaulted by their partner since age 15.

The party says it was citing Statistics Canada data from 2018. Data from 2023 from the federal agency on police-reported cases of intimate-partner violence said Nova Scotia had a rate of 338 cases per 100,000 people, below the national average of 354 cases. Nova Scotia’s rate, however, was above that of Ontario, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island.

Providing “epidemic-level” funding for domestic violence services at all levels of government is also a recommendation included in the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report on the 2020 shooting in Nova Scotia that claimed 22 lives. The gunman’s 13-hour rampage across northern and central Nova Scotia began after he brutally assaulted his spouse. 

De Ste Croix said she understands that recommendations take time to be implemented. But more than one year after the recommendations were made public, her group has seen a rise in demand for its services, which she said shows an immediate need for further provincial intervention. 

One chief recommendation in the report by de Ste Croix’s group is building more affordable housing. For many people trying to flee an abuser, the lack of housing options is one of the major barriers they face escaping safely, the report said.

The report also calls on the next elected government to fund and deliver age-appropriate gender-based violence programs in schools; provide specialized training on gender-based violence for health-care workers and law enforcement officials; and expand legislation to include protection for victims who suffer non-physical forms of abuse like coercive control.

“Unless you know someone who’s been directly impacted by violence or you are a survivor yourself, you might not see how these things are related to violence prevention,” she said. 

Along with the report, de Ste Croix’s group released a comparative analysis this week of the three major party platforms, concluding the NDP’s platform is best equipped to address gender-based violence, followed closely by the Liberals. Both parties were recognized for their anti-poverty measures, she said. The Progressive Conservatives were graded significantly lower.

The analysis said there’s room for improvement for each political party, however.

Of the three major parties, only the Liberals explicitly mentioned gender- and intimate-partner violence in their platform, with promises to fund housing for women fleeing domestic violence, and adopt a public health approach to prevent abuse.

An email from an NDP spokesperson said the party will “appropriately fund organizations that fight intimate-partner violence and support Nova Scotians experiencing gender-based violence to ensure they have access to trauma-informed counselling.” 

The Progressive Conservatives said in an email that the party takes domestic violence “very seriously,” saying that since they were elected in 2021 they provided $7.1 million to 16 community-based organizations to help address gender-based violence.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Quebec fiscal update: $2.1B in new spending, end of tax credit for some older workers

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QUÉBEC – Quebec’s finance minister has tabled an economic update with $2.1 billion in new spending over five years amid what Eric Girard describes as a stronger-than-expected recovery from last year’s economic slowdown.

Girard painted a positive picture of the province’s finances today despite a projected $11-billion deficit that remains unchanged from March’s budget.

The new spending he announced in Quebec City includes more than $250 million for the forestry sector and $1.2 billion for community development, which includes public transit. 

Girard told reporters the government is still reviewing its spending as it moves toward its goal of balancing the budget by the 2029-30 fiscal year.

As part of that review, the government decided that Quebecers between the ages of 60 and 64 will no longer be eligible for a tax credit that was introduced in 2012 to encourage older workers to stay in the workforce.

Girard said today the average age of retirement in Quebec has risen to 64.7 years in 2023 from just over 61 years in 2011.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

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Consul general reiterates he had no influence on $9M Manhattan condo purchase

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OTTAWA – Canada’s consul general in New York doubled-down Thursday on his past claim that he exerted no influence on the decision of Global Affairs Canada to buy a $9 million condo in Manhattan.

Tom Clark was summoned back to testify before a parliamentary committee looking into the purchase after media reports earlier this month indicated he had raised concerns about the former residence, despite previously saying he never expressed a desire to move into a new one.

Testifying under oath this time, Clark told MPs — again — the observations he raised were made in passing to a colleague, and he was unaware those remarks had been reported to the department.

Clark said those remarks were in no way intended to influence the process, which began in 2014.

The government has previously said the purchase of the new residence would save taxpayers about $7.4 million.

The previous residence, listed at $13 million, has yet to be sold.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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