WHITBY, ONT.  — On this week’s Ivison video , regular guest Eugene Lang referred to “the trifecta — or what Van Morrison would call The Great Deception.” Lang, an experienced Liberal operative, was talking about the tendency of governments to promise to simultaneously reduce taxes, increase spending and balance budgets. “This kind of thing has never been achieved by any federal government,” he said. “It’s … Continue reading John Ivison: Mark Carney’s platform relies on fiscal alchemy and hopeful assumptions

VATICAN CITY — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Saturday with the Vatican’s No. 2 official amid tensions over the U.S. crackdown on migrants, with the Holy See reaffirming good relations but noting “an exchange of opinions” over current international conflicts, migrants and prisoners. The Vatican issued a statement after Vance, a Catholic convert, met with the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the … Continue reading Vatican statement refers to ’exchange of opinions’ over migrants and prisoners in meeting with Vance

OTTAWA — A Mark Carney-led government will spend $130 billion on new measures over the next four years, with no timeline to balance the federal budget, according to the costed Liberal platform released on Saturday. “In times of national crisis, we must remember what we are fighting for: to protect our Canadian way of life,” reads the 67-page platform. “We must protect our belief in … Continue reading Liberals promise $130B in new spending and no timeline to balance the budget

In border towns and grocery stores, from the mouths of politicians campaigning and sports fans booing, from snowbirds to TikTokers there’s a parade of Canadians seemingly falling out of love with America. Beyond the economic fear and tariff fallout, the taunts and tension from U.S. President Donald Trump are challenging Canada’s cultural comfort with the United States and straining social ties with our closest international … Continue reading Falling out of love with America? Share your stories of what cross-border tension means to you

A senior immigration officer’s decision to refuse an HIV-positive South African woman’s bid for permanent residency in Canada on humanitarian and compassionate grounds didn’t give enough weight to her abusive husband’s repeated threats to withdraw his sponsorship, a Federal Court judge has ruled. The officer’s failure to properly consider Grace Mabena’s “circumstances as a survivor of family violence and the hardship she will face in … Continue reading HIV positive South African woman gets another chance at Canadian permanent residency

The Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin Saturday night, are infamous for being a war of attrition unlike any other in sports. Two months of blocked shots and bodychecks, games every other night until the winner collapses over the line. Ron MacLean — arguably Canada’s last iconic TV broadcaster, after a career of ups and downs — knows something of survival himself. Moved into hosting duties … Continue reading ‘I’ve been through some ordeals’: Ron MacLean is the last Canadian icon

OTTAWA — If you live in the Ottawa suburb of Kanata, chances are that Greg Kung has knocked on your door.  The 37-year-old has been campaigning since February 2024, after winning the nomination to become the Conservative party’s candidate in the Liberal-held riding, one of many in and around Ottawa. “I hate talking about numbers,” Kung says, when asked how many doors he has knocked. … Continue reading By knocking on 22,000 doors, this Conservative paramedic is trying to turn an Ottawa suburb blue

NIAGARA FALLS, ONT. — Standing against a background of the famous falls, Mark Carney was asked about his debate experience this week and turned to Charles Dickens’ famous opening line from A Tale of Two Cities. “It was the best and worst of times as a participant,” he said, complimenting the moderators and structure of the French and English language debates but decrying the furor … Continue reading John Ivison: Liberal bus stops near the border and finds reason to be confident

MONTREAL — A Montreal-area Liberal candidate invited to a campaign event this week the head of two organizations suspected by the RCMP of operating a secret Chinese police station. The invitation by Alexandra Mendès, the Liberal incumbent running for re-election in Brossard—Saint-Lambert, sowed consternation within the Liberal party, which has faced scrutiny over multiple candidates’ comments about or apparent links to the Chinese government . … Continue reading Liberal candidate invited head of suspected secret Chinese police station to campaign event

Sex and garlic and the blues. That’s Sinners in a nutshell. It’s also about the only thing in this big-budget production from writer/director Ryan Coogler that would fit in one. This movie is loud and proud, big and brash. And original. I mean, yes, it involves vampires, not to mention a character named Annie (played by Wunmi Wosaku) who knows all the ways to kill … Continue reading Film review: Sinners is a heady mix of sex, garlic and the blues