March 22nd, 2026
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National News

Five things on the Bill 21 Supreme Court hearings this week in numbers

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

MONTREAL — The Supreme Court of Canada will begin hearing arguments Monday over Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21. The law has faced legal challenges since its adoption in June 2019 and the Supreme Court of Canada will now listen to arguments on the legislation and its pre-emptive use of the Charter of Rights ... Read More »

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Quebec’s Bill 21 lands in the Supreme Court, with notwithstanding clause in spotlight

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

MONTREAL — A legal challenge to Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21, will be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada beginning Monday, and legal experts say whatever the eventual ruling, it will have a profound effect on constitutional law in Canada. The highly anticipated high court challenge to Bill 21 has been years ... Read More »

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Public servant ‘scared’ to retire due to problems with Phoenix pay system

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

OTTAWA — A federal public servant says she’s “scared” to take up the government’s early retirement offer after being told that she owes the government about $10,500 because of a mistake in her pay file. Jennifer MacDougall got the letter from the pay centre in February but said the situation itself stems back to between ... Read More »

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‘People are tired:’ Canadians on humanitarian mission describe life in Cuba

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

Two Canadians on a humanitarian mission in Cuba say it’s easier for locals to count the number of hours the lights are on than off. And when electricity is flowing, Leanne Isaak says Cubans can be seen scrambling to get as many tasks done as they can, such as cooking, charging phones, showering and filling ... Read More »

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Maritime historical groups earn UNESCO recognition for Black Loyalist archive

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

HALIFAX — Detailed ledgers, business receipts and church records from Black Loyalists in the 1780s and onward are more than just rich historical texts to Andrea Davis. “This is a part of my history… it means so much to us as a community,” she said in an interview Saturday. Davis is an eighth generation descendant ... Read More »

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Canadians living abroad looking to increase voter turnout ahead of byelections

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

OTTAWA — Canadians living abroad are calling for increased turnout among overseas voters and arguing that barriers to casting a ballot could be affecting election results. Timothy Veale, the director of Grits Abroad — an organization aimed at connecting Canadian Liberal voters living worldwide — said nearly five million Canadians live outside the country and ... Read More »

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PBO nominee Annette Ryan enters spotlight at a pivotal time for federal finances

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

OTTAWA — Ottawa’s nominee for federal fiscal watchdog will face questions from members of Parliament on Monday after a turbulent period for the budget office. Annette Ryan, a longtime public servant and currently a deputy director at Canada’s financial intelligence agency, Fintrac, was named as cabinet’s pick to be the next parliamentary budget officer earlier ... Read More »

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B.C. naturopath alleges suspects in Iran activist’s murder sought to ‘silence’ him

By Canadian Press on March 22nd, 2026

VANCOUVER — An affidavit filed by Rosita Fatemi said her meeting with Arezou Soltani and Mehdi Ahmadzadeh Razavi took place in a parking lot in the Park Royal mall in West Vancouver, the heart of British Columbia’s Iranian community. The document said she and her two fellow founding directors of a B.C. non-profit society opposed ... Read More »

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Canadians plan to sail to Gaza despite detention risks

By Canadian Press on March 21st, 2026

Canadians are planning to sail to Gaza again as part of a flotilla that aims to deliver aid and break a nearly 20-year naval blockade months after six Canadians were detained by Israel for attempting a similar mission. Safa Chebbi, spokesperson for the Canadian arm of the Global Sumud Flotilla, said more than 100 boats ... Read More »

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Fréchette and Drainville face off in first CAQ leadership debate

By Canadian Press on March 21st, 2026

QUÉBEC — The first debate in the race to succeed Quebec Premier François Legault as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec took place in Quebec City, with candidates Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville facing off. Saturday’s discussion touched on the economy, public finances, infrastructure, transport, regional development and relations between Canada and the U.S. Tensions ... Read More »

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Three Quebec maritime students who were stranded in Persian Gulf in good spirits

By Canadian Press on March 21st, 2026

MONTREAL — Three students who were stranded aboard ships in the Persian Gulf for more than two weeks arrived back home in good spirits. the director of Quebec’s maritime institute said. All three students arrived in Quebec on Friday after flying from Saudi Arabia to London, then on to Canada. Mélanie Leblanc, director of the ... Read More »

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