February 18th, 2026
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National News

More than 300 MPs have crossed the floor in Parliament since Confederation

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor from the Conservative party to join the Liberal caucus, nudging the Liberal seat count up by one in the current minority Parliament. The Liberals remain three seats short of a functional majority government after recently losing seats through the resignations of MPs Chrystia Freeland and ... Read More »

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Ottawa extends express immigration entry to researchers, military applicants

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Lena Diab is adding three new permanent residency streams to Canada’s express entry program that cover a variety of professions, including researchers and military personnel. The new streams are also open to senior managers with Canadian work experience and are part of what Diab calls a federal strategy to attract “top ... Read More »

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‘It was a betrayal’: Woman tells sex assault trial Frank Stronach tried to rape her

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

TORONTO — A woman is telling Frank Stronach’s sexual assault trial she felt confused and betrayed when the man she had grown to trust suddenly pushed her over the arm of a chair in his apartment and tried to rape her. The woman, who is in her 70s, says she had come to know Stronach ... Read More »

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Quebec father who drowned his children tells jury he has no memory of killings

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

MONTREAL — A Quebec man who drowned his two children in October 2022 has told a jury he has no memory of the day they died. Kamaljit Arora is testifying in his own defence for a second day at his murder trial in Laval, Que., a suburb north of Montreal. He says he consumed fentanyl ... Read More »

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Winter mix delivers Ontario freezing rain, blowing Prairie snow and East Coast wallop

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

Old Man Winter doled out a medley of punishment across Canada on Wednesday as freezing rain encased southern Ontario, cold and snow swept across the Prairies and heavy snow blanketed the East Coast. In southwestern Ontario, strong winds and ice buildup from freezing rain raised the possibility of local power outages and downed trees. Hydro ... Read More »

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New report says youth should help guide Ottawa’s campaign against online harms

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Advocates say the federal government should listen to young people as it takes on the problem of online harms. The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights says in a new report today, that current systems aren’t protecting young people in digital spaces. The group and youth representatives are holding a joint ... Read More »

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MP Matt Jeneroux leaves Conservatives to join Liberal caucus

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor from the Conservative party to join the Liberal caucus. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement on social media this morning, saying he is honoured to welcome Jeneroux as the newest member of the Liberal caucus. Jeneroux suddenly announced plans to resign in November, just ... Read More »

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CP NewsAlert: Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux crosses floor to join Liberals

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Alberta MP Matt Jeneroux has crossed the floor from the Conservative party to join the Liberal caucus. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement on social media this morning. More coming. The Canadian Press... Read More »

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In the news: P.M. fundraises in B.C., Polievre speaks for the Tories, Ramadan arrives

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed … Carney returning to B.C. week after mass shooting Prime Minister Mark Carney is returning to B.C. today, less than a week after he attended a vigil honouring the victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. ... Read More »

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Tough sell for B.C. budget featuring tax hike, record deficit and construction delays

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

VICTORIA — British Columbia’s finance minister begins selling a budget today that has drawn critics from all sides with its soaring debt and deficit, public sector cuts, and construction delays for care homes, student housing and a cancer centre. Brenda Bailey calls the budget “serious work for serious times.” It raises the base income tax ... Read More »

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Prime Minister Carney returning to B.C. one week after mass shooting

By Canadian Press on February 18th, 2026

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is returning to B.C. today less than a week after he attended a vigil honouring the victims of a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. While in B.C., the prime minister will attend a Liberal Party fundraiser at a private residence in Vancouver, with tickets costing $1,775. Carney’s itinerary ... Read More »

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