The Canadian Press has provided a roundup of significant stories that highlight current events in Canada, covering a diverse range of topics.

Rattled Conservatives Look Ahead to 2026

One year ago, Pierre Poilievre seemed poised to achieve his long-term goals of ending Justin Trudeau’s political career and leading a majority Conservative government. National polls at that time indicated the Conservatives held a substantial lead, being 25 points ahead of the struggling Liberals, hampered by an unpopular leader. In the House of Commons, Conservative members actively pressured Trudeau to resign and stalled parliamentary proceedings with procedural antics, indicating a determined effort to topple the minority government. Political analyst Ian Brodie from the University of Calgary noted that there might have been a sense of arrogance creeping into the Conservative political style, suggesting that their strong position led to overconfidence.

Urgent Call for Action Following Tragedy in Australia

In light of a devastating mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia, a Jewish organization has called for immediate action from all levels of government in Canada to protect local communities. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, emphasized the urgency of the situation in an interview. He remarked, “Thoughts and prayers can provide some comfort in the moment after a tragedy, but we need action to ensure that that same tragedy doesn’t play out here in Canada.” The incident in Australia resulted in 15 fatalities and 38 injuries, described as an attack by a father and son.

Federal Government Defends Deloitte Contract Amid AI Controversy

The federal government is standing by its decision to award a contract worth up to $1.1 million to a Canadian branch of the consulting firm Deloitte for advice on deploying artificial intelligence. This decision comes despite the firm facing backlash for errors related to AI in its reports. Employment and Social Development Canada stated that there will be consequences if any violations occur regarding the contract’s conditions. The contract was awarded to Deloitte Inc. in September, prior to the firm publicly acknowledging that it utilized AI for research citations in a government report for Newfoundland and Labrador, which required revision due to inaccuracies. Additionally, Deloitte Australia admitted to a similar mistake involving citation errors in a report provided to the Australian government.

Severe Winter Storm System Sweeps Through Ontario and Quebec

A winter storm system has begun to impact southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, leading to blizzard conditions in these regions. Environment Canada issued winter storm warnings for parts of north-central Ontario and Quebec, predicting snow accumulations of up to 30 centimeters. The storm is expected to bring Arctic-like temperatures to northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, with wind chills driving temperatures down to between -45 and -50 degrees Celsius.

Patients Suffering from Medication Shortages

Amanda Godda, a 42-year-old chronic pain patient from Ottawa, relayed her struggles stemming from a nationwide supply shortage of her prescribed medication, acetaminophen with oxycodone. Since August, she has been largely bedridden, transitioning from an active lifestyle filled with music festivals to a routine that limits her to basic tasks. Godda described her daily pain levels as consistently between eight and nine out of ten. Fortunately, she shared that she has recently been able to fill her normal prescription to manage her degenerative disc disease.

Whitecaps Fans Excited by Thomas Muller

German soccer legend Thomas Muller joined the Vancouver Whitecaps with aspirations of winning a Major League Soccer title. While the team recently lost to Inter Miami in the MLS Cup final, Muller expressed his satisfaction with the strong connection formed between fans and players. He noted that a vibrant atmosphere had developed in Vancouver, which is traditionally a hockey-centric city. “The connection between the fans and the clubs and the players... it feels as close as it can get at the moment,” Muller stated, expressing hope that this enthusiasm continues into the next season.