National

Hamas hostage deal 'progress' but long-term peace needs 'many more steps': Trudeau

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Nov, 2023 11:03 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is still rejecting demands for Canada to call for a full ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, but he says a deal to temporarily halt hostilities this week so Hamas can release hostages represents progress.

Trudeau says the world needs a lasting peace in the region, including a two-state solution.

He made the comments today at a news conference in St. John's, saying that that will require many steps, but that the humanitarian pause that started today is progress.

The militant group has so far freed 24 people, including 13 Israeli women and children, 10 people from Thailand and one person from the Philippines.

They were captured during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel that killed an estimated 1,200 people, and federal officials confirmed this week that one Canadian woman is still missing.

The pause in fighting is a respite for some 1.7 million people the United Nations says have been displaced amid Israel's retaliation campaign in the Gaza Strip, where local health authorities say 13,300 Palestinians have been killed and another 6,000 people are missing.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says

The Liberals promised a stand-alone dental insurance plan for low- and middle-income Canadians who don't have private insurance as part of its supply and confidence deal with the NDP last year.

Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says

Canada removes limit on study programmes' length for work permit holders

The Canadian government on Tuesday introduced a public policy that will be beneficial for immigrants, including those from India, to boost their career, job prospects, and chances of permanent residency.

Canada removes limit on study programmes' length for work permit holders

Trudeau announces child-care infrastructure funding to build more spaces

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced $625 million of funding to help provinces and territories build child-care infrastructure. Trudeau says the money will be rolled out over four years and will help providers renovate, retrofit and build new not-for-profit and public child-care facilities.

Trudeau announces child-care infrastructure funding to build more spaces

Think you could pass the citizenship test? Poll shows most Canadians would flunk

In a survey of 1,512 Canadian adults, Leger found that only 23 per cent would pass the citizenship test, based on their answers to 10 randomly selected questions. People who wish to become Canadian need to answer 20 questions about citizens' rights and responsibilities, as well as Canada's history, geography, economy, government, laws and symbols.

Think you could pass the citizenship test? Poll shows most Canadians would flunk

Canadian wildfires send smoke south, triggering air quality warnings

Canadian wildfires are continuing to send heavy clouds of smoke south, from Northern Ontario and Quebec, through both provinces and into the United States. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for large areas of Ontario and Quebec warning of high levels of air pollution due to the smoke.

Canadian wildfires send smoke south, triggering air quality warnings

Canada welcomes largest number of immigrants in first quarter since at least 1972

Statistics Canada says the country welcomed more than 145,000 immigrants during the first three months of the year. That's the highest number for a single quarter on record, since comparable data became available in 1972.