Saturday, December 27, 2025
ADVT 
National

Harper hosts EU leaders today for Canada-Europe summit

Darpan News Desk Canadian Press, 26 Sep, 2014 11:48 AM

    OTTAWA - Prime Minister Harper will host a summit with two top leaders from the European Union today in Ottawa.

    He'll meet with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy.

    One reason for the summit is to celebrate the end of Canada's free trade talks with the E-U, but there are still some shoals to navigate.

    The Canadian Press has learned there is persistent concern that two unhappy eastern European countries could still derail the deal.

    Canada requires a visa for travellers from Romania and Bulgaria and some diplomats fear one or both of the countries could block ratification of the agreement if the requirement is not lifted.

    Canada imposed the visa on the two countries as well as the Czech Republic to stop an influx of bogus refugee claimants among ethnic Roma applicants.

    The Czech visa requirement ended last year, but the Romanian and Bulgarian ones remain in force.

    Immigration Minister Chris Alexander has expressed concern over human smuggling and organized criminal gangs.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    B.C. Teachers And Employers Hold Marathon Bargaining Session Over Weekend

    B.C. Teachers And Employers Hold Marathon Bargaining Session Over Weekend
    VANCOUVER - Representatives for B.C.'s public school teachers and their employers bargained through the weekend in another effort to resolve the strike that has postponed the start of the school year for more than half a million students.

    B.C. Teachers And Employers Hold Marathon Bargaining Session Over Weekend

    Prince Edward shakes hands with 87 Duke of Edinburgh award winners at B.C. ceremony

    Prince Edward shakes hands with 87 Duke of Edinburgh award winners at B.C. ceremony
    VICTORIA - His Royal Highness Prince Edward Earl of Wessex told a ballroom full of young people on Saturday they earned the right to walk a little taller after successfully completing a journey that millions attempt but relatively few complete.

    Prince Edward shakes hands with 87 Duke of Edinburgh award winners at B.C. ceremony

    Sexual dysfunction and Canadian Military's Viagra use among cabinet's secrets

    Sexual dysfunction and Canadian Military's Viagra use among cabinet's secrets
    OTTAWA - Sexual dysfunction in the Canadian military is such a sensitive topic for the Harper government that federal officials have stamped all information related to it as a cabinet secret, something not to be revealed to the public.

    Sexual dysfunction and Canadian Military's Viagra use among cabinet's secrets

    Open letter from 400 academics asks CRA to stop political-activity audits

    Open letter from 400 academics asks CRA to stop political-activity audits
    OTTAWA - More than 400 academics are demanding the Canada Revenue Agency halt its audit of a think-tank, saying the Conservative government is trying to intimidate, muzzle and silence its critics.

    Open letter from 400 academics asks CRA to stop political-activity audits

    Quebec sovereigntists learning from Scots

    Quebec sovereigntists learning from Scots
    MONTREAL - Quebecers who've spent decades fighting without success to form their own country are now finding themselves living vicariously through the Scots.

    Quebec sovereigntists learning from Scots

    Paul Davis, the Former police officer is now premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

    Paul Davis, the Former police officer is now premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Paul Davis became leader of Newfoundland and Labrador's governing Tories on Saturday but not before a strange twist at a delegated convention split the embattled party in half.

    Paul Davis, the Former police officer is now premier of Newfoundland and Labrador