Monday, December 29, 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

    Rob Ford Subpoenaed To Testify In Friend's 'crack Video' Extortion Case

    Rob Ford Subpoenaed To Testify In Friend's 'crack Video' Extortion Case
    TORONTO - Mayor Rob Ford has been ordered to testify at his friend's "crack video" extortion hearing in a case his lawyer said Friday was driven by police, not because the two alleged victims complained.

    Rob Ford Subpoenaed To Testify In Friend's 'crack Video' Extortion Case

    Fugitive Dutch dentist ordered held pending removal from Canada

    Fugitive Dutch dentist ordered held pending removal from Canada
    MONTREAL - A Dutch dentist arrested this week in New Brunswick and wanted in France for allegedly mutilating patients through botched procedures will remain detained pending his removal from Canada.

    Fugitive Dutch dentist ordered held pending removal from Canada

    Harper/Mulroney relationship appears icy once again after former PM's slams

    Harper/Mulroney relationship appears icy once again after former PM's slams
    OTTAWA - What had been a renewed political friendship between Stephen Harper and Brian Mulroney could be back on the rocks.

    Harper/Mulroney relationship appears icy once again after former PM's slams

    Poor Handling Of Seized Guns, Drugs Could Endanger Criminal Court Cases

    Poor Handling Of Seized Guns, Drugs Could Endanger Criminal Court Cases
    OTTAWA - An internal federal audit says court cases against accused criminals could be tossed out because of improper control and handling of seized goods — from drugs to firearms — by Canada's border agency.

    Poor Handling Of Seized Guns, Drugs Could Endanger Criminal Court Cases

    Economists question new August job numbers after last month's botched effort

    Economists question new August job numbers after last month's botched effort
    OTTAWA - Canada's economy unexpectedly shed jobs in August due to heavy losses in the private sector, raising the eyebrows of economists who widely expected a modest gain in Statistics Canada's flagship monthly report.

    Economists question new August job numbers after last month's botched effort

    Liberals want hearings on Islamic radicals who have returned to Canada

    Liberals want hearings on Islamic radicals who have returned to Canada
    OTTAWA - MPs should urgently study the issue of Islamic radicals returning to Canada from foreign battlefields, says the Liberal public safety critic.

    Liberals want hearings on Islamic radicals who have returned to Canada