OTTAWA — Métis organizations in Ontario and Alberta say they’ll keep on the path toward self-government, but the future of a contentious bill set to do just that is now uncertain. The Métis Nation — Saskatchewan was included in a piece of federal legislation set to recognize Métis governments in that province, Alberta and Ontario, but withdrew support Wednesday. The Métis Nations of Alberta and Ontario say they respect the choice of Métis governments to choose their own pathways, and wish the Saskatchewan group well as it steers its own ship. Bill C-53 has been through a lengthy House of Commo ..read more

Tens of millions of dollars are allocated to arts festivals in this year’s federal budget, which recipients say is a welcome infusion of cash for the beleaguered sector. The budget sets aside $23 million over three years for the Toronto International Film Festival and $15 million this year for the Shaw Festival Theatre, which is based out of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Both institutions say they plan to use the cash to expand as they attempt to recover from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cost of operations. The budget also provides $31 million over two years for the Canada A ..read more

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris plans to return to Wisconsin next week for her third visit to the battleground state this year. President Joe Biden’s campaign announced Thursday that Harris plans to campaign in La Crosse on Monday at an event focused on abortion rights. The White House said Harris will also hold a second event there focused on the economy and health care. Harris was in Madison last month and in Waukesha in January for the first of her trips focused on abortion. Wisconsin is one of a handful of presidential battleground states across the country. The latest Ma ..read more

TORONTO — An NDP motion to allow keffiyehs to be worn in the Ontario legislature has failed as it did not receive unanimous consent after at least one member voted against it. Premier Doug Ford and the opposition leaders have all called for Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse his decision to not allow the scarf in the legislature. Arnott says the legislature has long tried to restrict wearing any clothing or item attempting to make an overtly political statement and he believes that at this moment in time the keffiyeh meets that definition. A keffiyeh is a checkered scarf typically worn in Arab cult ..read more

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says an agreement in principle has been reached on a new contract for public school teachers. Houston has not released details but says the deal addresses teachers’ concerns around such things as pay and classroom conditions. News of the agreement comes after conciliation talks began with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union on Monday. The talks started after the union received an overwhelming strike mandate from 98 per cent of members who voted. Houston told reporters after a cabinet meeting today that he took part in the talks late Monday. He says he belie ..read more

OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s largest labour organization is calling Pierre Poilievre a “fraud” for portraying himself as a friend of the working class. Canadian Labour Congress Bea Bruske wants union leaders to do everything they can to expose him before the next federal election.  Bruske delivered her call to arms today as delegates gathered in Ottawa to plot strategy ahead of the vote, which must happen before October 2025.  Canada’s three main political parties are already battling for blue-collar votes: both NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were to addr ..read more

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Democrat who represented southeast Wisconsin in Congress in the 1990s before going on to become a leader in the Assembly and state revenue secretary announced Thursday that he’s running for Congress again. Peter Barca announced his bid against Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who is seeking a fourth term. Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District, previously represented by former House Speaker Paul Ryan, leans Republican but was made more competitive under new boundary lines adopted in 2022. The seat is a target for Democrats nationally as they attempt to regain majority c ..read more

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection in Donald Trump ’s hush money trial enters a pivotal phase as the former president returns to court Thursday morning. Attorneys still need to pick 11 more jurors to serve on the panel that will decide the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. commander-in-chief. Seven jurors were seated Tuesday after being grilled for hours by lawyers on everything from their hobbies to social media posts to their opinion of the presumptive GOP nominee in this year’s closely contested presidential race. Those selected Tuesday include an information technology worker, an ..read more

NEW YORK (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has completed a book about her years in public life, from legislation she helped enact to such traumatizing moments as the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol and the assault at her San Francisco home that left her husband with a fractured skull. Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that Pelosi’s “The Art of Power” will be released Aug. 6. “People always ask me how I did what I did in the House,” Pelosi, the first woman to become speaker, said in a statement. “In ‘The Art of Power,’ I reveal how — and more importantly, why.” Pelosi, 84, was fir ..read more

Hands up. Anybody offended by blue skies? Anybody think blue skies is not sufficiently inclusive? Anyone think Calgary having more blue skies than elsewhere is a form of privilege? Anyone think boasting of blue skies is marginalizing those who suffer by not living in a place with near as many blue skies? Good. So blue skies it is. The post Bell: Calgary is now the inclusive Blue Sky City — you are kidding, right? appeared first on Loonie Politics ..read more