In his speech in September, Eby said, “For British Columbians and for Canadians, this is an existential moment. The prime minister has called this a rupture, and he is absolutely right.
“Donald Trump is attacking our workers. He’s targeting our businesses and he is threatening our sovereignty.”
An Ipsos poll, released on Oct. 13, showed that while the BC Conservatives appeared in disarray one month previously, they gained a five-point lead over the BC NDP.
As the election campaign entered the final week, a new poll from Innovative Research Group showed that the BC Conservatives were leading by five points among decided voters.
BC Green Party leader Emily Lowan said just after the municipal election results were in: “David Eby called this snap election two years early for nobody but himself.”
From cosy sweaters and cold-weather coats to workwear and holiday-ready outfits, we’ve rounded up the pieces worth adding to your cart.
The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms.
Old Navy is offering 50% off select styles, making it a great time to shop for fall and winter staples for the whole family. From cosy sweaters and cold-weather coats to workwear and holiday-ready outfits, we’ve rounded up the pieces worth adding to your cart. The sale is on for a limited time, so shop your favourites while they’re still available.
Women’s deals
With a bright red hue and jeweled buttons, this cardigan is holiday-ready pick that’s perfect for seasonal gatherings or dressing up your everyday denim.[/product_listing]
These high-waisted wide-leg jeans feature a dark wash, subtle whiskering and a relaxed fit through the hips and thighs. Currently marked down to $19 from $44.99, they’re available in regular, tall and petite fits with multiple inseam options.[/product_listing]
This satin A-line maxi skirt in a rich burgundy hue pairs beautifully with chunky knit sweaters, fitted turtlenecks and boots for a sultry fall or winter look.[/product_listing]
Perfect for all your holiday parties and special occasions, this black satin mini dress features dramatic bell sleeves, a boat neckline and a low scoop back with a delicate tie detail.[/product_listing]
With its oversized fit, below-the-knee length and classic button-front design, this oatmeal overcoat makes a statement layered over chunky knits and long-sleeve tops as temperatures drop.[/product_listing]
With its relaxed fit, cosy funnel neck and hip-length cut, this black puffer jacket is perfect for casual days out, whether you’re running errands or heading out for a weekend walk.[/product_listing]
Men’s deals
With its classic crew neckline, raglan sleeves and warm brown heather finish, this pullover sweater is an easy layering piece that pairs well with everything from denim jackets to tailored coats.[/product_listing]
This navy poplin shirt is an option for everything from casual Fridays at the office to weekend brunches and dinner plans. Layer it under a crew-neck sweater with the collar peeking out, or wear it on its own with chinos.[/product_listing]
These 90s Straight-Fit Twill Dress Pants are a great option for work, with a clean, tailored look that pairs well with button-down shirts, blouses and blazers. The classic straight-leg fit and black colour makes them easy to style for the office and beyond.[/product_listing]
This sleek black puffer jacket pairs a relaxed silhouette with a standing collar and built-in hood for a polished take on cold-weather dressing. Its water-resistant finish makes it a practical layer for navigating rainy commutes and crisp fall days.[/product_listing]
Kid’s deals
With its classic navy plaid print and soft flannel feel, this matching kids’ pyjama set is made for holiday movie nights, Christmas morning photos and everything in between. [/product_listing]
This soft Fair Isle sweater pairs a classic winter pattern with a relaxed fit and cosy mock neck, making it an adorable pick for everyday outfits on chilly days.[/product_listing]
Finished with shiny bow embellishments, these light-wash wide-leg jeans bring a playful twist to a denim staple, with a baggy fit that feels right on trend.[/product_listing]
This black puffer vest features a water-resistant finish, mock neck and relaxed fit, making it an easy extra layer over hoodies and long-sleeve tees for fall outings.[/product_listing]
These tapered tech pants offer the clean look of chinos with built-in stretch and moisture-wicking fabric, keeping up with busy school days and active weekends.[/product_listing]
WATCH LIVE: The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs voices its priorities ahead of the First Ministers' meeting Monday.
First Nations leaders are preparing to meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney and the nation’s premiers, the first gathering of its kind in more than two decades.
Tensions between First Nations leaders and the Government of Canada have risen since Carney was elected in 2025, including over legislation that was passed to streamline development of major projects.
Some Indigenous leaders criticized the legislation over a lack of consultation, saying it posed a threat to reconciliation.
The Assembly of First Nations has been preparing for the meeting for months by hosting town halls with chiefs to discuss the actions they want to see governments take.
The AFN released a series of position papers last week on economic development, policing and public safety, employment, and health.
One of the main goals for First Nations leaders is a First Nations sovereign wealth fund. The fund, proposed by Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, would pool capital to ensure First Nations can build long-term wealth in their communities.
Other leaders worry that if the meeting focuses solely on economics, other concerns like homelessness, addiction and suicide may not get the attention they deserve.
“Unless the prime minister, the premiers and the territories are going to look a little bit deeper than resource development or economic reconciliation, I worry that they’re not going to be successful with their agenda,” Jeff Copenance, the chief of Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, said.
Alberta’s recent referendum shed light on the inclusion of First Nations in decision making after First Nations in the province said there were “unnecessary obstacles” to being able to vote.
Siksika Nation said that while it was pleased with the outcome of the referendum, the polling station in its community was understaffed and it did not receive enough ballots from Elections Alberta.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) said it will be bringing its priorities to Ottawa on Monday, with a focus on treaty rights, governance and reconciliation.
The AMC said it will be pressing for action on economic sovereignty while making sure that First Nations are consulted in all decisions affecting them.
“Our Treaties and our alliances with the Crown are agreements between Nations. They are not historical arrangements to be set aside when they become inconvenient,” said Grand Chief Kyra Wilson. “We will not accept a relationship defined by promises without action. We expect to be treated as equal partners, and we expect governments to work with us.”
Manitoba First Nations leaders are voicing their priorities Saturday ahead of the meeting in Ottawa Monday.
Infantino is seeking re-election next year as the head of soccer’s world governing body in the face of attempts to force him to stand down in the wake of the divisive plan.
He infuriated soccer leaders in Europe, North America and Asia over the proposal to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary.
But in an interview released Saturday with the BBC at the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, Infantino brushed off doubts about him being able to continue as president.
“Well you know I was elected by 211 member associations from all over the world,” Infantino said. “I think what is important is that in an organization like FIFA, there can be different views, different points of view.
“But if we are serious about democracy, about the democratic process, about believing that everyone has the same vote and the same voice all over the world, that football belongs to everyone, if we are serious about that, then we need, to respect as well the views of the vast, vast majority.”
Infantino is standing for a final term in office in March. The deadline for potential candidates to come forward to stand against him is Nov. 18.
His latest comments came after he apologized to FIFA’s ruling council last week for “mistakes” in his secretive investment plan for the World Cup.
Despite his apology, European delegates said they left the meeting disappointed about what they saw as a lack of clarity.
On Friday, the Asian Football Confederation endorsed Infantino for another term as FIFA president in an apparent turnaround in its stance from two months ago when it criticized him for a breach of trust.
Soldiers and security officers hold back residents outside Prince Ali Military Hospital during King Abdullah II's visit to people wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church hours earlier, in Karak, Jordan, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
AP Photo via The Canadian Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40 others, authorities said.
The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of the capital, Amman.
Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen who appear to be holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots. A third man who appears to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then approaches and opens fire, and all three then run toward the church.
Video footage taken by witnesses shows broken glass and pools of blood on the floor of the church.
Dorgham Halasa, who was among the mourners inside the church, said intense gunfire erupted 15 minutes after the funeral had started, and then people started running. “It was a weird situation, and heavy gunfire,” Halasa said.
He did not see the gunmen, but said other people reported seeing four of them. The Associated Press could not independently verify the number of assailants, and Jordan’s security services did not immediately release details.
A government statement said that the attack was “carried out by unknown assailants,” but didn’t say whether any gunmen were captured or killed. It said that “investigations are underway at full speed.”
Jordan declared three days of national mourning, according to the kingdom’s Petra News Agency.
Karak is home to a minority Christian population.
In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people, including seven officers, and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed those gunmen after a long standoff.
Jordan’s Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of those wounded are in critical condition.
King Abdullah II said on X that Jordan “will confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties” and offered his “deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, and our wishes for recovery to the wounded.”
Jordan’s Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening that the attack was a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He said the assailants will be punished and legal measures taken against those who seek to introduce extremism.
Condemnation of the slayings came from around the region, including from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman.
Ahmed al-Tayeb in Cairo, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim world’s foremost religious institution, offered his condolences to the families of victims in Friday’s shooting, calling it a “heinous terrorist attack.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein called his Jordanian counterpart and “affirmed Iraq’s solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism,” Hussein’s office said in a statement.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack during a funeral as “especially heinous,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “The secretary-general also calls for all those responsible to be found and to be held to account.”
WATCH: France imposes nightly curfews 'for as long as necessary' amid violent protests
PARIS (AP) — France deployed thousands of police Saturday for fresh protests over school funding and soaring living costs, seeking to prevent another weekend of looting, burned cars and attacks on public buildings. In Paris, authorities restricted the main march to the city’s southeastern edge, keeping it away from the center.
Thousands of people were already marching Saturday afternoon in Orléans, south of Paris, in a separate protest against the far right as Marine Le Pen’s National Rally held a two-day congress in the city.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 officers would be deployed nationwide, backed by helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons.
What began last month as a protest over staff shortages at one high school southeast of Paris has grown into a national movement. Students demanding better schools and workers seeking higher wages and pensions have brought anger over living standards into the final months of President Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.
Macron met high school representatives Friday. They said he had promised to overhaul university admissions, but called for protests to continue until concrete measures are announced.
More than half a million people took to the streets last Saturday. Some 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted over the weekend.
Ahead of the new protests, Paris landmarks closed, shopkeepers boarded up storefronts and gendarmes stood guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe.
Shops board up and museums close
Gendarmes stood guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe as shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris. Near the Saint-Lazare train station Saturday, Akram Ahmed, a 34-year-old contractor, was boarding up an optician’s shop.
“I got the call last night,” he said. “The owner seemed desperate. He said I was saving his life.”
Major museums, including the Louvre, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais — where a major Cézanne exhibit is on display — were shuttered Saturday.
Art Basel, one of the world’s most prestigious contemporary art fairs, opened to the public Friday, but only for the day, with the threat of unrest prompting organizers to cancel the weekend program.
Some protests have been banned
Police changed the Paris route Friday, replacing the planned Bastille-to-Nation march with a route between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes. At Bastille, the original starting point, police used a megaphone to tell people to leave or face a 135-euro fine.
Protest marches are scheduled in Paris and Marseille, but some other rallies, including in Lyon, Nice and Montpellier, have been banned by local authorities. In Lyon, French media reported that police used tear gas Saturday morning.
Trade unions have criticized the bans, calling them violations of freedom of expression, which is protected by the constitution.
Macron, a centrist, has entered the crisis in the final stretches of his term, with his popularity at its lowest since he took office in 2017. He has said that the measures are needed to protect city centers, businesses and public buildings.
Nuñez acknowledged Monday that police had lost control in some cities during last weekend’s unrest. He offered to resign, but Macron refused.
In Orléans, about 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Paris, thousands of people took to the streets for an anti-far-right protest. It was organized on the sidelines of a meeting of Le Pen’s nationalist, anti-immigration party ahead of next spring’s presidential election.
Students and workers are angry
Student groups want 250,000 more places in higher education and an end to selection through Parcoursup, the national admissions system.
Their joint 10-point plan also calls for more teachers and repairs to schools and universities.
They are also seeking help with everyday costs: an extra 200 euros a month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student housing.
“The money is now concentrated in the hands of very few people,” said Victoria Ambrosini, an art critic and art teacher at Saint-Denis University. “And it’s not possible anymore.”
– Associated Press writer Tom Nouvian contributed to this report.
The streak is over at 546 straight games played for Nick Suzuki. The Montreal Canadiens captain is out of the lineup for two to four weeks with a finger injury after blocking a shot on Tuesday night.
The challenge is on for the Canadiens to rise above losing their best player. Night one was in Chicago and it was an impressive one for the Montreal Canadiens beating the Blackhawks 4-1.
Wilde Horses
The Canadiens needed someone to step up. Enter, if you can believe it, Jake Evans. The same Evans who hadn’t scored all season. In the first period, his line put together an exquisite passing play to count. It was Owen Beck, quickly to Kirby Dach who fed it in front to Evans who went far side.
In the second period, the Canadiens took far too many penalties, but not only did they kill them, they scored shorthanded. Kaiden Guhle won the puck in front of his own net, and somehow, after that, all the Hawks disappeared. Evans and Guhle led a two-on-one with Evans ripping a shot into the top corner over the shoulder of Spencer Knight.
The unlikely pair combined again late in the second period. It was Evans feeding Guhle at the point, and he fired through a maze of bodies his first goal of the season. That’s a three point night for Evans. The line with Beck and Dach had their best game of the season.
Mike Matheson added an empty netter in his first game back. He had a solid game paired with Lane Hutson.
The most important goaltending statistic in the new era is Goals Saved Above Expected. The best goalie in the playoffs last season was Jakub Dobes in this statistic. He was phenomenal. This season… not so much. Out of 68 goalies in the net this NHL season, Dobes ranks 66th.
Jacob Fowler is 15th in GSAE this season. He’s the goalie that the Canadiens need to rely on to in the crease right now. Fowler is technically sound. For what he lacks in size compared to Dobes, he wins in technical ability. He tracks the puck so calmly. He is prepared for rebounds in a perfect position after the initial shot.
Fowler received high praise from Carey Price recently. Price said that the goalie that reminds him of his style the most is Fowler. That’s some high praise.
Fowler put in a 1.16 GSAE in this one. He held the Canadiens in when they struggled in the opening period. St. Louis said earlier this week that he doesn’t like one of his goalies to sit too long. He may have to rethink that considering there is such a disparity between the two goalies presently.
After the loss to the Sharks, St. Louis commented that players have to understand what the game needs from them. He was speaking to penalties taken, and odd man rushes allowed while leading. He mentioned that his team had the puck in the offensive zone when the comeback started.
The head coach wants his team to understand that up 3-1, they need to shut the game down, not keep it wide open looking for a fourth goal. They learned the lesson. Looking to give it everything they had, Chicago got only four shots on net in the third period.
Wilde Goats
It’s impossible to replace a number one line with a 64 per cent Expected Goals this season. The first attempt at centre in between Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky was given to Oliver Kapanen. Head Coach Martin St. Louis didn’t want to ruin the chemistry of a couple secondary lines, so he kept those lines together.
It’s hard to describe how valuable Suzuki is to the team sometimes, but when two wingers have a 64 per cent xG, then Kapanen moves to the line and the xG drops to three per cent for 40 minutes, the perfect description has been found.
With the other lines doing well, it’s hard to imagine what St. Louis will do. He can’t have a number one line destroyed, but he doesn’t have a better alternative either. He’ll need to be patient.
They need a little time to develop some chemistry. In fact, late in the second period, they started to turn it around, and deserve another look to see if they’re figuring it out. The line finished with a 37 Expected Goals share thanks to a terrific third period.
The only goat has an undercurrent of a developing positive. Nothing but praise for a team that finally held a 3-1 lead.
Wilde Cards
It’s hard to believe, but the knives are out right now for General Manager Kent Hughes because he didn’t get a second line centre in the off-season. However, it should always be remembered that the goal of a GM isn’t to win a championship in October, but to create an open window for a title for seven to ten seasons.
There is absolutely no doubt that Hughes could have acquired a second line centre last June, but at a cost that was so high, that only this season would be better than the rest of the seasons to come. The solution for Hughes has to work in the short and the long term.
To acquire a strong 34 year old centre giving up talented 20 year olds only to have the 34 year old retire next season while the 20 year olds puts in 15 seasons on other teams is not good management. If there was a deal to be made, Hughes would have made it.
It’s going to be a difficult month without Nick Suzuki, but then it will be December, and barring a catastrophic next 13 games, the club will survive. At the trading deadline, Hughes may get another opportunity to make a smart trade for the future, and load up for the playoffs.
Michael Hage is coming soon as well. He may come as soon as this season after he finishes the the NCAA college playoffs. Michigan is the top team in the country. If the Wolverines advance to the Frozen Four, then Hage will arrive mid-April. If they fail to advance, Hage will arrive for the final push in the regular season.
Right now, Oliver Kapanen trying to fill in as Suzuki is obviously a tall order, but the wise see a long horizon while the foolish can only see past their nose.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech at the presentation of a banner of the Federal Customs Service at the Kremlin in Moscow, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.
Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine and Russia have signaled their willingness to resume U.S.-brokered peace talks and are backing a humanitarian mission led by First lady Melania Trump. But deep disagreements over territory and security guarantees that re-emerged this week underscore obstacles to ending the war.
The new diplomatic push comes after more than four and a half years of fighting, bringing with it a surprise announcement on Friday: Kyiv and Moscow have agreed to a local ceasefire to allow aid next week into a stranded town in Ukraine’s southern war-divided region of Kherson, following secret consultations between Melania Trump and civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine.
While the initiative raised hopes of similar humanitarian missions in the future, there were few indications that any of the key positions have shifted. Russia continues to demand Ukrainian territory it does not fully control, while Kyiv insists any agreement must include ironclad guarantees against another invasion.
Within hours of Russian President Vladimir Putin saying he agreed “in principle” to restart talks, Russia launched a deadly barrage of ballistic missiles and drones on Kyiv. Moscow on the same day said it had destroyed more than 800 Ukrainian drones heading toward its cities.
Here’s a look at where the two countries stand as potential negotiations loom.
Peace talks likely in mid-November
U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff secured the latest commitment to talks after shuttling between Oslo, Norway, and St. Petersburg, Russia, this week to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin.
A new round of negotiations would be the fourth brokered by the Trump administration, following the most recent round in Geneva in February.
A Kremlin spokesman said that the next round of talks is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, around mid-November. Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new formula to break the impasse while acknowledging that territorial and security questions remain unresolved.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s ties with Zelenskyy, meanwhile, have sunk to a new low. Moscow has been bolstered by Trump’s deal for Russia to supply the U.S. with diesel and his recent rejection of new Russia sanctions.
Kyiv has been undermined by disruptions in satellite support for its drones after rejecting a call by the U.S. president to halt strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukrainian leaders fear the moves will embolden Putin, giving him little incentive to compromise at the negotiating table.
As Trump increased pressure on Zelenskyy, accusing him of being an obstacle to peace, Witkoff secured the release of an American who had been jailed for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. The envoy described the Russian leader as a “humanitarian” at their meeting in St. Petersburg — a remark met with consternation in Ukraine.
The two sides are still far apart
While both sides back calls for new talks, Russia and Ukraine are still far apart on their terms for a settlement, while their armies remain locked on the battlefield and they pummel each other with daily long-range strikes.
Central to Russia’s demands is full control of four Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed months after the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, in addition to Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine but has failed to capture all the territory in the regions over which it claims sovereignty.
In a long list of demands, Moscow also wants Ukraine to withdraw forces from all four annexed regions, renounce its bid to join NATO, reduce the size of its military and drop restrictions against the Russian language and a Moscow-affiliated branch of the Orthodox Church.
Speaking on state television late Thursday, Putin said Moscow remains “ready to negotiate and seek solutions to this difficult, complex situation,” before adding: “But if some prefer a different path, so be it.
In any case, all the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved.”
Zelenskyy — who for months has publicly advocated for peace talks — argues that giving up land would leave Ukraine more vulnerable to future attacks. Kyiv views security guarantees as essential to prevent Russia from restarting the war in the future.
The Ukrainian president has reaffirmed support for a ceasefire that would freeze front-line positions, followed by talks on conditions for ending the war. Moscow has rejected a break in hostilities until a comprehensive agreement on its terms is reached.
Security guarantees remain unresolved
While Kyiv and Moscow have maintained limited contact to organize prisoner exchanges and the return of fallen soldiers, previous talks have made no progress on the security arrangements needed to sustain a peace deal.
Ukraine believes security guarantees backed by Western allies are essential to any future settlement, ideally in the form of NATO membership — an option Vladimir Putin has rejected. Ukraine expects to heavily rely on its own army as the main security guarantee with financial backing from its allies.
Other elements of security guarantees being discussed range from NATO membership, which the U.S. administration has currently ruled out, direct guarantees from the United States in what Zelenskyy has described as an “Article 5-like format” and backing by the European-led 30-country alliance known as the Coalition of the Willing.
Article 5 of the NATO charter contains the alliance’s mutual-defense guarantee, which establishes that an attack on one is an attack on all.
“All of these guarantees are possible on the basis of a strong Ukrainian army — in terms of both numbers and quality — with clear funding, and not a small amount. Our colleagues in Europe and America know this,” Zelenskyy told reporters Thursday at a briefing.
Following the massive attacks on Kyiv and other cities this week, he argued that only increased Western pressure on Moscow would change its calculations about future peace talks.
“It is important to keep trying to find the right solutions to end this war,” Zelenskyy wrote in an online post. “But when Russia responds to negotiations with ballistic missiles, real pressure on Russia is needed to bring about different steps — steps toward ending the killing.”
Ambassador of Cuba to Canada Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz prepares to appear before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Havana is urging Ottawa not to drop its public opposition to the decades-long U.S. embargo as Washington ramps up pressure on countries supporting Cuba.
“We are confident that Canada will stay with us, as they have done in the past,” Cuban Ambassador to Canada Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz told The Canadian Press.
“The blockade and this intensification is, in practice, killing people.”
The United Nations is set to vote next week on a motion Cuba has put forward nearly every year since 1992. It calls for the termination of “the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”
Canada has voted in favour of this motion multiple times.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been trying to overthrow Cuba’s Communist government through a de facto oil blockade. Washington cut off Venezuelan shipments in January and has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to the island nation.
Washington claims Cuba poses a national security threat to the United States. Malmierca said the Caribbean nation is being collectively punished by an American pressure campaign that is harming the health and education of Cubans.
An economic crisis has gripped Cuba since 2020, triggering critical shortages and severe blackouts that peaked after January’s fuel blockade.
Havana insists its economic struggles stem from six decades of American sanctions, but critics point to the inefficiency of its Communist regime. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International say Cuba’s government engages in arbitrary arrests, tortures political prisoners and limits media and political parties.
Cuba produces only 40 per cent of the fuel it needs. Shortages have led to frequent blackouts that have threatened health care systems and crippled the island’s economy. Air Canada and other airlines cancelled flights to Cuba in February because of shortages of aviation fuel.
Ottawa has pledged to distribute $13 million in humanitarian aid for Cubans through international organizations — not the Cuban government. Past Canadian development funding has gone to things like solar panels aimed at making the island less reliant on foreign fuel.
Laura Mendoza, who runs the 'Medicine Is Not for Sale' community project, stands in front of a shelf stocked with medicine donated by humanitarian groups for free distribution in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo via The Canadian Press
“The people are resisting because we are convinced that the most valuable thing we have is the independence, the sovereignty of Cuba. And we are not going to surrender that,” Malmierca said.
“We would like to have a normal relationship with the U.S. We are ready for dialogue.”
Malmierca said countries that have supported Cuba have told Havana they’re being warned by Washington their access to American trade or aid could be curbed if they continue supporting UN motions to end the blockade.
He said Cuba is “not naive” and knows Canada is facing its own economic pressure from the Trump administration.
“This year is a particular moment because of all this aggressivity of the U.S. government against Cuba,” he said. “They are in a kind of offensive with other countries, trying to exercise influence for them to change their votes. We know they are using threats.”
The Canadian Press asked the U.S. State Department for comment but didn’t receive a response.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz this week urged countries to vote against the motion, dismissing it as a product of “70 years of propaganda” meant to distract from corruption in Havana. He said Washington has been lobbying European countries to vote against the motion.
“Do not let them abuse your vote for their oppression,” he said at a Monday event he hosted. “Do not give in to this lie.”
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said it is still pondering how it will vote on the UN motion next week.
“As with all UN resolutions, Canada’s voting position is being considered in advance of the vote,” wrote spokesperson Thida Ith.
“Canada continues to call for the Cuban government to implement needed reforms to respect the political and economic rights of the Cuban people, and to release all political prisoners.”
In July, Havana called for a UN debate on the American embargo in the context of the island’s fuel crisis. Washington suggested it was a waste of resources to debate a motion that had already been debated nine months prior, and insisted that the decision to hold a debate be put to a recorded vote.
The vote passed and a debate was held. Canada was among 30 countries that abstained from the motion on holding a debate.
Civil society groups such as the Canadian Network on Cuba said they fear Ottawa may be pulling back from Cuba.
A boy runs balancing a table on his head during heavy rains in Havana, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo via The Canadian Press
A document The Canadian Press obtained through a freedom-of-information request shows Ottawa had frank exchanges with Cuba about its liquidity crisis before Trump ramped up pressure on the Communist government.
The document — a briefing book prepared by Global Affairs for its deputy minister — shows the deputy minister met with three Canadian firms during a visit to Havana in February 2023 to discuss their Cuban clients’ unpaid bills.
The document says the aim of the meeting was to reassure the three firms that Ottawa “has their back … without unduly encouraging new investors and traders who risk not being paid for their goods/services.”
The companies mentioned in the document are the National Bank, mining firm Sherritt and hotel chain Blue Diamond, now called Royalton. None of the companies responded to The Canadian Press when asked whether they still have accounts in arrears in Cuba.
Sherritt and Royalton have both ceased operations in Cuba. Havana has blamed their withdrawal on American pressure tactics.
The briefing book for the deputy minister reveals some of the nature of Canada’s discussions with Cuba, with Ottawa pushing for details on small and medium-sized enterprises and Havana requesting more aid.
“Canadian firms are facing mounting payment arrears with Cuban buyers. Many Canadian firms in Cuba are SMEs and the situation is threatening their sustainability,” reads the February 2023 document for the deputy minister.
“We sought bilateral meetings for you, that would allow you, for example, to engage on human rights and new economic actors (private sector SMEs and entrepreneurs). The Cuban side wanted rather to talk to you about new tourism initiatives and more Canadian international development projects.”
The briefing book proposed that Canada “leverage Cuba’s desire for increased assistance in our dialogue on other priorities (e.g. human rights)” — but added that the cheapest and most effective things Canada could offer would be technical help with reforming the agriculture sector and rules for smaller businesses.
Malmierca said Cuba is implementing 176 reform measures which came out of parliamentary and public consultations. He said these measures will allow a larger role for the private sector, foreign investment incentives and municipal autonomy.
“In Cuba, we work according to the rule of law,” he said. “Cuba is a society that is continuously trying to improve.”
He said a trade fair in Havana next month is going largely virtual due to the current electricity shortages, and Cuba will hold an event in Toronto ahead of time to drum up interest from Canadian entrepreneurs.
“We can maintain not only the economic relationship, but we can increase it in better conditions in the near future.”
People enter a voting location on municipal election day in Toronto, on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018.
Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press
Eric Apps had an inkling of who would get his vote in Toronto’s municipal election, but the lawyer wanted a second opinion before making his final decision.
In Parkdale-High Park, his usual safe choice in longtime councillor Gord Perks was taken away when the 63-year-old decided to retire. The race for the city’s west-end ward has ballooned to 10 candidates — none of whom Apps is familiar with.
He turned to a system he was familiar with: Claude, Anthropic’s artificial intelligence chatbot. Apps asked the bot for the top five polling candidates in his ward and their policies on issues such as bike lanes, housing and property taxes.
“It laid them all out in a very easily digestible format,” he said.
Apps is not the only one turning to AI for election information. During Quebec’s provincial election earlier this month, an estimated 40 per cent of the province’s voters turned to AI chatbots and received false and outdated information about the election, according to McGill University researchers. Many Quebec news outlets don’t allow chatbots to access their websites, so their reports cannot be mined for users’ queries.
Experts say this marks a troubling shift in the democratic process, where citizen engagement and human judgment is superseded by some algorithms that could be providing false information.
There were a few gaps in Apps’ own search, he noted. The chatbot could not provide much information on candidates who weren’t as widely reported on by news outlets or who didn’t have very active online presences. He acknowledged that some of the gaps could be related to the parameters of his questions.
“The blind spots are probably in the eyes of the beholders,” Apps said. “If you have your point of view going into it, then it probably is going to be giving back information that is not necessarily going to focus on opening your eyes.”
Alissa Centivany, an associate professor of Information and media studies at Western University, said artificial intelligence bots have replaced traditional search engines, such as Google, and reliable media platforms, such as news organizations’ websites.
For some voters, chatbots have become their main method of seeking information.
For AI researchers like Centivany, it remains unclear what an AI chatbot’s “technical process” is as it scrapes the internet for information. Centivany notes that the quality of information AI chatbots can compile is often lower than she would hope for, especially in the context of political elections.
One concerning element, she said, is that the mishmash of information it gathers can include user-generated content from social media sites like Reddit. Centivany said researchers are starting to see evidence of how a bot will compile information based on what they think a user will want to hear, based on past queries, as opposed to objective facts.
“A lot of it is opinion, a lot of it is untrue, a lot of it is inflammatory,” she said. “And it’s being used as a source of information.”
As he asked Claude more questions about candidates in his ward, Apps said he was also keenly aware of its limitations, especially with the influx of content on social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram.
“You have to take your AI engine with a grain of salt,” he said. “It gave me the basic information and then it puts it back to the viewer.”
The accessibility of the AI platforms made political participation easier, Apps said. While he considers himself somewhat politically aware, he said the chatbot acted as an information “refresher.”
“You ask it a question and it gives you an answer,” he said. “It’s not giving you glossy videos with clickbait-ish headlines.”
Anthropic said Claude uses web search to find up-to-date information and shows its sourcing so users can “judge their credibility for themselves.”
“Claude is trained to note when claims are disputed, when sources conflict, or when a source may be inaccurate or have an agenda,” the company said in a statement to The Canadian Press.
Earlier this month, Anthropic announced new updates to its usage policies, which included a “refocusing” of their elections section and political content restrictions.
“We’ve further sharpened our section on elections, focusing it specifically on disallowing the use of Claude to deceive voters or disrupt elections (for instance, by spreading false information about candidates or how to vote, impersonating candidates or election officials, or trying to suppress turnout),” the company’s news release read.
Alex Marland, a professor of Canadian politics and the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia University, said it makes sense that voters would turn to an accessible tool such as AI for information about candidates in elections.
Typically, people might vote for the political party they most align with, but candidates in Ontario municipal elections are not affiliated with a party.
“What ends up happening is you have to invest a lot more time to try to understand, ‘What are my choices and what do these people stand for?'” Marland said.
It’s a positive sign that voters want to get engaged in municipal politics, Marland said, since Ontario’s last municipal election had record-low voter turnout. According to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the average voter turnout in the 2022 was almost 33 per cent, compared to roughly 38 per cent in 2018.
But it’s up to users to be vigilant in fact-checking the information they’re receiving, Marland added.
“This is a piece of information that is going in with other pieces of information.”
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