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E‑mails Reveal Ottawa Knew of BC Ferries’ China Deal Weeks Before Public Rebuke

Internal government e‑mails show senior federal officials were aware of BC Ferries’ controversial $1‑billion contract with a Chinese state‑owned shipyard weeks before Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland publicly condemned the deal. The correspondence, obtained by a House of Commons committee, indicates staff in the Prime Minister’s Office and Freeland’s office discussed the project in mid‑June, including its link to a pending Canada Infrastructure Bank loan that would help finance the vessels. One aide warned the project was “likely not viable without our loan” and flagged political risks if the Conservatives tied the financing to the Chinese contract. On June 20, Freeland issued a sharply worded letter to B.C.’s transportation minister, expressing “consternation and disappointment” over the decision to award the work to China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards, citing security and economic concerns. At the time, she said the federal government had no jurisdiction over BC Ferries’...
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Israel Approves Ceasefire Deal with Gaza, Hostages to be Released

 

In a significant move towards peace, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas, paving the way for the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza. The agreement, which is expected to take effect as early as Sunday, aims to halt the 15-month-long conflict that has caused widespread devastation in Gaza.

Under the terms of the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly men, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The ceasefire is set to begin with a six-week phase, during which Israeli forces will withdraw from several areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes.

The approval of the ceasefire deal comes after intense negotiations and last-minute complications. Despite opposition from hardliners within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, the deal was ultimately approved by the security cabinet and is now awaiting final approval from the full cabinet.

The ceasefire and hostage release are seen as a crucial step towards easing hostilities in the region and providing much-needed humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza. The international community has welcomed the agreement, hoping it will lead to a lasting peace in the Middle East.




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