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Trump’s Self-Styled Nobel Quest: A Peace Prize Fantasy

  Donald Trump’s latest fixation — securing the Nobel Peace Prize — has become a political sideshow that blends self-promotion with geopolitical controversy. While past leaders have quietly welcomed nominations, Trump’s approach has been anything but subtle. He has openly claimed credit for “settling” multiple global conflicts, from Armenia–Azerbaijan to Israel–Iran, despite little independent evidence of lasting peace in those regions. The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prize, appears far from convinced. Several members have publicly criticized Trump’s attacks on the press, his approach to governance, and what they see as the dismantling of democratic norms. His foreign policy record — from cozying up to authoritarian leaders to undermining NATO allies — further complicates his case. Even his touted role in Middle East diplomacy is overshadowed by his unwavering support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline policies, which critics argue have dera...
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CRA Extends 850 Call Centre Contracts to Ease Service Strain

                Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) national headquarters in Ottawa on Friday, June 28, 2024.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has granted contract extensions to approximately 850 call centre employees whose terms were set to expire in September. The move comes amid mounting concerns from the Union of Taxation Employees (UTE) over staffing shortages that have led to long wait times, dropped calls, and a surge in taxpayer complaints.

Union president Marc Brière described the decision as a “first victory” in their campaign to halt job cuts and restore service levels. Over the past year, the CRA has shed nearly 3,300 call centre positions, a reduction the agency attributes to budget constraints, the end of temporary pandemic programs, and government-wide savings initiatives.

While the extensions will keep the affected workers on staff until March 2025, both the union and the taxpayers’ ombudsperson warn that further cuts could deepen service delays. The federal government is currently reviewing departmental budgets with potential reductions of up to 15% over three years.


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