The Canadian government has expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei for interfering in this country’s politics after a week of cabinet-level preparations bracing for a range of potential retaliatory responses.
In retaliation, China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday declared Jennifer Lynn Lalonde, a Shanghai-based diplomat, “persona non grata” and told her to leave the country by May 13.
The extraordinary expulsion – the first of a Chinese diplomat in decades – carries substantial consequences given the size of Canada’s economic and social ties with China. It is Canada’s second-largest trading partner and second-highest source of immigration.
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Alberta offers financial aid as wildfires force thousands from homes
As wildfires ravage parts of Alberta, the provincial government is offering financial assistance to the thousands who have been forced to evacuate their homes.
There were 95 active wildfires yesterday, with 27 listed as out of control. Nearly 30,000 people have been evacuated from communities in north and central Alberta.
Christie Tucker, a spokesperson with Alberta Wildfire, said that rain and light winds have helped dampen the blazes, but added that warmer temperatures into the weekend could raise danger levels again.
Ontario passes bill to expand private clinics: The Ontario government passed a health bill yesterday to transfer more surgeries out of publicly funded hospitals and into private health clinics. Opposition MPs and health advocacy groups say the move will pull much-needed resources away from the public health care system.
Smith under fire after vaccine comments come to light: United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith is in hot water after a 2021 video surfaced Sunday in which she compared those who got the COVID-19 vaccine to people who supported tyrants, referencing Adolf Hitler. Smith became the leader of the UCP after campaigning on COVID-19 grievances.
Mexico to enter global LNG industry: Plans by Mexico to expand its liquefied natural gas sector could make it the world’s fourth-largest exporter of the fuel and push it past Canada where no LNG export terminals have yet been built.
Imran Khan, former Pakistan PM, arrested: Khan was arrested on Tuesday as he appeared in a court in the capital, Islamabad, to face charges in multiple graft cases.
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