In the news today: Olympics, India trade deal with Canada, Tumbler Ridge, NDP debate

The other semifinal will see the United States battle underdog Slovakia.

Canadian athletes are also competing in curling, skiing, speedskating and other events.

India envoy says trade deal possible within a year

India’s envoy to Ottawa says Canada could sign a comprehensive trade deal with New Delhi within a year — despite the fact that trade talks between the two nations have stalled multiple times since they started in 2010.

Ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s anticipated visit to India, High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik said Thursday a 12-month timeline isn’t overly ambitious because both countries face a shifting geopolitical climate requiring collaboration in multiple sectors.

Patnaik said Carney’s visit likely will involve meetings with a wide range of government and business officials in New Delhi and Mumbai.

In November, Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to formally launch negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement — a trade deal that would cover almost all services and goods, including investments, agriculture and digital trade.

Canada and India launched talks 16 years ago on a comprehensive deal before downgrading those negotiations to focus instead on a sectoral deal that would touch only on specific industries.

Guns in photo posted by Tumbler Ridge shooter’s mother were legal, expert says

A former RCMP weapons officer says guns in a photo posted by the Tumbler Ridge shooter’s mother all appear to have been legal to own in Canada at the time, although they include a semi-automatic rifle that was later prohibited.

Jennifer Jacobs posted the photo of guns in a cabinet to Facebook in August 2024 with the caption, “Think it’s time to take them out for some target practice.”

Jacobs and her 11-year-old son were among eight people killed in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 10 by Jacobs’s daughter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, before she killed herself.

Frank Grosspietsch, a retired RCMP officer with the National Weapons Enforcement Support Team and a technical adviser to the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners, said the photo posted by Jacobs includes five rifles — three of which appear to be semi-automatic — two shotguns and a handgun.

NDP leadership candidates pitch their rebuilding plans to voters in final debate

The NDP leadership candidates began the final official debate on Thursday with a general acknowledgment they agree on policies, but have different visions for how to achieve their most existential goal — rebuilding the party.

At the close of the debate, each candidate was asked if they are running to rebuild the party or become the prime minister. Four of the five candidates said they are running to rebuild the party, while Ontario organic farmer Tony McQuail was the lone candidate who said he is eyeing the Prime Minister’s Office.

During opening remarks in the Vancouver-area debate, Alberta MP Heather McPherson said the party needs someone who knows how to turn NDP policies and values into electoral wins. She said she has a track record of beating Conservatives in her home province and can expand that nationally.

Documentarian Avi Lewis said the same approaches seen in past elections will not work and the NDP needs to be putting forward big, bold ideas. He said this can be a winning strategy as his campaign has pulled in the most donations, nearly $780,000 as of Dec. 31, 2025, and is getting significant member support.

The next NDP leader will be announced on March 29 during the party’s convention in Winnipeg.

Alberta’s Smith to put immigration, Constitution questions on fall referendum

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government is putting nine questions to a provincewide referendum on Oct. 19, including proposals to restrict social services from some immigrants.

One question asks Albertans if non-permanent residents should be charged a “reasonable” fee to access health and education systems.

Another asks for approval to cut off newcomers from social services if they don’t fall under “Alberta approved immigration status.” The question doesn’t define what that status means.

Other questions delve into the Constitution, asking whether Alberta should open negotiations with the rest of Canada to abolish the Senate and to give provinces the power to appoint superior court judges.

Smith announced the referendum in a televised address Thursday night, saying she’s not afraid of direct democracy and trusts the judgment of Albertans.

Feds warn First Nations people to carry passport when crossing U.S. border

The federal government has updated its travel advice for the United States, urging First Nations people to carry a passport in addition to a status card when crossing the border.

Before this week, the government website said First Nations people could “freely” enter the United States for the purposes of employment, study, retirement, investing or immigration.

As of Thursday, the website has been updated with new guidelines.

The website now says First Nations people “may” be able to cross the Canada-U.S. border by land or water with their Secure Certificate of Indian Status, also known as a secure status card.

The website says acceptance of all status cards is “entirely at the discretion of U.S. officials.” Status cards and secure status cards aren’t accepted travel documents for air travel, it says.

CRA says it’s ready for this year’s tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says taxpayers should have an easier time this tax season, a year after it faced criticism for long wait times and, in some cases, bad advice from representatives.

The agency has revamped its operations, undertaking a government-ordered service improvement plan focused on addressing call centre delays, which wrapped up in December. Since then, it’s streamlined its websites, hired more call centre workers and rejigged standards for accuracy.

“We recognize that our service has been challenging in the past,” said Melanie Serjak, assistant commissioner of the assessment benefits and service branch at the Canada Revenue Agency.

The 2025 tax-filing season officially kicks off on Monday and continues for a little over nine weeks, ending April 30 for most taxpayers.

Many of the agency’s updates for this year centre around the CRA My Account. Taxpayers will be able to manage their balance or amount owing and set up a payment plan without speaking with a collections agent.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

In the news today: Olympics, India trade deal with Canada, Tumbler Ridge, NDP debate

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