Sarah Mills: We came so close to the zipper merge
Three block of two lanes of traffic merging one by one, with everyone inching forward. It was the zipper merge in action...
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…
In Paris, Carney set to talk about Canada’s role in eventual Ukraine ceasefire
Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Paris today meeting with Ukraine’s other allies to talk about the role Canada might play in securing an eventual ceasefire in the war with Russia.
The “coalition of the willing,” a group of more than 30 countries pledged to support Ukraine, is gathering in Paris as ceasefire talks reach a critical juncture.
Carney is set to meet directly with a number of world leaders, including Mark Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, and heads of state from Denmark and Finland.
A senior government official briefing reporters on the plane to Paris said security guarantees for Ukraine will be a major part of the talks.
Poilievre calls for immediate pipeline approval following U.S. action in Venezuela
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is warning the federal government that the possible end of American sanctions on Venezuelan oil could displace Canadian exports to the U.S. — and is urging the Liberals to “immediately approve a pipeline to the Pacific Coast.”
In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Tuesday, Poilievre said the action taken by the United States over the weekend has “altered the global energy landscape.”
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro, bring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges, and announced the U.S. would take control of the country’s oil industry.
Poilievre warned Venezuela’s heavy crude production “could rapidly rebound to historic levels,” putting it in direct competition with Canada for space in American refineries that specialize in heavy crude.
New Ontario online courts portal brings delays and ‘snafus,’ Toronto lawyers say
Some lawyers say a new online portal meant to streamline access to Ontario’s court system is leaving them grappling with unpredictable delays and facing new hurdles in managing their cases.
The Ontario Courts Public Portal launched in Toronto in the fall, with the purpose of allowing people to file documents, pay fees and find virtual links for court hearings in non-criminal matters.
While welcoming the push toward a more modern court system, some lawyers say the new system is unintuitive and difficult to navigate.
The Ontario Bar Association says the new portal has been well received by its members, and there is ongoing communication between the courts, the province and the profession regarding the rollout.
Man to appear in court in connection with shootout involving police in Nunavik
A 36-year-old northern Quebec man is scheduled to appear in court today in connection with a Dec. 20 exchange of gunfire with Nunavik Police Service officers that turned tragic.
Andrew Naluktuk is facing several charges, including discharging a firearm at two peace officers and assaulting the same officers with a weapon.
A person, who authorities have identified as a six-year-old girl, died 10 days after being found injured inside a home in Inukjuak, Que., following the shooting.
Quebec’s police watchdog has said Nunavik officers were called about a person who had allegedly posed a danger to other occupants, and that the individual was injured during the police intervention and arrested.
Freeland steps down as Canada’s Ukraine envoy, will resign as MP soon
Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland says she is stepping down as the prime minister’s special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine and will leave Parliament in the coming weeks.
The announcement came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared on social media her appointment as an unpaid adviser on economic development in his country.
Critics say Freeland should have resigned as a member of Parliament before accepting the new position advising a foreign government.
Freeland has long expressed her support for Ukraine during its war with Russia, and has said the country could become an economic juggernaut by taking up opportunities it missed after the fall of the Soviet Union.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2026.
The Canadian Press
