Politics

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government introduced legislation Monday that's expected to add skilled workers into the labour force more quickly by reducing barriers for internationally trained workers from more than two dozen professions.

OTTAWA — Canada would like to see a "de-escalation" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and new talks toward a long-term peace in the region, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Monday.

QUEBEC — The Parti Québécois has released a study that it says shows an independent Quebec would be financially viable despite the mountain of debt it would inherit.

OTTAWA — Global Affairs Canada says a social media campaign that is likely connected to the People's Republic of China is targeting dozens of MPs with spam.

WASHINGTON — The federal government and Enbridge Inc. are trying to exploit a "dormant" and outdated treaty with the United States to forestall the shutdown of the Line 5 pipeline, human rights and environmental groups argue in new court documents.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L.

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is so keen to improve the province's ailing health-care sector that it is offering 50 prizes of $1,000 each to health workers who have ideas for improving the system.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative government released a housing plan Monday that it says will help address a projected shortage of 41,000 homes by 2028.

TORONTO — Ontario plans to give people a new way to exit timeshare agreements, make it easier to get out of a gym membership, and prohibit businesses from making false claims about prize offers, under new legislation.

TORONTO — A rookie Ontario legislator was kicked out of the New Democratic caucus Monday, moments before Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives effectively silenced her in the legislature over comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war.