In the news today: Carney in Brussels for EU-Canada summit

He begins the day with a visit to the Antwerp Schoonselhof Military Cemetery where 348 Canadian soldiers are buried.

At the EU-Canada summit, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Defence Minister David McGuinty are expected to sign a security and defence agreement with the European bloc in what one European official described last week as one of the most ambitious deals the continent’s powers have ever signed with a third country.

The security and defence agreement aims to open the door to Canada’s participation in the joint purchase of weapons with European countries.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Ontario and Quebec continue to fight high heat

Much of Ontario and southwestern Quebec will continue to bake in high temperatures Monday and Tuesday as a heat dome lingers over the region.

Environment Canada issued a heat warning for the area on Saturday, saying hot and humid conditions will likely continue until Wednesday.

In Toronto, the agency says the city saw a daytime high of 35 C on Sunday, with the humidex making it feel like 46 degrees at times.

The dangerously high temperatures are expected to affect communities from southwestern Ontario and north to Sudbury and Timmins.

People are encouraged to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and be on alert for early signs of heat exhaustion.

Alberta votes to decide Nenshi seat in legislature

Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is looking to finally win a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines.

He’s running in one of three provincial byelections today as a candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona, where his predecessor Rachel Notley last won 80 per cent of the vote.

In Edmonton-Ellerslie, NDP candidate Gurtej Singh Brar could solidify the opposition party’s hold on the city, but United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj is hoping to make an inroad.

In rural central Alberta, the separatist Republican Party of Alberta is aiming to capitalize on discontent with Ottawa.

Republican leader Cameron Davies has been campaigning in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills against the UCP’s Tara Sawyer, the NDP’s Bev Toews and Bill Tufts of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition.

The seat became vacant after former legislature speaker and long-time UCP member of the legislature Nathan Cooper resigned to take a post as Alberta’s representative in Washington, D.C.

Hudson’s Bay to seek approval to sell three leases

Hudson’s Bay is expected back in court this morning where it will ask a judge to let it sell three of its leases to a B.C. mall owner.

The defunct department store wants to transfer its leases for Tsawwassen Mills, Mayfair Shopping Centre and Woodgrove Centre to Ruby Liu.

The real estate maven, who leads a company that owns all three malls, has offered $6 million for the trio of leases.

She also wants up to 25 more leases at malls she does not own but Hudson’s Bay is still working on getting approval from landlords, who are overwhelmingly objecting.

Aside from the request to sell three leases to Liu, the Ontario Superior Court will also be asked to change the name of the department store company in creditor protection to avoid confusion that could arise now that Canadian Tire owns the rights to the Bay name.

Ontario proposes to weaken pending recycling rules

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government is proposing to weaken an impending slate of new recycling rules because producers of the materials said the system is getting too expensive.

The province began transitioning in 2023 toward making producers pay for the recycling of their packaging, paper and single-use items. The companies’ obligations were set to increase next year, but the government is now looking to delay some measures and outright cancel others, such as requirements to extend collection beyond the residential system.

Environmental advocates say the proposed changes let producers off the hook and will mean more materials will end up in landfills or be incinerated. Producers say despite the rising costs, recycling rates don’t actually appear to be improving, so it’s time for a broader rethink.

Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said the proposed changes are about ensuring the sustainability of the blue box system and protecting against unintended consequences such as job losses.

The Canadian Retail Council estimates that producer costs have already increased by about 350 per cent in three years and would nearly double again just from this year to next if no changes were made to the impending new rules for 2026.

The government says blue box collection costs could more than double between 2020 and 2030.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

In the news today: Carney in Brussels for EU-Canada summit

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