Rent prices are falling in most Canadian cities, according to RBC. This is providing some relief for renters, according to a new report from Royal Bank of Canada.

In more than half of the country's 40 major cities, rents fell in the first three months of this year compared to the same period a year ago, according to a study by RBC economist Rachel Battaglia. Vancouver saw the biggest drop in rents for two-bedroom homes, down $270 a month. Kelowna and British Columbia also saw a drop of $230. Calgary saw a drop of $170 and Toronto saw a drop of $160. The report says that the decline in rents is due to more housing available for rent, a declining population, and the inability of many to afford higher rents. The report says the federal government's decision to reduce immigration has hit rental markets in Ontario and British Columbia harder than elsewhere. Places with a large student population have seen the biggest declines in rents. For example, monthly rents in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo have fallen by $130, and in Guelph by $50.

 

 

More than 100 emission-free buses will be on Calgary roads in the next three years. The city announced that Calgary Transit is purchasing 120 new electric buses, as part of funding from a previous federal government grant. The city said it will purchase Canadian-made Nova LFSE+ electric buses from longtime supplier Nova Bus. The buses will replace some of its aging diesel-fueled vehicles and strengthen the reliability of transit’s services, the news release said.

E-buses are already in use in Banff, Toronto and Ottawa. Under the previous Justin Trudeau government, the federal government announced $325 million in funding for the City of Calgary to purchase 259 electric buses by June 2023.

 

 

AI videos spreading hate online are a big concern in Canada. A clip posted in June on the American Bigfoot TikTok page has been viewed more than 360,000 times. It has also attracted hundreds of comments, most of which praise the video. In recent months, social media platforms have been flooded with similar AI-generated content. These videos openly promote violence and spread hatred against LGBTQ+, Jews, Muslims and other minority groups.

While the origin of most of the videos is unclear, their circulation on social media is causing anger and concern among many. Experts say that current systems are not able to control the hateful AI-generated content. Experts also say that authorities are not adequately addressing the risks it poses to public safety. Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, said the LGBTQ+ community is not the only target. He said Islamophobic, anti-Semitic and anti-South Asian content produced using generative AI tools is also widely circulating on social media.

 

 

Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada are worrying his party, the Republican Party, according to a report. There are concerns that this could hurt the party in the upcoming midterm elections. The new concerns are due to Trump's 35 percent tariff on Canadian products not covered by the USMCA agreement. The new taxes are in addition to existing tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper. This is likely to increase the price of food, clothing, cars and farm equipment.

Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky warned that the economy is showing signs of weakness. Senator Jerry Moran from Kansas added that the tariffs act like a tax and affect business growth. He also said that trade uncertainty is affecting employment and investment. Senator Mitch McConnell has also criticized Trump's tariffs. He said Trump is stirring up trouble at a time when he should be working with friends like Canada to defend against China's unfair trade policies. He also said that trade uncertainty is delaying jobs and investment.

McConnell, Paul and other senators introduced a resolution to repeal the 25% tariff, but it failed in the House. Trade expert Inu Manak has warned that the tariffs will soon lead to price increases. She said Republican leaders will face protests in their constituencies. Despite these concerns, the Republican Party has not taken significant steps to reduce the tariffs.

 

 

Record increase in organ donations in Alberta. According to the provincial health authority
, many Albertans who died last year had their organs and body parts used to give new life to others.

In 2024, 317 people donated organs and body parts. The announcement was made by Give Life Alberta, Alberta’s organ and tissue donation program. The provincial government said that 423 organs were transplanted last year thanks to the generosity of deceased individuals and their loved ones. As a result, hundreds of lives were saved. According to Give Life, this is the third consecutive year that the number of organ donors has increased. There were 273 donors in 2023 and 248 donors in 2022. The provincial government is also promoting a number of policy changes in recognition of the increase in deceased organ donations in recent years. This includes the Specialist in End-of-Life Care, Neuroprognostication and Donation (SEND) program, which was launched in 2021. It involves specialized intensive care physicians who work closely with healthcare teams to ensure high-quality end-of-life care. It also includes identifying and caring for organ donors.

 

 

Some prominent doctors in Quebec are warning against a new scam circulating on social media. The doctors have come out with the warning after videos using AI-generated images of doctors were released in connection with the sale of health products.

Quebec doctors are concerned about the recent deepfake videos circulating online. They say they can erode public trust in the medical system and put people's health at risk. Scammers are using AI-generated videos of real doctors to give health-related advice and advertise and sell certain products. This is something that is very harmful to all doctors in Quebec and Canada, said Dr. Francois Marquis, head of the intensive care unit at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital in Montreal. Marquis said that some people had contacted him after seeing some of the videos circulating on social media. He says he was in disbelief when he first learned that his image was being used in a deepfake video. He added that it is essential to raise awareness among people about this issue.

 

 

Canadians across the country are struggling to afford the cost of living. Everything, including essential goods and groceries, is going up in price. Some provinces in Canada are the most expensive to live in. A new study by Statistics Canada, titled 'Purchasing Power Parities for Consumption and Household Income Across the Canadian Provinces and Territories', is the first of its kind in Canada. It sheds new light on the differences in purchasing power between provinces and territories.

The standard of living that can be achieved by earning $75,000 in one province or territory may differ in another province or territory. Statistics Canada says that the standard of living there may not be equal to earning that amount. The study also explains that the cost of living may vary from place to place.

According to the report, the provinces of British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta have the highest cost of living since 2021. These provinces have very high rates in every aspect of daily life, including housing prices, rent rates, and the cost of essential goods. Meanwhile, the provinces with the lowest cost of living in Canada are Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

In terms of regions, Nunavut is the most expensive region. The study also points out that the Northwest Territories are very expensive to live in.

 

 

 

PP Cherian Dallas

OTTAWA: Canada is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in Ottawa on Wednesday. He blamed the Israeli government's "persistent failure" to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza for the decision.

"The growing suffering of ordinary people leaves no room for delay in coordinated international action to support peace, security and the dignity of all human life," Carney said.

The recognition is based on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reform its governance and hold general elections in 2026. "Hamas will have no role in that," Carney said. The prime minister said he had explained the conditions to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas before the announcement. Carney reiterated that Hamas must immediately release all hostages and disarm.

Israel's protest:

Israel condemned Canada's statement. "The Canadian government's change of position at this time is a reward for Hamas, and it harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and the framework for the release of hostages," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Carney's announcement came after France and the United Kingdom announced similar commitments. It is seen as a significant shift in Canada's foreign policy.

Humanitarian crisis in Gaza:

Carney described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "deplorable" earlier this week. The UN World Food Program and UNICEF warned that food consumption and nutrition indicators in Gaza have reached their worst levels since the conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. "Gaza is on the brink of famine. This is not a warning, it is a reality unfolding before our eyes," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday.

Canada has joined European leaders in taking a tough stance against Israel to speed up humanitarian aid. An October 7 attack by Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people and abducted 251. Hamas still holds about 50 hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israel's retaliatory attacks have killed an estimated 60,000 Palestinians, more than half of whom were women and children.

Other countries' stance:

French President Emmanuel Macron was the first to announce his recognition of a Palestinian state. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer followed suit after meeting his cabinet on Tuesday. He pledged that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state by September unless the Israeli government took “substantial steps” to end the crisis in Gaza and committed to a long-term peace process that would provide for a two-state solution.

Starmer discussed his decision with Carney on Tuesday. On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrett called for more countries to do the same. Canada is the third G7 country to make such a declaration.

On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was in New York to attend a United Nations conference on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the two-day conference, boycotted by Israel and the US, Anand announced a new humanitarian aid package. It includes C$30 million to help Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and C$10 million to the Palestinian Authority to implement governance reforms for final statehood.

 

 

Thousands of homes in Calgary are in danger of flooding. Calgarians are increasingly turning to home service companies for help with home repairs, according to figures. As a result, home service companies are being forced to bring in more workers from around the country.

Heavy rains have flooded many parts of the city. The city received more than 200 millimetres of rain in June and July. Following this, the number of calls coming to Groundworks’ Calgary office has increased by more than 300 per cent. The company said it is now booking for September. Officials say that Calgary homes are experiencing more flooding than in 2013. The home service company is receiving more calls asking for foundation repairs, waterproofing and concrete repairs in people’s basements.

 

 

Despite reports of a decline in crime across Canada, shoplifting is on the rise, a new report says. The crime rate across Canada fell by 4.1 per cent in 2024, according to the Crime Severity Index (CSI), released yesterday. However, shoplifting is a recurring theme. The report also says that the most common items stolen from stores are items worth $5,000 or less.

Police received reports of 182,361 shoplifting incidents in 2024. This is a 14 per cent increase compared to 2023. The report says that shoplifting rates have been increasing for four consecutive years.
Statistics from the past decade indicate a worrying trend. Shoplifting increased by 66 per cent from 2014 to 2024.

Shoplifting is generally considered a relatively minor crime compared to other types of crime. However, theft can cause significant financial losses to businesses, so retailers are taking strict measures to prevent theft.

In January, Safeway, a supermarket chain owned by Sobeys Incorporated, installed anti-theft gates. But this has left customers in Vancouver disappointed. Over the past year, Loblaws has tested several anti-theft methods, including receipt scanners, security gates, and shopping carts with locking wheels.

 

 

Elderly woman reported to be a victim of fraud in Edmonton. Parvathy, a 70-year-old woman, was out for a walk when a car pulled up in front of her. The man in the car told her to come closer. Parvathy says she didn't feel any panic because there was a woman and two small children in the car.

The man told her that he looked like her deceased grandmother and then gave her a ring. When she tried to refuse, he asked her to wear it for a few minutes to bless her.

They then dressed her in more jewelry and hugged her. After they left, Parvathy realized that her jewelry was missing. Parvathy's youngest son, Sahil Prasad, made the announcement in a Facebook post. Prasad said that he is sharing this information to warn others against such scams. The RCMP said they have received numerous reports from Alberta regarding gold and jewelry fraud, with robberies often taking place in parking lots.

 

 

Vancouver tourism booms, hotel rooms are hard to find, according to a report. Tourism in the region is booming as more Canadians avoid traveling to the US. This has also led to higher accommodation and car rental costs.

In addition to various locations across Canada, Vancouver is also seeing a surge in visitors from foreign countries such as the UK, Australia, Germany, Mexico and the US. People also visit the city to attend various conferences and cruise ship season. The city is expected to see a surge in visitors in the summer. But it's not yet clear whether it will break records, said Royce Chaquin, CEO and president of Destination Vancouver.

With the increase in tourist arrivals, demand for hotels has increased. But those in the industry say the growth in the hotel sector is not keeping up with demand. The CEO of Destination Vancouver stated that due to the lack of sufficient hotel service in Vancouver, they are focusing on increasing hotel capacity and accelerating the development of new hotels. As part of this, 23 projects are currently in progress.

 

 

Trade and tariffs are the main topics of discussion at a meeting of Canadian premiers in Ontario. The meeting of the premiers is noteworthy because it is being held at a time when trade tensions with the United States are escalating.

The meeting will mainly focus on US President Donald Trump's tariffs and trade talks with the United States. The premiers are likely to discuss the direct impact of this on industries such as steel and aluminum. There will also be discussions on measures to overcome interprovincial trade barriers and on accelerating infrastructure and natural resource projects to cope with the effects of the tariffs. Trump had announced that he would impose a 5% tariff on Canada from August 1. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the meeting was an opportunity to discuss how to respond to Trump's new threat and how to work together to realize the full potential of the Canadian economy. The premiers will also meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.

 

 

A 61-year-old man who entered an MRI scanning room without permission wearing a metal necklace was pulled into an MRI machine. He tried to rescue him, but he died after getting stuck in the machine. The incident occurred at 4:30 pm on Wednesday in Westbury, Long Island, New York. It is reported that the man entered the room without permission while his wife was getting an MRI scan.

The man entered the scanning room without permission while wearing a large metal necklace around his neck. The MRI machine, which was then operating, pulled him into the room. The man, who was seriously injured in the accident, was taken to the hospital for treatment but died. It is reported that he suffered a heart attack during treatment.

It is unclear what kind of injuries he sustained. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the incident.

 

 

 

PP Cherian Dallas

Nashville, Tennessee (AP) - Judge Russell Perkins has ordered Tennessee authorities to disable the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in his body during the lethal injection of poison. The ruling comes after lawyers argued that the device could cause shock and severe pain when it was used in the execution, which is scheduled for August 5.

The order requires the device to be deactivated immediately before the lethal injection and requires the assistance of medical professionals. The judge said the order will not delay the execution and will not impose an additional burden on the state.

However, it is unclear how quickly a medical professional can be found to deactivate the device. The state is likely to appeal the ruling. Black was sentenced to death in 1988 for the murder of his girlfriend and their two daughters.

 

 

Disturbing reports are out about fascist fight clubs in Canada. They have targeted public parks, gyms and martial arts clubs that offer classes for children.

Members of these fight clubs, known as active clubs, do not want to be in the public eye. However, they do recruit and campaign online. They take special care to hide their faces and hide their locations when posting videos of training sessions. Experts also consider such groups, which are associated with movements that believe in white supremacy, to be a growing terrorist threat. They are also accused of believing in preparing for a race war and using martial arts as a recruitment tool for extremist ideologies. The RCMP has found that members of some banned organizations are working with such groups. These groups have also been found to have links to violent gangs and ethnic killings, raising serious security concerns.

 

 

New York: The company has sent Andy Byron, the chief executive officer (CEO) of analytics firm Astronomer, on mandatory leave after a video of him with HR chief Christine Cabot at a Coldplay concert went viral. Co-founder and chief product officer Pete DeJoy has been appointed as interim CEO.

The tech company said its board of directors has launched an investigation into the relationship between Andy Byron and Cabot and will share more information soon. Co-founder and chief product officer Pete DeJoy has taken over as interim CEO for the time being as Andy Byron has gone on leave, it said in a post on CompanyX.

The post also states that we are committed to the values and culture that have guided us since the company was founded. We expect those who lead us to be exemplary in behavior and responsibility. The board of directors has launched an investigation into the matter and will share more information soon, the company said. Meanwhile, Byron has not commented on the matter.

The controversy arose when Byron was caught on camera hugging Cabot at a Coldplay concert in Boston. The 'kiss cam' at the concert approached Byron and Cabot, and the two were captured on giant screens around the stage.

There were also reports of unease in Andy Byron's family. Byron is married to teacher Megan Kerrigan. The two have two children from their relationship. Megan Kerrigan is a famous teacher living in Massachusetts. The 50-year-old is the associate director of the Bancroft School in Massachusetts. Hours after the video went viral, she removed her husband's last name from her social media profiles.

 

 

A man has been charged with hijacking and terrorism after hijacking a small plane at Vancouver International Airport. The B.C. provincial court case involves Shaheer Kassim, a former commercial airline pilot based in Victoria. His actions posed a security threat.

The small Cessna took off from Victoria Airport just before 1 p.m. It flew straight to Vancouver Airport and circled for about 25 minutes. That's when the crash was confirmed. But police said it landed at YVR at 1:45 p.m. A video of the bearded pilot emerging from the plane is circulating on social media. F-15 fighter jets were scrambled as the Cessna circled over the airport. Additional F-18 fighter jets were also on standby to respond. The RCMP has not released details of the incident. However, it is believed that Shaheer Kassim hijacked the plane as a sign of protest against something.

 

 

P P Cherian, Dallas

Washington DC/New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that 1,563 Indian nationals have been deported from the United States since January 20, 2025. This includes the figures from January, when Donald Trump took office for the second time as the US President. Most of the deportees returned to India via commercial flights, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told the weekly media briefing. This is a notable development among Indian nationals living or travelling in the US.

The ministry also discussed the legal issues faced by Indians going abroad. "We always appeal to all people going abroad that they should abide by the law and create a good image of the country," Jaiswal reiterated. The statement came after questions were raised about the arrest of an Indian national in Washington on child pornography charges and the arrest of another Indian national on shoplifting charges.

 

 

Meteorologists say the intense heat experienced in the summer season in Alberta will change by the time the fall season begins. The Farmers' Almanac also indicates that there will be a cold snap. The fall season officially begins on Monday, September 22, 2025. Alberta and the Prairie provinces will experience colder than average weather during the season.

The Farmers' Almanac forecast says that the cold snap will start early in mid-October and even snow will occur. There is also a possibility of rain across the country. Snowfall is possible in the higher reaches of Alberta as early as October. Heavy snowfall is expected in the province and the Prairies by November.

Heavy rain and the threat of tornadoes are expected in other parts of the country on the Atlantic coast, especially in Newfoundland, in mid-September. Ontario and Quebec are likely to experience heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout October. Meanwhile, British Columbia is also forecast to experience occasional rain from the Pacific region.

 

 

Statistics Canada says income gap between Canada's rich and poor has reached record high. The income gap between the country's highest- and lowest-income households reached a record high in the first quarter of 2025, Statistics Canada says.

In the first three months of the fiscal year, wealthy households had more money to spend than poor households. The gap between the two groups widened by 49 percentage points, Statistics Canada says. The gap has widened each year since COVID, Statistics Canada says. In the first quarter of 2025, wealthy households received more money from their investments. But poor households also saw their incomes fall as wages fell.

In the first quarter of 2025, the income of the poorest 20 percent of households increased by only 3.2 percent compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the income of the richest 20 percent of households increased by a huge amount. They saw an increase of 7.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

 

 

The Highway Patrol says more than 543 defects were found on commercial vehicles during a two-day inspection in B.C. The patrol conducted more than 100 commercial vehicles over two days earlier this month. The patrol found 543 defects and issued a total of $18,700 in fines and bylaw tickets.

Commissioner Michael McLoughlin said many commercial vehicle drivers are still breaking the law by driving damaged trucks and trailers. He said the inspections are part of addressing the public’s road safety concerns and that people expect the best driving and conduct from professional drivers. The safety inspection was conducted on July 8 and 9 in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation’s CVSE, Burnaby RCMP, Coquitlam RCMP and Coquitlam Bylaws. More than 540 defects were found in 109 vehicles inspected. Of these, 58 vehicles have been withdrawn from service and removed from the roads, the BC Highway Patrol said.

 

Survey finds Canadians have a declining pro-American view. The survey shows that the percentage of Canadians who have a favorable view of the United States has decreased amid months of tariffs and taunts from US President Donald Trump.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, a third of Canadians, or 34 percent, now have a favorable view of the United States. This is 20 percentage points less than last year. About the same percentage also have favorable views of China. The survey also found that the number of people who have a favorable view of China has increased by 13 percentage points since last year. The Pew survey was conducted with the participation of people in 25 countries. It was found that positive opinions of China increased in more than half of these countries. The number of people who support Chinese President Xi Jinping has also increased.

 

The British Columbia government has announced that it has begun taking steps to cope with the dry weather during the summer season. As part of this, the government has asked the public to reduce water use in the province as much as possible. Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship Minister Randeen Neal made the request to the public at a news conference on Monday.

The ministry says most weather stations across the province are reporting below-normal water levels. The first phase includes voluntary conservation. But Neil explained that when stream flows decline to critical levels and vulnerable species are at risk, regulatory measures should also be considered. The minister clarified that conservation orders are always issued as a last resort, but they may be necessary to protect critical fish and aquatic ecosystems.

 

 

Lyme disease has been reported to be on the rise in Manitoba in recent years. In 2024, 77 cases of Lyme disease were reported in Manitoba. The cases were more than last year. While awareness of the disease and its risks is increasing, the number of cases is increasing, says Dr. Jason Bachevich says: Bachevich noted that there are still many myths and misinformation circulating among people about Lyme disease.

Although symptoms can vary between patients, common symptoms of Lyme disease include a bull's-eye rash, fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. The disease is contracted when the bacteria enters the body through a flea bite. The best way to protect yourself from flea bites is to protect yourself from flea bites as much as possible.

Officials are also encouraging those who find fleas to upload pictures of the fleas to eTick, a website created by the Manitoba government. This will help you identify the species of flea and learn about the risks. The website and app will also support public health monitoring.

 

 

The Canadian government has temporarily postponed changes to the PGWP. Last month, new eligibility rules were announced in this regard. As of June 25, IRCC announced that international students in 178 fields of study will not be eligible for PGWP. These changes have been decided not to be implemented now.

IRCC justified the decision to remove some programs by stating that they are not related to occupations facing a long-term labor shortage. The PGWP is a system that allows students who have graduated from accredited Canadian schools to gain valuable work experience in the country. According to IRCC, although 178 fields of study were removed, 119 eligible programs were added in key areas such as health care, social services, education, and trade. The new changes are expected to take effect from next year. This decision is very beneficial for international students.

 

 

RCMP soldiers have been charged with conspiracy to form an armed group to seize land. Three people have been charged with terrorism in Quebec after a two-year investigation.

Four people, including two members of the Canadian Armed Forces, have been charged. Marc-Aurel Chabot of Quebec City, Simon Angers-Audet of Neuville, and Raphael Lagasse of Quebec City have been charged with aggravated criminal conspiracy to facilitate terrorist activities. They have also been charged with possession of a weapon. They attempted to form an anti-government force using a large amount of weapons. As part of this, the RCMP says they practiced military-style shootings and attacks. The RCMP said the group was involved in a conspiracy to forcibly acquire land in the Quebec City area. They appeared in court on Tuesday.

 

 

PP Cherian, Dallas

DALLAS, Texas: Putting an end to a security procedure that has been a source of great discomfort for air travelers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced a major policy change. From now on, all passengers, regardless of their PreCheck status, will be allowed to wear shoes during airport security screening. The new policy, implemented by the TSA and bringing relief to travelers, will take effect from July 7.

This is the most significant reform to the TSA’s screening process in more than two decades. This brings to an end the mandatory shoe-removal rule for air travel in the United States, which was implemented after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The TikTok user, a former TSA officer and creator of ‘Travel with Harmony,’ broke the news over the weekend. Starting Monday, July 7, TSA officers will begin enforcing the new protocol nationwide. The policy applies to all U.S. airports and all travelers. The only exemptions currently apply to individuals who cannot present a REAL ID-compliant form of identification.

The change comes after years of public frustration over inconsistent airport experiences, long security lines, and growing debate over the need for certain screening procedures. By eliminating one of the most visible and controversial screening procedures, the TSA aims to streamline operations, reduce wait times, and improve the overall traveler experience without compromising security.

The rule requiring passengers to remove their shoes was put in place after Richard Reed, known as the ‘Shoe Bomber,’ attempted to detonate explosives hidden in his shoes on a transatlantic flight in 2001. For more than 20 years, this policy has remained a core part of the TSA’s security checklist, despite the evolution of other procedures.

Officials say the policy is no longer relevant because there have been no major security threats related to shoes since Reed’s effort, and because new scanning systems have now been deployed at most major airports.

For millions of travelers, the change will greatly simplify the airport screening experience. The hassle of removing shoes or walking barefoot through the scanner will be eliminated. Wearing shoes will significantly reduce stress and delays for those traveling with children, those rushing to the gate, and those tracking items. The decision is a major milestone in the evolution of air travel security. It highlights the technological advances since 9/11, and the TSA’s responsiveness to traveler demands and public pressure.

 

 

 

The US flag will be raised at Ottawa City Hall on July 4th, Independence Day, as per protocol. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said raising the US flag during the Canada-U.S. trade war highlights history and friendship. The city said the flag will fly over Marion Dewar Plaza in front of City Hall.

The mayor said the federal government is simply following normal protocol to raise the flag on the national day of any country with which it has formal diplomatic relations. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe cited protocol to justify the decision. Several city councillors supported the mayor’s decision. Ottawa’s flag-raising protocol has recently been embroiled in controversy after pro-Palestinian groups protested the decision to raise the flag on Israel’s Independence Day during the war in Gaza. It is customary to raise the flags of more than 190 countries in Ottawa according to protocol.