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Hamilton Spectator
10-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Largest cocaine seizure in Peel police history among three Ontario drug busts
MISSISSAUGA - Police in Ontario announced three major drug busts on Tuesday, including the largest one in Peel police history. Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said nearly a half tonne of cocaine was seized as part of Project Pelican that led to nine arrests. 'This represents a seismic blow to transnational organized crime that is coming right here to Peel,' he said Tuesday at a press conference. The podium was framed by tables stacked with bricks of cocaine police say were seized during the investigation. The investigation started in June 2024 when police say they uncovered a criminal network using commercial trucks to smuggle drugs across the U.S. border into Canada. In early February, a truck carrying 127 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the trailer was stopped at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, investigators say. Then last month, police seized another 50 kilograms stashed in a truck stopped at the Blue Water Bridge near Sarnia. Officials say the investigation led to several other drug seizures across the Greater Toronto Area in connection to commercial trucking, for a total of 479 kilograms. 'This is a significant quantity of drugs that will never make it into our communities,' said Abeid Morgan, the director of intelligence and enforcement for the Canadian Border Services Agency's southern Ontario region. All nine men who have been arrested are from southern Ontario and are between the ages of 27 and 44, police said. Investigators said most of them had no criminal record. In a separate announcement Tuesday, Ontario Provincial Police said two drug investigations led to the seizure of 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl. OPP say an 11-month investigation into a drug trafficking network across southern Ontario netted 38 kilograms, the service's largest fentanyl seizure. Another five-month investigation aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called 'dark web marketplace' to ship drugs across Canada. The OPP noted there's 'no indication' the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. 'I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl,' said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique. —with files from Rianna Lim This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Vancouver Sun
10-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Feds awarded ArriveCan firm nearly $100 million in contracts, despite issues: AG report
OTTAWA – Another report, this time from Auditor General Karen Hogan, blames the federal government for repeatedly violating procurement policies by awarding dozens of contracts to the IT company that built the ArriveCan application. The auditor general found that 31 federal organizations issued 106 contracts worth approximately $92.7 million to GCStrategies from April 2015 to March 2024. About $64.5 million was ultimately paid out by the government according to the report. Over that period, the Canadian Border Services Agency gave four contracts worth $49.9 million to GC Strategies, while the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation gave one contract worth nearly $12,000. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But Hogan also found that in 54 per cent of contracts examined, federal organizations had evidence to show that all services and deliverables were received and in 46 per cent of contracts examined, they had little to no evidence that deliverables were received. 'Despite this, federal government officials consistently authorized payments,' reads the report. The AG underlined that federal government officials are required to certify that all services and deliverables in the contract were received prior to release of payment to a contractor. Evidently, it was not always the case. 'There are no recommendations in this report because I don't believe the government needs more procurement rules,' said Hogan on Tuesday. 'Rather, federal organizations need to make sure that the rules that exist are understood and followed,' she added. Moreover, about a fifth of the contracts the auditor examined showed a lack of documentation on file that showed valid security clearances for contract resources. Hogan noted that organizations 'frequently disregarded government policies in this area.' For instance, it included not having records showing who performed the work, if they had the required experience and qualifications, and what work was completed. Federal organizations are required to monitor the work performed by contractors. GCStrategies is an Ottawa-based staffing company in the information technology that provided the feds with 'services that included technology support.' However, the contractor that received about a third of ArriveCan funding was found to be a two-person shop. Their work with the feds led to 'multiple' RCMP investigations last year , and an exceptional reprimand from the speaker of the House of Commons when the company's co-founder Kristian Firth became the second private citizen and first in 111 years to be called on the floor of the House. He had to go through this extraordinary procedure because he had previously failed to answer questions on his role in the ArriveCan debacle. ArriveCan was the mobile app the federal government required returning travellers to use at points during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor COVID testing, quarantine plans and vaccine status. Hogan had previously found costs for the app had ballooned to roughly $60 million and that the app's development showed 'a glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices.' Last year, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) suspended the security clearance of GCStrategies. This suspension prohibited the company from participating in all federal procurements with security requirements, and existing contracts were cancelled. Then last Friday, PSPC announced that 'the company is ineligible from entering into contracts or real property agreements with the Government of Canada for seven years.' According to the AG, no new contracts were awarded to GCStrategies in the last fiscal year. More to come… National Post atrepanier@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here .
Calgary Herald
10-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Feds awarded ArriveCan firm nearly $100 million in contracts, despite issues: AG report
Article content OTTAWA – Another report, this time from Auditor General Karen Hogan, blames the federal government for repeatedly violating procurement policies by awarding dozens of contracts to the IT company that built the ArriveCan application. Article content The auditor general found that 31 federal organizations issued 106 contracts worth approximately $92.7 million to GCStrategies from April 2015 to March 2024. About $64.5 million was ultimately paid out by the government according to the report. Article content Article content Article content Over that period, the Canadian Border Services Agency gave four contracts worth $49.9 million to GC Strategies, while the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation gave one contract worth nearly $12,000. Article content Article content But Hogan also found that in 54 per cent of contracts examined, federal organizations had evidence to show that all services and deliverables were received and in 46 per cent of contracts examined, they had little to no evidence that deliverables were received. Article content 'Despite this, federal government officials consistently authorized payments,' reads the report. Article content The AG underlined that federal government officials are required to certify that all services and deliverables in the contract were received prior to release of payment to a contractor. Evidently, it was not always the case. Article content 'There are no recommendations in this report because I don't believe the government needs more procurement rules,' said Hogan on Tuesday. Article content Article content 'Rather, federal organizations need to make sure that the rules that exist are understood and followed,' she added. Article content Moreover, about a fifth of the contracts the auditor examined showed a lack of documentation on file that showed valid security clearances for contract resources. Article content Hogan noted that organizations 'frequently disregarded government policies in this area.' For instance, it included not having records showing who performed the work, if they had the required experience and qualifications, and what work was completed.
Ottawa Citizen
04-06-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
U.S. crackdown on illegal immigrants is sending a surge of refugees to Canada
As fears of refugee deportation mount in the United States, a surge of asylum seekers is turning to Canada — only to find a border that is getting increasingly hard to cross. Article content The number of refugee seekers processed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has shot up by 87 per cent between January and April. Article content Article content In April, 494 ineligible refugee claimants from the U.S. were turned back at the Canadian border under the Safe Third Country Agreement, which bars most people from seeking asylum in Canada at the border. That's up from 280 in January — a 76 per cent increase. Article content Article content Growing refugee traffic at the Canadian border this year has emerged amid a looming clampdown on illegal immigration in the U.S. that experts say could trigger a flood of asylum seekers to Canada. Article content Article content A controversial U.S. move in late March that paused protected legal status for refugees from Colombia, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) is likely behind the spike, say immigration lawyers and researchers. Article content 'That is what we would see as a major indicator towards potential migration flows northbound,' said Dan Anson, director general of intelligence and investigations for the CBSA. 'Those… main groups… are likely going to be targets of potential enforcement and removal operations (in the U.S.)' Article content Toronto immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said his office has seen around a 200-per-cent jump in inquiries in the past week. Article content 'Any time you have a dramatic announcement, it does prompt individuals to move,' he said. Article content Article content On Tuesday, the federal government responded to 'rising migration' concerns with new measures it says will make the country's immigration and asylum systems 'more responsive to new and developing pressures.' Article content Among those steps will be new ineligibility rules to 'protect the asylum system against sudden increases.' Article content The CHNV parole program in the U.S. initially offered 'parole' to certain Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to stay in the U.S. for two years. The Trump administration paused those protections on March 25, 2025. Article content The following month, asylum claims processed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) rose to 4,560, up from 2,940.
Vancouver Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
U.S. crackdown on illegal immigrants is sending a surge of refugees to Canada
As fears of refugee deportation mount in the United States, a surge of asylum seekers is turning to Canada — only to find a border that is getting increasingly hard to cross. The number of refugee seekers processed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has shot up by 87 per cent between January and April. In April, 494 ineligible refugee claimants from the U.S. were turned back at the Canadian border under the Safe Third Country Agreement, which bars most people from seeking asylum in Canada at the border. That's up from 280 in January — a 76 per cent increase. Growing refugee traffic at the Canadian border this year has emerged amid a looming clampdown on illegal immigration in the U.S. that experts say could trigger a flood of asylum seekers to Canada. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A controversial U.S. move in late March that paused protected legal status for refugees from Colombia, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) is likely behind the spike, say immigration lawyers and researchers. 'That is what we would see as a major indicator towards potential migration flows northbound,' said Dan Anson, director general of intelligence and investigations for the CBSA. 'Those… main groups… are likely going to be targets of potential enforcement and removal operations (in the U.S.)' Toronto immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said his office has seen around a 200-per-cent jump in inquiries in the past week. 'Any time you have a dramatic announcement, it does prompt individuals to move,' he said. On Tuesday, the federal government responded to 'rising migration' concerns with new measures it says will make the country's immigration and asylum systems 'more responsive to new and developing pressures.' Among those steps will be new ineligibility rules to 'protect the asylum system against sudden increases.' The CHNV parole program in the U.S. initially offered 'parole' to certain Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to stay in the U.S. for two years. The Trump administration paused those protections on March 25, 2025. The following month, asylum claims processed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) rose to 4,560, up from 2,940. A federal judge blocked Trump's order in April. CBSA data released to the Investigative Journalism Bureau on Tuesday shows a drop in refugee removals at the border in May following that court order. But the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the ruling on May 30, triggering renewed fears of deportation for migrants in legal limbo. An estimated 532,000 refugees from the four countries are now vulnerable to removal from the U.S while the back-and-forth court battle continues. Rosanna Berardi, an immigration lawyer in Buffalo, N.Y., called the shifting legal restrictions in the U.S. for refugees an 'emotional rollercoaster.' 'A lot of individuals will have to leave quickly and go elsewhere,' she said. 'Canada would be the easiest place to go with respect to logistics.' At some point, there's going to be people so desperate that it doesn't matter what kind of laws we have But those who do attempt to flee the U.S. clampdown by coming to Canada may face long odds of getting in. Under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, refugees must claim asylum in the first country they land in. Refugees coming from the U.S. cannot claim asylum in Canada unless they have close family in the country. 'They can attempt to come into Canada, but chances are they're gonna be returned to the U.S. And with that, they'll probably be held at the border,' said Evan Green, an immigration lawyer in Toronto. But many refugees either don't know about those restrictions or are too afraid to care, said Lori Wilkinson, a professor at the University of Manitoba specializing in refugee resettlement. 'At some point, there's going to be people so desperate that it doesn't matter what kind of laws we have,' she said. 'With Nicaragua, I think people don't understand there's been a many years-long drought and you either starve and die, or you pick up everything and walk through the Darien Gap and take your chances.' Kate Swanson, an immigration expert and international development professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said Haitians in the U.S. are heavily incentivized to come north given the long-standing humanitarian crisis and armed gang violence at home. 'Many of these individuals will look north for safety rather than face deportation back to the very conditions they fled,' she said. 'Clearly, the urgent humanitarian crisis persists, and I imagine that many of these individuals, especially those with family in Canada, will try to find safety here.' An economic crisis in Cuba has been worsened by natural disasters and blackouts that have at times left millions without power. In Venezuela, political repression and economic collapse have led to a refugee crisis. The Investigative Journalism Bureau (IJB) at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health is a collaborative investigative newsroom supported by Postmedia that partners with academics, researchers and journalists while training the next generation of investigative reporters. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
