Canada News | June 25, 2026 Canada Falls to Switzerland but Advances to World Cup Round of 32

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📰 Canada Falls 2-1 to Switzerland, Still Advances to World Cup Round of 32

Canada suffered its first defeat of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, falling 2-1 to Switzerland at BC Place in Vancouver. Despite the loss, Les Rouges finished second in Group B and advanced to the knockout stage, where they will face South Africa in the Round of 32.

Individual errors proved costly for the Canadian side, with Switzerland capitalizing on defensive lapses to secure the Group B top spot. Canadian fans, while disappointed with the result, are looking ahead with optimism as the team enters the knockout rounds. The match drew a passionate home crowd in Vancouver.

As the first men's World Cup hosted on Canadian soil, the tournament has ignited unprecedented soccer enthusiasm across the country. With home-field advantage still in play for the Round of 32, Canada has a strong opportunity to make a deep tournament run.

— Sporting News

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📰 Montreal Shooting Victims Honored in Separate Ceremonies

The two victims killed in Monday's Côte-des-Neiges shooting — Montreal police officer Const. Mohamed Lamine Benredouane and civilian Michel Mizrahi — were honored during separate funeral ceremonies on Wednesday. The June 22 shooting has shaken the Montreal community and remains under active investigation.

Const. Benredouane, a member of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), was remembered by colleagues who gathered to pay tribute to the fallen officer. An additional police tribute is planned in the coming weeks. Mizrahi was widely respected in the community.

The shooting has reignited calls for stronger gun control measures. Advocacy group PolySeSouvient is urging the federal government to ban the SKS semi-automatic rifle, which was excluded from the 2020 ban on approximately 2,500 firearm models and remains legally available for purchase in Canada.

— CBC News

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📰 Bank of Canada Security Officers Strike in Historic Labour Dispute

Approximately 60 security officers at the Bank of Canada, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), officially began strike action on June 23, marking the first time in the central bank's history that workers have walked the picket line. Simultaneously, the Bank locked out a handful of members in the same bargaining unit in Montreal.

The workers say the Bank is pushing for concessions including cuts to parental leave and "post" language changes that could result in scheduling changes with little notice. Patrick Tessier, local vice-president and bargaining committee member, said the officers are fighting for their families.

The union also criticized Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem for flying to Paris as the job action began. With no new collective agreement in sight, the labour dispute continues to unfold at one of Canada's most important financial institutions.

— Global News

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📰 Federal Government Moves to Fast-Track Three Major Northern Projects

The Liberal government has initiated the process to potentially list three major northern projects under the Building Canada Act, which would accelerate their approval as projects of national interest. The projects include the Mackenzie Valley Highway in the Northwest Territories, an Arctic deepwater port, and a nuclear waste storage facility in northwestern Ontario.

The Mackenzie Valley Highway would create year-round road access connecting three currently isolated communities and improving access to two others. The Arctic deepwater port project aims to strengthen Canada's strategic presence and economic development capacity in the North. The nuclear waste storage facility would provide critical infrastructure for the long-term management of Canada's nuclear waste.

The Building Canada Act allows the federal government to establish accelerated approval pathways for projects deemed to be of national significance, reducing regulatory hurdles. The initiative is seen as a key deliverable as the spring parliamentary sitting concludes.

— CBC News

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📰 Ottawa Invests $17 Million to Address Health Impacts of Climate Change

The federal government announced an investment of over $17 million through the Climate Change and Health Capacity Building program to support 24 community-designed projects across Canada. The announcement was made in Vancouver by Wade Grant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of Health Minister Marjorie Michel.

These projects will advance knowledge, build capacity, and drive innovation in adapting Canada's health sector to climate change. More frequent and severe extreme weather events — including heat waves, wildfires, and floods — are increasingly threatening the physical and mental health of Canadians.

The 24 projects span multiple regions and focus on the adaptation needs of vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities, seniors, and low-income groups.

— Health Canada

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📰 Federal Government Launches Audit of Canada Health Infoway Spending

The Liberal government is launching an audit and strategic review of the federally funded non-profit Canada Health Infoway following the failure of its $300 million PrescribeIT program. The electronic prescribing system was shut down in most of the country last month after fewer than five percent of prescriptions flowed through it.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel's spokesperson said the review will include an independent third-party audit complemented by a comprehensive strategic review of the organization's governance and operations. The first phase will assess compliance with contribution agreement terms, with subsequent phases examining program delivery, effectiveness, and compensation practices.

Canada Health Infoway has received more than $2 billion in federal funding since its founding in 2001. Opposition Conservatives argue the organization should be defunded entirely, with any necessary responsibilities transferred to Health Canada. The minister has withheld $50 million pending the review's outcome.

— Canadian Healthcare Technology

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📰 Canadian Doctors Launch National Campaign for Children's Online Safety

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today launched "Treat the cause," a national public action campaign calling on Canadians to support stronger online safeguards for children through the proposed Safe Social Media Act. The campaign reflects the position of Canada's doctors that protecting children's health and well-being online must begin with prevention.

Across the country, physicians are reporting the harmful effects of digital environments on young people's physical and mental health. The campaign emphasizes that addressing the root causes of online harm is essential, rather than simply treating the consequences after damage is done.

The campaign invites parents, caregivers, educators, health professionals, and concerned Canadians to add their support online and share the message through their networks. CMA President Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi stated: "This is far from being against technology. It is about supporting healthy childhood."

— Canadian Medical Association

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📰 Tick Reports Surge 38.5% Across Canada, Ontario Hardest Hit

Confirmed tick reports in Canada are up 38.5 percent so far this year compared to the same period in 2025, according to data submitted to eTick.ca as of June 23. Reports of blacklegged and western blacklegged ticks — the two species that carry Lyme disease — are also up by 35.2 percent.

Ontario is driving the surge, accounting for 52.9 percent of all tick reports and 63.7 percent of blacklegged tick reports among the provinces. The 8,735 ticks reported in Ontario so far this year represent a 50.2 percent increase over 2025, while blacklegged tick reports have jumped a staggering 72.8 percent year-over-year.

Experts attribute the trend to climate change, migratory birds, and expanding mice and deer populations. Justin Wood, founder of Canada's first private tick testing lab Geneticks, expects the upward trend to continue for the foreseeable future. Health officials across Canada are urging people to take precautions when spending time outdoors, including wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellent, and performing thorough tick checks after outdoor activities.

— CP24

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📰 Niagara Wine Giant Andrew Peller Sold to Fairfax Financial for $579 Million

Grimsby, Ontario-based Andrew Peller Ltd., one of Canada's largest wine producers, has been acquired by Fairfax Financial Holdings in a $579 million transaction. Under the terms of the deal, Fairfax will acquire all outstanding Class A non-voting shares at $8 per share and Class B voting shares at $12 per share.

Andrew Peller operates wineries in both the Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia, with a portfolio of well-known Canadian wine brands. The company has faced margin pressures in recent years, reporting revenue of approximately $79.47 million in its latest quarter with a negative net margin of 0.60 percent.

The acquisition represents a significant consolidation in the Canadian wine industry and reflects Fairfax Financial's strategic expansion into the consumer goods sector. The transaction remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

— Niagara This Week

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📰 Economists Sound Alarm on Deteriorating Quality of Canada's Economic Data

A new report from Desjardins warns that revisions to Statistics Canada data have been larger on average since the COVID-19 pandemic, posing significant challenges for policymakers and forecasters who depend on reliable economic data. Randall Bartlett, the report's co-author and Desjardins' deputy chief economist, said concern about data reliability in Canada is an "open secret" in economics circles.

The report highlighted a recent case where Canadian retail figures were revised to show a 0.1 percent decline, contradicting earlier projections of growth and leaving forecasters scrambling. Statistics Canada maintains that volatility should be expected during periods of economic upheaval and that key measures will smooth out as more regular data is collected.

The data quality concerns have implications for monetary and fiscal policy. If economic indicators cannot be relied upon, the Bank of Canada and the federal government face greater uncertainty when adjusting interest rates and spending. Economists are calling for increased investment in statistical agencies to improve data collection and processing capabilities.

— BNN Bloomberg

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