New numbers suggest Canada’s bail system is more backed up than the highway during rush hour.

Driving the news: As many as 80% of inmates in Canada’s jail system are held without conviction, per The Globe and Mail, based on survey responses from seven provinces. 

For months now, officials have been saying that the 800,000 foreign students at Canadian universities and colleges are putting too much pressure on housing and the labour market. Here’s what they plan to do about it.

Driving the news: The federal government is now responding to growing criticism around international student programs with a plan to hold schools to higher standards when it comes to services, support, and outcomes for students — including ensuring adequate housing.

If you've ever returned from a trip to the States and wished we had Trader Joe's here too, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne is with you—and not just to get easier access to the World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs, either.

Driving the news: The federal government is pushing ahead with the most serious effort to introduce more competition into Canada’s economy in decades.

For most, getting free cash from the government is nothing more than a utopian dream… but the idea is slowly making its way through Parliament. 

Driving the news: Per VICE, yesterday, the Senate’s national finance committee studied a bill that would create a framework for universal basic income (UBI) in Canada. An identical Member of Parliament-sponsored bill is also making its way through the House of Commons.

Quebéc is demanding that out-of-town university students parle Français, lest they pay the price. 

What happened: Quebéc’s government plans to propose a measure that would raise tuition fees for out-of-province and international students at the province’s three English-language universities (McGill, Concordia, and Bishop’s) as a way to beat back Anglo incursions. 

A new crop of rental units complete with “Live, Laugh, Love” signs, hotel lobby artwork, and a baffling array of cutlery could soon be making their way to a city near you.

Driving the news: The federal government is considering measures to encourage cities to limit the supply of Airbnbs as part of its effort to increase the availability of long-term rentals across the country, per The Globe and Mail.

Two months into Meta’s Canadian news block, small-time publishers are feeling the pinch.

Driving the news: Meta’s decision to block news content for Canadian users across its platforms has disproportionately affected small online publishers, per The Wall Street Journal, as they depend more on social media traffic than larger legacy outlets.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that the spat between Canada and India isn’t the kind that’s easily resolved over a few texts and a round of beers. 

What happened: India is reportedly demanding that Canada remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country by next week to match the number of diplomats the country has in Canada.

In a story ripped from the works of John le Carré (or perhaps John le Carr-eh), a landmark Canadian espionage case just hit the courts. 

What happened: The eight-week trial of Cameron Ortis is now underway, with the former director general of the RCMP’s intelligence unit pleading not guilty to six espionage-related charges. In his role, Ortis had access to troves of information about Canada and its allies.