Iranian-Canadian communities are greeting news of the death of Iran’s supreme leader with jubilation, according to Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi.

Ehsassi, whose Willowdale riding in Toronto has a significant Iranian-Canadian population, was in the crowd at a large protest against the Iranian regime in Richmond Hill on Saturday when news of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death was made public.

“The crowd was absolutely jubilant, so incredibly happy,” Ehsassi, whose family emigrated from Iran after the 1979 revolution, said in an interview with Global News on Sunday.

“The supreme leader was the architect of the apparatus of fear within Iran, and also obviously the individual responsible for making sure that his regime became the chief sponsor of international terrorism. So all of the bloodshed that this regime committed (against protesters) a month ago has really, really hardened attitudes and people are just desperately looking for a new chapter in Iran.”

The U.S. and Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign against Iran on Saturday, which Iranian authorities say killed more than 200 people in Tehran, including Khamenei and several high-ranking Iranian officials. The death toll includes at least 115 people who were killed when bombs fell on an girls’ school in southern Iran, according to the local governor who spoke to state television.

Iran vowed revenge Sunday and launched strikes at Israel and Gulf States, heightening concerns of a prolonged war that could consume the region. Three U.S. military members have died, 11 people were killed in Israel and scores more injured across the region.

But Ehsassi said that the Iranian-Canadian diaspora are not “too concerned” about the situation devolving into a regional war.

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“I think members of the diaspora, generally, look at Iran and they just know that its military is just antiquated. To them, it seems this is all empty threats and the regime has very few tools at its disposal,” Ehsassi said.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who told American voters he would end U.S. involvement in “forever wars,” warned Iran that responding to the U.S. bombing campaign will result in more U.S. bombing campaigns.

“THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT … BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE,” Trump, who has styled himself the “president of peace,” posted on social media at 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is currently in India on a trade mission, told reporters traveling with him that Canada will not participate in the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran.

But Carney raised some eyebrows with his official statement in the wake of the attacks, which vocally supported the U.S. bombing campaign.

16:53
Trump’s original claim of obliterating Iranian nuclear program ‘incorrect’: Former US ambassador

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” the statement, sent Saturday, read.

But the White House said just last week that the U.S. had already “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program in its previous bombing campaign, launched in June 2025. In a video posted online in the middle of the night Saturday, Trump said this bombing campaign — dubbed “Epic Fury” by the Americans — was about eliminating “imminent threats” from the Iranian regime.

Writing in the Toronto Star, former Liberal foreign minister Lloyd Axworthy said Carney’s support for the U.S. actions exposed a “fault line at the heart” of Canadian foreign policy.

“(Canada invokes) international law and the ‘rules based international order’ when adversaries engage in unlawful actions, but abandon those same rules entirely when it’s the Americans — whose current government 60 per cent of Canadians now see as a threat — doing the bombing,” Axworthy wrote.

“For a country that depends on law more than force for its own security, that is not realism; it is recklessness.”

Canadian national security scholar Wesley Wark noted Canada’s statement says that what it supports — preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons — is not what Trump has said the U.S. is aiming to do with this war, which includes regime change in Iran.

“The stated purposes of (Canada’s) support, at their high level of generality, do not encompass the totality of U.S. war aims as Trump has outlined them. But now we are stuck with full support,” Wark wrote on Sunday.

“No one would argue with the position, fully established in international law, that Israel has the right to defend itself. Is that what we think Israel is doing in joining this U.S. war against Iran?”

Carney is expected to speak to reporters traveling on his trade mission early Monday morning.

Ehsassi acknowledged that Carney’s statement has raised eyebrows among some, but he said that he has not heard any criticism coming from Iranian-Canadians.

With files from Global’s wire services.

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A group of Queen’s University students is stranded at an airport in Doha, Qatar, after escalating hostilities in the Middle East prompted regional airspace closures and widespread flight disruptions.

Claire Haffner, a fourth-year undergraduate biology student, said the group had boarded a flight to Toronto following a field course in Sri Lanka, with a stopover in Doha, when they heard an announcement.

After being in the air for an hour and a half, “there was an announcement that the airspace was closed and we had to turn back,” she said.

The disruptions follow major strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, sharply intensifying tensions in the region.

In return, Iran responded by launching missiles in Israel and nearby Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar, which resulted in an immediate shutdown of airspaces across the region.

“There was an initial panic among me and my classmates,” Haffner said.

She said the Qatar Airways flight returned to Doha, where passengers were briefly kept on board before disembarking into what she described as a “chaotic scene” inside the airport.

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“Everybody rushed off the plane in a big mob,” she said. “It was chaotic earlier — there were crowds everywhere and lines, and trying to talk to staff. Everybody is dealing with it differently, but we’re all overwhelmed.”

After several hours, the group was told they would not be flying out Saturday night.

Haffner said they were still waiting for word on when the airspace would reopen.

“There’s been a feeling of uneasiness ever since,” she said. “There’s a sinking feeling in your gut, and you can read the news, and you know what’s going on outside … even though you’re protected in the airport.”

She said some students quickly purchased electronic SIM cards to stay in touch with family back home.

Trying to stay optimistic, Haffner told Global News, “We are in a safe place, the airport feels like a safe space. I am very lucky to be travelling with these classmates and my professor.”

Queen’s University said it is in direct contact with faculty leaders travelling with the group.

“We recognize that this situation may be distressing for the students and their families, and their safety and well-being is our top priority,” the university said in a statement to Global News.

“Queen’s is in direct contact with the faculty leaders in Doha to offer support and assistance. We have been advised that the group is safe and currently at the airport.”

The university said it partners with International SOS to provide emergency assistance for community members travelling on university-sanctioned activities and that the group has access to 24-hour multilingual support, including help with flight arrangements.

“We will remain in close contact with the faculty leaders and continue to offer support as they await further information on next steps,” the statement said.

Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisories for Canadians travelling to and from Gulf nations, including Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, warning of “ongoing military activity” in the region.

Flights in and out of Canada to the region have faced cancellations and delays.

– With files from Darya Zargar

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The U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran is disrupting flights across the Middle East and beyond, as regional airspaces began closing, leaving thousands of travellers across the globe stranded.

Disruptions are already being felt in Canada as Air Canada cancelled a flight to Dubai earlier Saturday, hours after strikes in Iran and surrounding countries like Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement on social media, the airline stated that “due to the military situation in the Middle East, we have canceled today’s flights to and from Dubai.”

Air Canada added it is monitoring the situation and flights will be adjusted accordingly. “No flight was planned to or from Tel Aviv today. We are monitoring the situation and will adjust our schedule accordingly.”

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The airline noted that customers with upcoming flights can visit its website for updates.

Other flights leaving Canada could also be seeing delays due to ongoing tensions in the Gulf region.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s largest airport, said some flights are being impacted Saturday.

“Airlines are adjusting routes and schedules in response, which may lead to delays or cancellations,” the airport said in a statement.

“Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before coming to the airport.”

Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar also closed their airspace on Saturday. Airspace in southern Syria was also closed.

Planes in Canada and across the globe that had been en route to cities like Tel Aviv and Dubai early Saturday were diverted or returned to their departure airports.

Dubai International Airport alone — the world’s busiest airport for international flights —reported more than 700 inbound and outbound flights cancelled. The airport’s operator said flights were halted indefinitely at Dubai International and Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International Airport on the Gulf city’s outskirts.

The situation is changing quickly and airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.

Global Affairs Canada has also updated its travel advisories for Canadians travelling to and from Gulf nations, including Israel, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, warning of “ongoing military activity” in the region.

– With files from The Associated Press

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Prime Minister Mark Carney is calling for the protection of civilians as hostilities escalate in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

“We call on all parties to protect civilian lives as best as possible in what is a very serious situation,” Carney said in a conference in Mumbai, India, Saturday morning – hours after the strikes began.

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Carney framed the crisis as one involving nuclear proliferation, regional stability and civilian safety and said Canada was not involved in military planning for the attack.

“I view the issue as a fundamental issue of geopolitics, of ending state-sponsored terrorism, any nuclear proliferation in Iran and of course protecting civilian lives as much as possible,” he said.

In a statement, his office said the government is “closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East,” and urged Canadians in Iran to shelter in place.

“Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions,” the statement said.

More to come.

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A Quebec Liberal member of the national assembly (MNA) is receiving widespread praise after candidly acknowledging a hot flash during official proceedings at the provincial legislature this week.

Jennifer Maccarone briefly halted a parliamentary commission to say she was experiencing symptoms of menopause, telling colleagues in French that she was having a hot flash and noting that menopause can happen even during legislative work.

“It’s like somebody turning the furnace on to 120 degrees and it’s distracting,” Maccarone later told Global News in an interview, describing the sensation. “We should talk about this openly.”

The video clip was shared on social media, where it quickly gained traction, drawing roughly one million views and thousands of comments applauding her for not shying away from the moment.

“You know there’s brain fog, there’s a whole bunch of things that accompany menopause,” she said. “We thought we’d share the moment — it’s human — but I was not expecting the one million views.”

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Among those praising Maccarone was Eva Hartling, founder of The Brand is Female, who said the exchange helps normalize an experience many women face.

“I love that moment because it normalizes an experience that a lot of women go through,” Hartling said, adding that openness makes the topic more relatable and removes stigma.

Brigitte Viel, Quebec chair of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, said too many women still feel pressure to conceal menopause symptoms in the workplace.

“The fact that someone in a very public position has decided to tackle it head on –say what was happening, call it out, explain it — allows other women to be seen and to feel understood and to feel that it’s OK,” Viel said

The foundation recently launched a campaign called “Menopause Works Here,” encouraging employers to better support workers experiencing symptoms.

Maccarone said it was not the first time she has flagged a hot flash while on camera, but it was the first time the moment went viral. She said the reaction shows many people are living through similar experiences.

“I think it’s important that you address it,” she said. “You’ll realize that there’s a lot more solidarity and a lot of people living through exactly the same thing.”

She said she plans to keep speaking openly in an effort to help break the stigma surrounding menopause.

For the full story, watch the video above.

When Kelowna, B.C., Mayor Tom Dyas took the city’s top priorities to Victoria this week, they included social disorder concerns.

Dyas met with provincial ministers, including Attorney General Nikki Sharma.

Among the things Dyas advocated for included more Crown prosecutors and an involuntary compassionate care facility.

However, the mayor stopped at asking for more RCMP funding to help bolster RCMP resources.

“At this particular point in time we are not asking for more police officers,” Dyas told Global News at the legislature in Victoria Thursday.

“We deal with that through our normal budget process and we’ve gone through the budget process at this point in time.”

The 2026 budget has allocated funding for four additional RCMP officers, but according to the detachment’s officer-in-charge, far more are needed to meet current policing needs.

“We require more police officers to meet the service levels that’s expected from the community,” Supt. Chris Goebel said when addressing council on Feb. 9.

When asked by city councillor Ron Cannan how many more are needed, Goebel said more than 30.

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“To meet the summer call response, as well as the front-line call response and to add sufficient foot patrols to meet the need, about 32 officers,” Goebel said.

Dyas declined Global News’ request for an interview to explain why he didn’t ask for more RCMP dollars while in Victoria.

“If the professional assessment is telling us that we need 32, that’s a gap,” said Rhonda Lindsay, owner of Train Station Pub. “Clearly we need to do something. Kelowna is growing and we have to grow with it.”

Lindsay is just one of many business operators where social disorder is having ongoing impacts.

“Broken windows, broken-into cars, broken-into equipment,” Lindsay said when describing regular occurrences.

2:16
Rutland urging increased police support

In the city’s Rutland area, where crime is top of mind, residents also voiced concerns about the need for more policing resources.

“We do need more, especially with what’s going on with the homeless and drug people,” said Rutland resident Shannon Doherty.

“They definitely need more cops in the area,” said Rick Wabi, another Rutland resident. “They have to re-shuffle some of the money, I guess.”

While many agree that policing is only one part of the solution to social disorder and repeat offenders, it’s a piece many don’t want to see fall behind.

“Kelowna is an incredible city and we need to give it the care that it deserves and that is with policing. It’s with mental health support. It’s with dealing with all of our from prosecutors,” said Lindsay. “It’s a full package.”

2:11
Kelowna launches overnight security patrol

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Alberta’s newly-tabled budget, and its impact on local property taxes, is facing criticism from Calgary council and the city’s mayor, who is calling for more transparency around how the money will be spent.

On Thursday, the provincial government unveiled its budget with a second straight increase to the education property tax rate to generate $3.6 billion; $1.2 billion of that has been requisitioned from the City of Calgary.

New city data shows the move means that 42 cents of every property tax dollar collected in Calgary will go to the provincial government.

At a press conference Friday, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas expressed his disappointment in the budget’s impact on city taxpayers.

“It is looking a lot like Calgary’s deal in Alberta is very similar to what Danielle Smith says Alberta’s deal is in Canada,” Farkas said. “But, for us, we want to come to the table, we want to be collaborative, we want to work with the provincial government.”

Although Farkas noted some “positives” in the budget, including funding for affordable housing and for maintenance for seniors homes, he questioned what Calgarians are getting back from the money sent to the province.

The increase is expected to cost the typical Calgary homeowner an extra $340 this year.

In comparison, city council whittled down the property tax increase in its budget back in December to 1.6 per cent, which is expected to cost the average homeowner an extra $54 in 2026.

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“We did the work,” Farkas told reporters. “To have a scale of increase 10 times the tax increase being lobbed by the provincial government in a single year without any kind of head start or notice, that is just incredibly egregious.”

The provincial budget does include billions of dollars in continued and previously-announced investments for Calgary, including ongoing funding for the Green Line LRT, upgrades to Deerfoot Trail, and the infrastructure around the new event centre, as well as $67 million over three years for the city’s court of appeal, and $10 million for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Other provincial facilities in the city also saw a boost, including the Foothills Medical Centre Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Calgary Radiopharmaceutical Centre, the Alberta Kidney Care, Bethany Continuing Care Centre and the Bridgeland Riverside Continuing Care Centre.

However, Farkas said it was “sobering” the budget didn’t include a mention of the Prairie Economic Gateway project, or the Bearspaw feeder main, which has prompted an emergency replacement after two critical ruptures in less than two years.

“If there wasn’t a huge tax increase, I wouldn’t be expecting add-ons for the City of Calgary,” Farkas said.

Finance minister Nate Horner defended the tax hike during a post-budget address to an audience of the city’s business community at a luncheon hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Horner said the increase is to help fund a third of the education ministry’s operating budget, which was telegraphed in last year’s budget.

“We didn’t want to put it all onto folks in one year, so we staggered it over two,” Horner said. “I’m surprised that everyone is this surprised, to be honest.”

Horner told the audience that the education budget is $10.8 billion this year, and the construction of new schools is “dominating” the provincial capital budget.

He said out of 40 new schools announced this year, 14 will be in Calgary.

While the investment and new schools are welcomed,  Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot, who was also in attendance at the event, said the funding is addressing matters that fall under provincial jurisdiction.

“The majority of the things he was talking about are things that fall under provincial obligations, not municipal obligations,” Chabot said. “He didn’t talk about water infrastructure for the City of Calgary, he talked about infrastructure, alright, but provincial infrastructure.”

Chabot said the budget is “seriously lacking” in support for municipal infrastructure.

Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean said the property tax increase will be challenging to stomach for some residents.

“This is going to be a really tough sell to Calgarians,” McLean said. “I think it’s very important that we let our residents know what the province is requesting from them and what the city is taking from them, because this is a large increase.”

Farkas said city council will be discussing measures to respond to the property tax increase, which could include sending two separate property tax bills to Calgarians.

Late Friday, Farkas called a special council meeting on March 4 for that debate.

In comparison, the education property tax requisition is nearly $640 million in Edmonton, which is expected to cost the typical homeowner in that city an extra $154 this year.

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A well-known Armenian bakery in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood says it was shocked to receive a notice from Quebec’s language watchdog over the use of English in its social media videos.

Lamajoune Villeray Bakery, a family-run business operating for 40 years, recently received a letter from the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) stating that videos posted to TikTok contained too much English and did not comply with the province’s French language charter.

The charter requires that French be the predominant language in commercial communications, including online content.

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“All the family was obviously shocked. We couldn’t believe that we had received this kind of letter,” said Charbel Hannan, who runs the bakery alongside his parents.

Hannan said the family has always aimed to serve its clientele in French and English and never intended to diminish the role of French.

“Our point was never to undervalue French. We are Québécois, let’s not forget this — we are a Québécois company,” he said, adding that the bakery has already been producing content in both languages.

In a statement, the OQLF said English content on social media is permitted, but the amount of French content must be equivalent.

The bakery, known for its homemade Armenian specialties, says it respects its French-speaking customers. One client interviewed in the shop said she had never seen the bakery’s social media content but has always been served in French.

Since news of the notice became public, Hannan said the business has received an outpouring of community support.

He added that the bakery’s social media views have grown significantly in recent days as more people learn about the family business and its story.

For the full story, watch the video above.

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