NATIONAL STORIES
Canada to Ban Social Media for Minors Under 16 as Carney Government Unveils Online Safety Bill
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government to table legislation banning social media for kids under 16, following safety models from Australia and the UK.

The Coming Crackdown on Big Tech
The federal government is set to introduce landmark legislation this week that would effectively ban Canadians under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. Sources within Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration confirmed that the long-awaited bill will be tabled this Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in Canada’s efforts to regulate the digital landscape and protect the nation’s youth.
The proposed legislation is expected to establish a new federal regulator tasked with enforcing safety standards and targeting various forms of harmful online content. This move follows a global trend of stricter digital oversight, with Canada looking toward the models recently established in the United Kingdom and Australia. The bill is slated for introduction just days before the House of Commons is scheduled to rise for its summer recess.
Exemptions and Safety Frameworks
While the ban on minors under 16 is a core pillar of the legislation, the Carney government has included a path for platforms to seek exemptions. To qualify, social media companies must demonstrate robust capabilities and technical safeguards that prove they can keep young users safe while using their products. Notably, the legislation is not expected to apply the same ban to AI chatbots, though it will establish a rigorous set of responsibilities that these developers must meet.
The push for these regulations comes after intense pressure from child safety advocates and health organizations. Since taking office last year, Prime Minister Carney has faced calls to revive the regulatory momentum lost when the previous administration’s efforts, specifically Bill C-63, died in Parliament in early 2025.
A Shift in Federal Policy
Heritage Minister Marc Miller, who is spearheading the initiative, has indicated that the government is closely observing international precedents. The Australian model, which pioneered age-based bans, appears to be a primary influence. Domestic support for the measure is also growing beyond the federal level; Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has expressed interest in implementing similar protections at the provincial level.
Under the new regime, platforms will likely be required to submit annual safety plans. These documents must outline mitigation strategies for high-risk harms, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, content encouraging self-harm, and material that incites extremism. As the bill heads to the House, the tech industry and digital rights advocates are bracing for a heated debate over privacy, enforcement, and the future of the Canadian internet.
NATIONAL STORIES
Search Continues After Ontario-Based Medical Flight Vanishes Near Massachusetts Coast
U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching near Nantucket for a missing Latitude Air Ambulance jet carrying four Canadians and two passengers from Bermuda.
Emergency Search Underway Off Nantucket
Air and ground search teams are scanning waters approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Boston after a medical transport aircraft vanished early Saturday morning. Contact with the Gulfstream G100 jet was lost around 1:30 a.m. as it made its approach toward Boston from Bermuda, prompting a response from the U.S. Coast Guard following notification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight Carrying Crew and Patients
The aircraft is operated by Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance. According to Clarence Togeretz, operations manager for the company, six individuals were aboard the flight. The crew consists of two Canadian pilots and two Canadian medical staff members. They were transporting two Bermuda nationals, identified as a patient and a family member.
Response and Ongoing Inquiries
Togeretz confirmed that the company contacted American authorities after the plane failed to land on the tarmac as scheduled. He noted that this marks the first instance where the operator has lost contact with one of its aircraft, adding that the team is holding onto optimism while praying for a safe resolution. Latitude Air Ambulance has reached out to Transport Canada regarding the incident. Meanwhile, provincial air ambulance provider Ornge expressed support via social media, stating it hopes the aircraft and everyone on board are located safely and quickly.
NATIONAL STORIES
Why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Questions Mark Carney’s New Pipeline Stance
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticizes Mark Carney’s pipeline proposal, calling him an illusion and questioning his shift on oil and gas.
Poilievre Dismisses Carney’s Fast-Track Pipeline Proposal
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has expressed strong skepticism regarding Mark Carney, describing him as an “illusion” ahead of an upcoming major announcement. Poilievre questioned Carney’s recent backing of a proposal to fast-track and construct a West Coast pipeline project.
Contrasting Past Record with Recent Statements
Poilievre highlighted Carney’s history over the past decade, pointing out that the former banker worked to defund oil and gas, established an alliance aimed at shutting down the sector, opposed a Pacific pipeline, and advocated for higher carbon taxes.
“I don’t know how you can go in three years from believing oil and gas is going to end the world to believing you support oil and gas,” Poilievre stated. “I guess miracles are possible. He claims to have changed his mind but he hasn’t really changed the results. There’s been a lot of talk.”
Comparisons to Foreign Project Delivery
In assessing the situation, the Conservative leader observed that large-scale infrastructure projects are completed rapidly in nations like Germany and the United States.
NATIONAL STORIES
Michael J. Fox Earns Canada’s Highest Civilian Distinction for Parkinson’s Work
Michael J. Fox was elevated to companion of the Order of Canada alongside 50 other honourees, including UBC engineering professor Yusuf Altintas.
National Honours Presented at Rideau Hall
During an investiture ceremony on Friday morning at Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour formally elevated celebrated actor and advocate Michael J. Fox to the companion level of the Order of Canada, drawing a standing ovation from attendees. Rideau Hall cited his unflinching honesty and powerful global advocacy concerning Parkinson’s disease for the elevation. Fox, who publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998, has helped generate $2.5 billion for research into the progressive nervous system disorder, which causes tremors, slowness, stiffness, memory difficulties, and depression.
Distinguished Inductees Recognized Across Fields
A total of 51 individuals joined or advanced within the Order of Canada during the Friday event. Arbour praised the group in French for directing their skills, influence, and effort toward the public good rather than personal gain alone, noting that Fox serves as a shining example of using courage, imagination, and determination to foster lasting progress.
The newly honoured members and officers include noteworthy figures across various disciplines. University of British Columbia mechanical engineering professor Yusuf Altintas was inducted as an officer alongside McGill University professor Nada Jabado, who was recognized for her contributions to pediatric neuro-oncology. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz became an officer for his efforts supporting international trade and economic stability. Sculptor Ruth Elsie Abernethy entered as a member for her worldwide bronze statues exploring heritage, gender, and nation-building, while Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Susanne Craig was named a member for her impactful reporting across major American and Canadian news outlets.
-
OPINIONS6 days agoB.C.’s 93-Riding Scramble: Can the Parties Even Find Enough Candidates?
-
BC STORIES4 days agoWhy OneBC’s Interim Leader Is Proposing an Election Pact With Conservatives
-
BC STORIES6 days agoBC Greens Pledge Free Childcare by 2031 and Introduce Victoria-Swan Lake Candidate
-
NATIONAL STORIES6 days agoWill they use Chinese Steel over Canadian like Phase One?
-
NATIONAL STORIES5 days ago
Why a Canadian Nationalist Group’s Hidden Recruitment Practices Are Drawing Scrutiny
-
SPORTS4 days ago
Maple Leafs vs Islanders Result: Easton Cowan Scores in 2-1 Win
-
SPORTS5 days ago
Why the Edmonton Oilers Will Be Without Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Against Vancouver
-
NATIONAL STORIES4 days agoWhy NDP Leader Avi Lewis Says the West Coast Pipeline Plan Risks Public Funds