abff08f4813c

Bloc Québécois voter's mail-in ballot was returned to sender after the election
Elections Canada said the return address printed on this elector's return envelope was incorrect — specifically, part of the postal code.

Courts could force byelection, expert says
But Ara Karaboghossian, professor of political science at Vanier College, says there's a chance this saga isn't over. He said the election could be contested through Elections Canada's contested elections process. He said irregularities can be the basis for contesting a decision
"It says that if there is any type of irregularity that has an effect on the result, then the person can actually contest," said Karaboghossian. "The elector can contest. A candidate can contest. It's open to anybody."
The case will hinge on what an irregularity is, but it seems to Karaboghossian that a misprint on a self-addressed, stamped envelope could fall into that category.

Good news for Bloc Québécois

Regulation Needed to Guarantee Living Wages and Benefits, Decent Working Conditions
Major digital labor platforms, also known as gig companies, operating in the United States misclassify gig workers as independent contractors, denying them labor rights,

And the kicker...

“They promise flexibility but, in reality, they leave workers at the mercy of unstable and subminimum wages, little social protection, and in constant fear of termination without recourse.”

These folks need to be recognized as employees, so they can immediately

• sue to get paid a living wage
• and reliable working hours
• feel more comfortable organizing around (that is, joining or forming) a union

Two Labour MPs say they are "astounded" to have been denied entry to Israel while on a trip to visit the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticised Israeli authorities, describing the move as "unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning".

The lawyer, Erez Reuveni, answered most questions asked by Judge Paula Xinis with "I don't know why" or "I haven't been told why". For example, when asked on what legal basis or authority the US government had deported the man in question, Abrego Garcia, the lawyer said he didn't know.

"From the moment he was seized, it was unconstitutional," Judge Xinis said during the hearing. "If there isn't a document, a warrant, a statement of probable cause, then there is no basis to have seized him in the first place. That's how I'm looking at it," the judge said.
(Source is linked article)

The judge also questioned why the U.S. can’t get him back. Reuveni said that was the first question he asked when he was assigned to the case.
“I have not received today an answer that I find satisfactory,” he added.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-orders-return-of-maryland-man-wrongly-deported-to-el-salvador-mega-prison

The judge also asked for evidence that the deported man, , was a member of the gang MS-13. But Reuveni couldn't provide

Xinis noted in her opinion Sunday that the Justice Department presented “no evidence” that Abrego Garcia belongs to MS-13, effectively abandoning that position in her court.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/06/judge-order-return-man-el-salvador-00274526

Finally, the lawyer made one last request, to wait and let him ask his client - the US government - to try and return Abrego Garcia first. But look at how he frames his request:

“I would ask the court to give us, the defendants, one more chance to do this,” Reuveni said. “That’s my recommendation to my client, but so far that hasn’t happened.”

Basically telling the judge "I've already asked and got told no way but let me ask again" as a surefire way to make the judge ignore the request.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/05/doj-lawyer-leave-deportation-00274412

Admittedly, it's not entirely clear yet that this was deliberate malicious compliance - but Erez Reuveni has nearly 15 years of experience and almost certainly would have known how to make a more compelling argument before the court, had he been so inclined.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/05/doj-lawyer-leave-deportation-00274412

In fact, the current US attorney general said this about the matter,

“He did not argue,” the attorney general complained, although Reuveni did argue that Xinis had no jurisdiction to consider the case. “He shouldn’t have taken the case. He shouldn’t have argued it, if that’s what he was going to do,” she said. “You have to vigorously argue on behalf of your client.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/05/doj-lawyer-leave-deportation-00274412

He could have not taken the case, it seems. But he would have known that if he passed on it, someone else would argue it, and that someone might do a much better job in front of the court. So it's probable that he took it upon himself to throw the case and save this man.

Alas, it seems his bosses saw through that. Even though he did argue that the court had no jurisdiction to consider the case, as he was likely ordered to do,

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche sent Reuveni suspending him for failing to follow “follow a directive from your superiors” and “engaging in conduct prejudicial to your client.”
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/05/doj-lawyer-leave-deportation-00274412

To me, that reads as if Blanche had figured out that Reuveni had complied with orders, but only maliciously so, and thus treated it as a case of non-compliance. (In truth, malicious compliance here hurt the government's case worse than actual non-compliance - refusing to take the case at all - would have.)

I'm not 100% sure I'm right - after all Erez Reuveni is a professional lawyer and thus knows what to say and not say in public to protect himself - but if I am right, then I'd consider Erez Reuveni a true USian hero.

A great-grandparent or even a great-great grandparent from Italy used to be all it took to guarantee Italian citizenship. A surprise decree has now changed all that, making it much harder for those with Italian ancestry to use blood line as a pathway to become Italian.
On March 28, the Italian government tightened regulations for claiming citizenship by jus sanguinis, or descendent blood line, effective immediately.

Basically you now need an Italian parent or a grandparent who was born in Italy, or an Italian parent who lived in Italy for at least two years before you were born, to be eligible. This is a major change to the citizenship law, and caught everyone by surprise.

Far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement of European funds and immediately barred from running for office
Le Pen, 56, said before the verdict that that any immediate ban on running for election would be like a “political death sentence”

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the fourth victim of a Winnipeg serial killer has been identified as Ashlee Shingoose.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says she has spoken with the woman’s parents and offered her condolences.
“My heart goes out to all the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” she said.
Police are scheduled to confirm the identity of the victim, who was given the name Buffalo Woman, at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Filipino Catholic bishops called for unity, but differed in tone, after former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Protesters at an anti-immigration rally in Belfast city centre were outnumbered by those taking part in a counter-demonstration by at least three-to-one.

Which is really heart-warming to see. There are still places where human beings still treat others like human beings.

Good explanation from the author on how to move from the US to Canada, along with a reason that I think most, if not all, of us would agree with.

Though I think the author is a bit too nervous on a couple of minor points. FWIW I'm from the US originally and I'm fully into the buy Canadian / buy anything but US brands idea, and I don't have the same reaction to seeing the Canadian flag everywhere - I think it's great!

with leadership agreeing to extend funding into mid-December. That gives the current Congress the ability to fashion a full-year spending bill after the Nov. 5 election, rather than push that responsibility to the next Congress and president.

Well, that's not good. Expect a shutdown if the GOP loses the presidency.