In the news today: Air Transat suspending flights as strike deadline looms

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Air Transat continues suspending flights as strike deadline looms

Air Transat passengers are facing a second day of uncertainty, as the leisure airline is slated to suspend all flights ahead of a possible strike Wednesday.

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 750 pilots at Air Transat, issued a 72-hour strike notice over the weekend.

The airline flies tens of thousands of passengers on more than 500 flights each week, mainly to sun destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Europe.

It scheduled four additional flights Monday to bring back passengers initially scheduled to return Wednesday, but worried they could be stranded.

Federal government to table bill to protect children, address gender-based violence

Justice Minister Sean Fraser is expected to introduce legislation today that looks to better protect children and address gender-based violence.

The Justice Department is touting the measures as “generational reforms” to the Criminal Code to protect victims and keep children safe from predators.

In their spring election platform, the Liberals promised to crack down on sexual violence and intimate partner violence, such as by making hate-motivated violence a first-degree offence.

The party also pledged to increase penalties for distributing intimate images without consent, make it a criminal offence to distribute non-consensual sexual deepfakes, and introduce measures shielding children from online exploitation and sexual extortion.

G7 digital, tech ministers’ meeting in Montreal set to wrap up today

A meeting of G7 industry, digital and technology ministers is set to wrap up in Montreal today.

The two-day event is part of a series of ministerial meetings held as Canada holds the presidency of the G7 group of nations this year.

On Monday, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon announced new digital agreements between Canada and Europe, including one with Germany aimed at increasing collaboration on artificial intelligence, quantum technology, digital sovereignty and infrastructure. 

The move comes at a time of deep divisions between the EU and the U.S. on AI regulation.

Inuvialuit kayak, other items from Vatican to be unveiled at Museum of History

A selection of Inuit items returned from the Vatican this weekend is today expected to be shown at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders welcomed back dozens of Indigenous artifacts released from the Vatican collection at Montreal’s airport Saturday.

The artifacts include a traditional Inuvialuit kayak, believed to be one of five built more than 100 years ago.

The 62 items ultimately will be returned to their communities of origin as an act of reconciliation.

Home prices expected to tick higher in 2026 amid market ‘reset’: Royal LePage report

Royal LePage is forecasting an uptick in home prices for 2026 as it says the Canadian housing market is primed for a reset, with more buyers making their move.

The real estate firm projects the national aggregate home price will increase by one per cent year-over-year to $823,016 in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

Single-family detached home prices are forecast to increase two per cent to $876,934 and condominium prices are expected to decrease 2.5 per cent to $563,918.

It said its projections for the upcoming year follow “significant economic and political uncertainty” in 2025, pointing to the trade war with the U.S. and change in federal leadership that forced a recalibration of market expectations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2025.