# **Prime Minister Trudeau Returns to Public Eye After Summer Break**
Prime Minister **Justin Trudeau** made his first public appearance today after a summer vacation. This was the first vacation for Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, as co-parents since they announced their separation on August 2.
While Trudeau was enjoying private family time, large areas of the Northwest Territories and British Columbia were experiencing devastating wildfires. States of emergency were declared, and residents of Yellowknife, Kelowna, and other cities had to flee their homes. It has been the worst wildfire season on record.
With a focus on affordability and housing, Trudeau had to address the public’s concerns at his cabinet retreat in Prince Edward Island. However, the ongoing fires and their destructive impact required a shift in priorities.
Trudeau acknowledged the horrifying situations that people were facing and expressed his concern for their safety. He announced that the Incident Response Group, a round table of relevant ministers, would meet to address the crisis. The government is working to provide emergency support and assistance to those affected by the wildfires, while also planning for the future recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Furthermore, Trudeau criticized tech giants like Facebook for blocking access to news in Canada in response to Bill C-18. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that local news organizations have access to real-time information, particularly during emergency situations.
In other news:
– A retired RCMP officer, charged with conducting foreign interference on behalf of China, was targeting a wealthy Vancouver real estate entrepreneur named Kevin Sun as part of his alleged activities.
– Jamil Jivani, former president of the Manning Centre, has won the federal Conservative candidacy in the Greater Toronto Area riding of Durham, replacing former party leader Erin O’Toole.
– The Federal Court of Canada will review a $23.3-billion compensation agreement on First Nations child welfare that could lead to funds being distributed to communities next year.
– There is cautious hope that the wildfires in B.C.’s Kelowna area have been contained after four days of firefighting and favorable weather conditions.
In today’s Commons, most MPs continue their summer vacation, while the Liberal cabinet gathers for a pre-return retreat in Prince Edward Island. Moreover, Chantal Hébert has announced that she will be ending her regular political column for the Toronto Star but plans to return for special occasions, including the next election campaign.
[Click here](link) to listen to the latest episode of The Globe and Mail’s podcast “The Decibel,” where the current economic situation is discussed, including warning signs that could indicate future trouble.
Today, *Justin Trudeau* visited Cornwall, PEI, to discuss child care with parents and families. He also announced that over the next year and a half, PEI will create 300 new licensed child care spaces. Trudeau later joined his cabinet for the kickoff of their three-day retreat.
In Ottawa, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference to respond to Trudeau’s housing retreat.
In opinion pieces, *Campbell Clark* questions whether Trudeau’s plan for six more years as Prime Minister adds up mathematically, *Dave Sommer* highlights the dangers of misinformation on tech platforms during emergencies, and *Jason Ellis* suggests a compromise to address concerns over drag queen story hours in Ontario schools.
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