The chief executive of Canada Infrastructure Bank is defending a $1-billion loan to help BC Ferries buy four new ships from China, saying it will lead to improved service for ferry users.

Ehren Cory provided the perspective Friday during an appearance before the House of Commons transport and infrastructure committee, which was gathered to address the controversy over BC Ferries not buying the vessels from Canadian shipyards.

Canada has joined 13 other countries, including the United States, Britain and France, to denounce what they describe as threatening Iranian state activity in Europe and North America.

Thursday’s statement does not detail specific incidents but speaks of attempts by Iranian intelligence “to kill, kidnap and harass” people.

Canadians would rather have an increase to the national debt than personal income tax hikes to pay for more ambitious military commitments made by the federal government, new polling says.

The Nanos Research survey conducted for The Globe and Mail found nearly half of Canadians surveyed support the debt option, with 49 per cent either supporting or somewhat supporting it.

Wildfire smoke in several parts of the country is forcing summer camp providers whose communities are under air quality warnings to shift activities indoors or make other changes to keep campers safe.

Environment Canada issued special air quality statements or warnings on Monday for much of Central Canada, Manitoba and Saskatchewan owing to smoke from wildfires in northern Ontario and the Prairies, while smoke also drifted into Quebec and Atlantic Canada.