The government is going to create a transitional benefit to help workers such as gig or contract employees, who exhaust the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and don't qualify for employment insurance.The CERB is due to wind down in several weeks. Today's announcement means those who are eligible for E-I will move to the separate program. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the program will include access to training, and the ability to work more hours without having such a steep clawback of benefit payments.

Canadians can now begin downloading a voluntary smartphone app meant to warn users they've been near someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he downloaded the "COVID Alert" app this morning and says the more people who sign up to use it, the better it will be able to trace — and help to slow — the spread of the novel coronavirus. The app is designed to track the location of phones relative to each other, without collecting personal data anywhere centrally, using digital identifications unique to each device. Then users can be notified if their phones hav

The man accused of ramming through a gate at Rideau Hall while heavily armed is staying in an Ontario jail for another three weeks. Corey Hurren was arrested July 2 and has not yet had a bail hearing. He had a brief appearance in an Ottawa court this morning, only to have Aug. 21 set as the date for his next appearance. The Manitoba military reservist and sausage-maker faces 21 weapons charges and one of threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Police say Hurren broke through a side gate early in the morning the day after Canada Day and made his way toward the residence where Trudeau and hi

Canadian National Railway Co. says one of its trains has derailed east of Winnipeg along Highway 1, causing a small fire. CN says there are no reports of injuries and there are no dangerous goods involved. The company says the derailed train cars are carrying potash. RCMP say the derailment occurred near Deacons Corner about 20 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Mounties were called to the scene at approximately 5 p.m. CN says the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

There are 115,799 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 59,131 confirmed (including 5,673 deaths, 50,886 resolved) Ontario: 39,075 confirmed (including 2,772 deaths, 34,906 resolved) Alberta: 10,716 confirmed (including 195 deaths, 9,113 resolved) British Columbia: 3,591 confirmed (including 194 deaths, 3,155 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,306 confirmed (including 18 deaths, 948 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,067 confirmed (including 64 deaths, 1,003 resolved) Manitoba: 395 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 325 resolved), 14 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 266 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 259 resolve

There are currently five people in hospital, sickened with COVID-19, the lowest number since March. Health Minister Adrian Dix says he's pleased to see the lower figure from the peak of 144 people in hospital. There are no deaths to report, but another 29 positive cases have been added to list. While there are no new outbreaks, there are now 59 cases linked to Fraser Valley Packers, the Abbotsford berry packing plant. Total number of COVID-19 cases in British Columbia is now 3,591.

The Tahltan Nation has issued a notice that the public should avoid its territory in northwest British Columbia until the there's a vaccine or community immunity for COVID-19.The Tahltan says in a statement that the consequences of spreading COVID-19 are too great, given the limited access to acute medical care for residents.The nation's territory spans almost 96,000 square kilometres of land or about 11 per cent of the province.The statement says all non-essential travel to Dease Lake, Iskut and Telegraph Creek should be avoided and all recreational activity access points will be blocked with

Vancouver council has approved a pilot project that would allow alcohol at four public plazas in the city. Council voted in favour of the plan yesterday and the project is slated to begin August 10th and continue until mid-October. Approved plazas include three in downtown Vancouver, one on the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery, another near the Vancouver Convention Centre and the third on a reclaimed side street at Bute and Robson. The fourth plaza is also part of a blocked off side street on 17th Avenue at Cambie Street, in the Cambie Village neighbourhood. A report on the proposal sa

The federal government is tightening the rules for non-essential American travellers passing through Canada en route to Alaska, in order to reduce the time spent in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada Border Services Agency says U.S. travellers heading to Alaska will be required to use one of five designated border crossings: four in B.C. and one in Alberta.They must also take the most direct routes possible, avoiding all national parks and tourist activities, and will be issued a tag to hang from their vehicle's rear-view mirror for the duration of their trip to ensure compliance