The House of Commons has approved a massive $73-billion wage subsidy program aimed at helping businesses and workers survive the economic ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was passed ``on division,'' meaning there was some opposition among the handful of MPs in the chamber but there was no recorded vote. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling it the most significant economic program since the Second World War. The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate and receive royal assent later today.

There are 23,318 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 12,292 confirmed (including 289 deaths, 1,563 resolved) Ontario: 6,648 confirmed (including 253 deaths, 2,858 resolved) Alberta: 1,569 confirmed (including 40 deaths, 774 resolved) British Columbia: 1,445 confirmed (including 58 deaths, 905 resolved) Nova Scotia: 428 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 95 resolved) Saskatchewan: 289 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 147 resolved) Manitoba: 226 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 96 resolved), 17 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 241 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 120 resolved) New Br

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says 31 people have died at a west-end Montreal long-term care home that is now under trusteeship. Legault said at least five patients at the Residence Herron in Dorval, Que., died after testing positive for COVID-19. The premier says Quebec's Health Department has ordered an investigation and the province's Public Security Department has also asked for a police investigation. Legault says the owner of the long-term care residence owns other such homes and they will all be inspected.

British Columbia is reporting 35 new cases of COVID-19 as well as three new deaths. The province now has 1,445 total positive tests and 58 deaths. Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry says 134 people are hospitalized, with 63 in critical care. Henry says the province is working closely with federal counterparts to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak at a federal prison in Mission, B.C. She also urged residents to stay home for the long weekend and avoid ``unnecessary travel.''

The Rogers Cup women's tennis tournament will not be played this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennis Canada announced the event, scheduled for Aug. 7 to 16 in Montreal, is off the schedule. Quebec's government announced Friday no sporting events could be held through Aug. 31, though it left the door slightly open for pro teams. Tennis Canada says the women's event will return to Montreal in August 2021.

Ontario is reporting 31 new deaths from COVID-19 in Ontario for a total of 253. The province also reported 411 new cases of the virus, with the total number of cases at 6,648. The Ministry of Health says 2,858 of the cases are resolved, which is just over 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Ontario.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says even if every possible precaution is taken, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could get worse before they get better. He says Canada's determination to fight the virus and the country's commitment to look out for one another might be put to the test, but believes Canadians are up to the challenge. Speaking in the House of Commons today during a special sitting of Parliament to pass the Liberals' massive wage subsidy program aimed at helping businesses and workers through the COVID-19 downturn, Trudeau delivered a speech outlining the challenges the pandem

Quebec has seen another spike in the number of deaths in the province and now has 289 deaths linked to COVID-19. Premier Francois Legault says the province also has 12,292 confirmed cases and 778 people are hospitalized 211 in intensive care. Legault is also resassuring Quebecers that he won't reopen schools and daycares without public health's blessing. There were strong reactions from parents and teachers' unions after Legault suggested Friday those institutions closed by the government until May 4, could reopen ahead of that date as Quebec looks at ways to restart the economy.

India has cleared the first list of 13 countries for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) which includes USA, Spain, Germany, Bahrain, Brazil, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bangladesh, the sources said. They said USA had asked for 48 lakh tablets of HCQ and India has sanctioned 35.82 lakh tablets, sources said. Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug deemed to be useful in dealing with COVID-19. The sources said that India has also sent nine MT of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) to the US in line with its request. They said Brazil and Canada are expected to get 50 lakh tab