The contract dispute between Ontario's four major teachers' unions and Premier Doug Ford's Conservative government is about to escalate. The unions plan to stage a one-day walkout next Friday, a move that will leave more than two-million students out of class. One union president says the Ford government is decimating the education system. The education minister is calling the walkout an irresponsible choice.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Senegal today, wrapping up a trip through Africa, but he has been kept apprised of growing protests and blockades by opponents of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline across northern BC. Freight trains bound for the Port of Prince Rupert have been stalled for days by a blockade near New Hazelton, and Via Rail and CN both say blockades in BC, Ontario and Quebec are affecting the movement of thousands of passengers and tonnes of goods. Trudeau says while the federal government respects the right to peaceful protest, the rule of law must also be respected.

The number of new cases of COVID-19 in China dropped for a second straight day, raising hopes the epidemic of the new coronavirus may be peaking. Chinese health officials report the outbreak has infected about 45,000 people and killed more than 1,100. Another 39 new cases have been confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, Japan but it's not clear yet if any of them are Canadians.The third person to be diagnosed with the virus in Ontario has tested negative two times in 24 hours and is no longer considered infectious.The Chinese Grand Prix set for Shanghai in Apri

Magsaysay Award winning journalist Ravish Kumar joined Vijay Saini in Sver Wala Show this morning.He said that Non Resident Indians (NRIs) living in Canada need to start asking relevant questions from Indian politicians when they visit and hold stadium-size events here.Kumar alleged that the BJP-led Indian government is treating Muslims the same way the Congress-led government treated Sikhs in 1984.

The operators of a cruise ship that was barred from docking by four governments say it will finally land and disembark passengers in Cambodia. Thailand had said it would not allow the MS Westerdam to dock at a Thai port after it had already been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. The ship has been unwelcome because of fears that those aboard could spread COVID-19, the new viral disease that originated in China. Holland America Line says no cases of the disease have been confirmed among the more than 2,200 passengers and crew on board. The ship is due to arrive in Sihanoukville,

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Senegal, Africa for an official visit that will test his commitment to gender equality with one of Canada's closest francophone partners.He was greeted at the airport near last night Dakar by Foreign Minister Amadou Ba.Trudeau's visit includes a meeting with President Macky Sall and a moment of reflection at Goree Island where slaves being taken to the Americas were held.Dalhousie University political science chair David Black, who studies Canada's role in sub-Saharan Africa, says Senegal and Canada have long-standing links, mostly through their shared Frenc

British Columbia's NDP government used today's throne speech to list its accomplishments since coming to power two-and-a-half years ago, but it is also touting new funding supplements for children and youth in care that are coming in October. The speech also highlights plans to expand commuter services into the Fraser Valley, more HOV lanes and high-speed connections to Washington state. The speech, read by Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, says the government has eliminated Medical Services Plan premiums, reduced child care fees, and built thousands of affordable homes. It was delivered agai

Former federal health minister Jane Philpott has a new job. She will lead the faculty of health sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Philpott represented the Ontario riding of Markham Stouffville from 2015 until last year's federal election. The former politician made headlines last year when she resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet over the SNC Lavalin affair.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has run afoul of federal ethics rules yet again, this time missing the deadline for filing a financial disclosure statement with the ethics commissioner. Every MP is required to file a disclosure statement within 60 days of his or her election being published in the Canada Gazette; in Trudeau's case, the deadline was Jan. 13. Of the 338 MPs elected last October, only 13, including Trudeau, had failed to file their statements as of Feb. 5, the last time commissioner Mario Dion's office updated a status report on members' compliance with the disclosure requirement.