The federal government says a ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters will stay in place for one more year. The ban until Feb. 28, 2022 applies to cruise ships carrying more than 100 people as well as pleasure crafts operating in the Arctic, except for those used by residents in the region. The ban was originally put in place last year was to expire at the end of February. A news release from Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the ban in necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities. He also says it will allow public health authorities to focus on pressing is

The Public Health Agency of Canada says there's been nearly a 30 per-cent drop in active COVID-19 cases across the country over the past two weeks. The agency says there are currently 48,221 active cases in Canada, down from more than 68,400 cases two weeks ago. National data suggest there's also been a downward trend in daily case counts, with an average of 4,061 new infections reported per day over the past week. Authorities say the slowdown has led to a gradual decline in severe COVID-19 outcomes. Provincial and territorial data shows a seven-day average of 3,711 patients being treated in

Police say a 48 year old Vancouver man has been charged with second-degree murder for the city's first homicide of 2021. The killing happened in the Downtown Eastside on Sunday. The VPD says Kenneth Gates was arrested that morning after officers were called to a single-occupancy hotel for a double stabbing. Police say 40 year old Jeremy Greene died on scene and a second stabbing victim, a 28 year old, was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Gates remains in custody and he has also been charged with aggravated assault.

The federal Conservatives are calling for a special House of Commons committee devoted to Canada-US relations. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says the committee should focus on the economic relationship between the two countries, with emphasis placed on Buy American provisions being advanced by US President Joe Biden. The committee would also concentrate on the threatened closure of an Enbridge pipeline known as Line 5.A Conservative motion, if approved, would also see the committee explore what work the government is doing with the U-S to procure a steady stream of COVID-19 vaccines. O'Too

Homicide investigators have identified the victim of a targeted shooting in Langley, B.C. Sgt. Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says 22-year-old Arshdeep Singh died in the late-night attack on Jan. 26. Jang says Singh's name and photo are being released in an effort to further the investigation, but he provided no other information. Singh was in the driver's seat of a car parked in a residential area of Langley when it was riddled by gunfire, killing him and injuring a man in the passenger seat.In the hours after the shooting, Jang confirmed Singh had been known to p

Raising the agitating farmers' issue in the Rajya Sabha, AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Thursday urged the Centre to withdraw the new farm laws, stating that "have mercy on farmers who are being lathi-charged, called traitors, terrorists and Khalistanis". "Farmers are protesting for 76 days, they are being lathi-charged, called traitors, terrorists, Khalistanis. Talks happened 11 times, all failed, govt claims to be a call away but does not bother. About 165 farmers lost their lives. Have mercy and repeal 3 black laws," Singh said. The farmers' issues dominated the agenda of the opposition parties

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday arrived in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district to meet the family members of farmer Navreet Singh, who died in an accident during the farmers' tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day. She was accompanied by the other party leaders and was seen interacting with the late farmers' family. On her way, the Congress leader was seen cleaning the windshield of her vehicle. Her driver had to stop allegedly due to poor visibility through the windshield. Earlier today, vehicles in her cavalcade collided with each other on Hapur Road, on her way

Just a few days after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared over at the hospital in Burnaby, B.C., another flare-up has been reported at the health centre. The Fraser Health authority says nine patients in the medicine unit at Burnaby Hospital have tested positive and it has been temporarily closed to admissions. The emergency department remains open at the hospital and enhanced cleaning and contact tracing has begun. B.C. reported 414 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, for a total of 68,780. There were also 16 more COVID-19-related deaths, 4,426 active cases and 278 in hospital. Provincial healt

The Trudeau government is adding the Proud Boys and three other extreme right-wing groups to its list of terrorist organizations. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the groups have proven themselves to be violent, as was seen in the United States during the riot at the Capitol building in Washington, DC last month. The four right-wing groups are among 13 additions to the list, which include three groups linked to al-Qaida, four associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and one Kashmiri organization. The government notes the Proud Boys played a "pivotal role in the insurrecti