The vote was unanimous, 306 for and none against, as MP's passed legislation authorizing new pandemic benefits for workers still struggling in the COVID-19 era.Bill C-4 includes a replacement program for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit reworking the existing employment insurance program to be more flexible and generous.The Senate is expected to gather today to debate and pass the emergency aid legislation swiftly. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says Parliament unanimously passed a COVID-19 aid bill for workers in what he calls a ``shut up'' procedure.Blanchet says M-Ps wer

Lawyers for the federal government are preparing to present their side of the story at the extradition trial of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. Her lawyers are just wrapping up their arguments in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver regarding the admissibility of evidence at Meng's trial. They contend proceedings against Meng should be tossed on the grounds that the United States misled Canadian officials in summarizing the case against her, leading to her arrest in Vancouver in December 2018. Meng and Huawei deny allegations they attempted to mislead a bank, potentially causing it to violate US trad

Quebec restaurateurs say they are in shock after the government ordered restaurant dining areas closed for 28 days in the province's two biggest cities.The order was one of several announced by authorities on Monday as they moved Montreal and Quebec City to the highest COVID-19 alert level, banning private indoor gatherings and shutting bars and cinemas.Martin Vezina, spokesman for Quebec's restaurateur association, said today that restaurants aren't the problem, and that many of his members have spent thousands of dollars on measures to protect diners and staff. Montreal's public he

The federal government has reached an agreement with American company Abbott to buy 7.9 million rapid-test devices once they are approved by Health Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, is pushing back against calls for Ottawa to quickly approve rapid tests for COVID-19, saying the decision is ultimately up to federal scientists. Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says rolling out inaccurate COVID-19 tests can lead to further infections if there is a large number of false negatives. Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand says with the numbers of COVID-19 cases r

India's Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for the coronavirus and will home quarantine. His office says in a tweet on Tuesday the 71 year old Naidu is asymptomatic and in good health. His wife, Usha Naidu, has tested negative and is in self-isolation. Naidu recently attended a session of India's Parliament that was cut short after more than 20 lawmakers tested positive. India's Home Minister Amit Shah tested positive last month and recovered in a hospital. India registered 70,589 new cases and 776 more confirmed deaths in the last 24 hours. That pushed the totals to more th

The U.S. State Department has condemned a rocket attack that killed Iraqi civilians and called on the government to take action amid an impending diplomatic crisis between Baghdad and Washington. The attack and subsequent condemnation by State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on Tuesday come after the U.S. threatened to close its embassy in Baghdad, unless Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi can reign in the armed groups responsible for a barrage of rocket attacks targeting the American presence. A Katyusha rocket struck a residential home in the vicinity of Baghdad airport Monday and kill

A 74 year old woman has been hit and killed by a vehicle on Vancouver's west side, the sixth pedestrian death in the city this year. Police say the unnamed victim was crossing at an intersection in the Point Grey neighbourhood when she was hit by a turning vehicle. The woman was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. The driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene and investigators want to speak to anyone who may have seen the crash or have dashcam video of it.

Former Conservative MP Rob Anders has been charged with tax evasion.The federal prosecution service says Anders is also charged with making misleading statements and for getting a refund or credit than he should not have received.The charges under the Income Tax Act were first reported by the National Post.Anders represented a Calgary riding between 1997 and 2015, and the Post reported the charges are linked to his time in office. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 30. Anders could not immediately be reached for comment.

BC Liberals leader Andrew Wilkinson was in Campbell River while BC NDP leader John Horgan was in Coquitlam this morning, for their continuing election campaigns.Wilkinson said that promised PST cut would reduce the cost of heavy machinery and in this way, help forestry.Responding to a question on Strathcona Park tent city, Wilkinson said the people shouldn’t feel under siege from street crime and disorder in their community. The situation has gotten worse under NDP and dealing with it is the top priority of any incoming government, Wilkinson said. Responding to a question about protest in St