The Canadian government is facing urgent calls to speed up its effort to save hundreds of former Afghan interpreters and their families as Western countries step up plans to evacuate Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was asked if Canada has already shut down its embassy in Kabul, but she would not answer, citing operational security concerns. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says and diplomats and now find themselves in danger as the Taliban sweeps the country. Freeland says the government's priority is ``supporting the brave Afghans who worked f

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is intending to visit Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Sunday and ask her to dissolve Parliament, triggering an election. The expectation is that the election would take place Sept. 20. The plan was confirmed by a senior Liberal Party of Canada source, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss these matters publicly. There has been speculation about a coming election for months, but the exact timing has been up in the air given the unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says Canad

Support is growing across the country for vaccine passports.Ottawa will launch one this fall for international travel and Quebec is getting ready to introduce its own for people who want to attend public events, or go to a gym, restaurants or bars.Winnipeg Jets fans who want to go to home games will have to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19.Calgary Chamber of Commerce president Deborah Yedlin is in favour of vaccine passports, saying they would be an added safety measure as Alberta prepares to scale back testing, masking and isolation requirements on Monday.

Police say two people are dead after a collision between a semi-truck and a five-tonne truck on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Calgary. RCMP say the deadly crash took place just before noon today near Morley, Alta. Cpl. Susan Richter says at least one other person suffered serious inquires in the crash. She says they aren't sure what led to the collision, but it is under investigation by police. Traffic on the highway is expected to be affected for several hours. Police say motorists travelling west are being rerouted through Morley Road to Highway 1A.

Admiral Art McDonald says he has decided to return to his position as commander of the Canadian Armed Forces after military investigators opted not to charge him following an investigation into his conduct. McDonald stepped down in February as chief of the defence staff as a result of a Canadian Forces National Investigation Service investigation into an allegation of misconduct. But in a statement released by his legal team this afternoon, McDonald says he is returning to the position after the six-month investigation completely exonerated him and that he is returning to his post. It was not

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says Canada will continue to fight for the release of Michael Spavor after a Chinese court sentenced him to 11 years in prison.Garneau in a news conference this morning condemned the prison sentence, which followed a closed-door trial in March that Garneau says did not meet the standards of international law. He added that Canada is working with its allies, including the United States, to secure the release of both Spavor and fellow Canadian Michael Kovrig, though he refused to provide details.The prisoners who have become known as the two Michaels have be

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says he won't seek re-election. Pallister, who is 67, made the comments today during a caucus retreat in Brandon, Man. The premier has been under fire over the past month for comments he made about Canadian history. He apologized last week after saying in July that people who came to Canada before and after it became a country did not come to destroy but to build. Since then, his Indigenous relations minister resigned from cabinet, two Indigenous men quit provincial economic development boards and Indigenous leaders have roundly condemned the premier. Some Pro

Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has announced that a key player in the vaccine production sector is coming to Canada.Speaking in Montreal this morning, he says Moderna will set up a highly advanced facility to manufacture m-R N-A vaccines on Canadian soil. Champagne says it will help the country in the case of a pandemic and will allow Canadians to become more resilient and play a role in global health.The government has promised 2.2-billion-dollars for biotechnology research and commercial production over the next seven years.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is expected to c

The Tokyo Olympics are history. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach declared the Games closed after the French flag was raised inside Olympic Stadium for the transition to Paris 2024. Canada comes off with a record 24 medals. Gold medal decathlete Damian Warner carried the flag for Canada in the closing ceremonies. Because of the COVID pandemic there was no audience for the rituals.