CanadaJan 12, 2021
Trudeau shuffles cabinet as Bains plans to retire from federal politics
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has conducted a small shuffle of his ministers before holding up later in the day for a cabinet retreat to plot strategy for the resumption of Parliament.
The shuffle is due to the departure of Navdeep Bains, who stepped down as innovation minister Tuesday and is not intending to run again in the next election.
In the first virtual swearing-in ceremony in Canadian history, Francois-Philippe Champagne shed his title as foreign minister to take up Bains' former role, while ex-transport minister Marc Garneau moved into Champagne's old job.
Toronto-area MP Omar Algha
CanadaJan 11, 2021
Canada maintained an average of 7,672 daily cases of COVID-19 during first week of January
The latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that as of Sunday night, there have been 660,289 reported cases of COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic, including 16,950 deaths. There were 84,567 active infections, with a daily average of 7,672 new cases across Canada from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7. During the same period, an average of 4,336 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospital, including 811 in intensive care. The federal agency says COVID-19 is spreading rapidly among all ages groups. Although the infection rate remains highest for people aged 80 and older, w
CanadaJan 09, 2021
Ontario Premier threatening to bring in more "extreme" measures if COVID-19 rates do not come down
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is threatening to extend the current lockdown and bring in more "extreme" measures if COVID-19 rates do not come down. The province has shattered another record for daily COVID-19 infections with a total of 4,249 new infections, including 450 from earlier this week. Ford warns the surging cases are stretching hospital capacity and that could lead to more illnesses and deaths. Ford says new projections that will be released next week are very concerning. Ontario's associate medical officer of health says the province may need to return to a stricter lockdown similar t
CanadaJan 08, 2021
171,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine set to be delivered by the end of next week: Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military commander leading vaccine logistics in Canada, says 171,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine are set to be delivered by the end of next week. He says 170,000 more are expected during the first week of February, then delivery will begin to scale up, with 250,000 doses by the end of next month and 1.24 million in March. As for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 208,650 doses will be delivered to the provinces on a weekly basis for the rest of January, and in February, that will increase to up to 367,000 doses per week. He says that will mean 1.4 million doses of the Pf
CanadaJan 08, 2021
PM Trudeau says Trump incited a violent assault on democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is again condemning violent rioters he says were incited by U.S. President Donald Trump and other politicians on Capitol Hill this week. Speaking outside his residence in Ottawa today, he called Wednesday's events an "assault on democracy" and says such violence has no place in society. He says he discussed the issue during his call with provincial and territorial premiers Thursday evening, when he said that democracy is resilient, but it also takes work. He says it is an accomplishment to have and maintain a political system where the party that loses an electio
CanadaJan 08, 2021
Canadian economy lost 63,000 jobs in Dec., first decline since April
The Canadian economy in December posted its first monthly loss of jobs since April. Statistics Canada says the economy lost 63,000 jobs in the final month of the year. CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes says another month of losses could be coming in January. But Mendes says there are brighter days on the horizon as COVID-19 vaccines roll out to Canadians. The loss of jobs in December ended a streak of monthly job gains that began in May, when initial restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the pandemic began to ease.
CanadaJan 08, 2021
WestJet puts 1,000 workers on leave, citing government's 'Incoherent' policy
WestJet is cutting staff and flights, saying new federal COVID-19 testing rules for air passengers have led to a wave of cancellations. The airline's CEO is laying the blame squarely on "incoherent" policy from Ottawa around the new rules. Passengers returning to Canada are now required to obtain a negative PCR test at least 72 hours before boarding their flight. The Calgary-based airline says about one-thousand employees will be furloughed, temporarily laid off, put on unpaid leave or have their hours cut. Trip cancellations and reductions in new bookings began immediately after the federal
CanadaJan 07, 2021
Governor General Julie Payette says, vaccines give hope but there aren't yet enough to go around
Governor General Julie Payette says it's the duty of every Canadian to adhere to public health measures.She said these measures are aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. She says in a video statement we owe it to front-line health workers, seniors, our loved ones and other people's loved ones to make the necessary sacrifices. Payette says vaccines give hope but there aren't yet enough to go around. She says keeping apart, minimizing movements and following restrictions are still the only ways to get the pandemic under control.
CanadaJan 07, 2021
From midnight tonight, air travellers coming from abroad will have to show proof of negative COVID-19 test results
Transport Minister Marc Garneau says as of midnight tonight, air travellers coming from abroad will have to show proof of negative COVID-19 test results. He says this new interim order will provide an additional layer of protection for Canadians and travellers. At the same time, a ban on people flying in from the UK is being lifted. The ban came in after a new more contagious strain of COVID-19 appeared in Britain.But Health Minister Patty Hajdu acknowledges some people may have difficulty in getting tested for the illness within the required time frame. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Phil