CanadaJun 15, 2021
LeBlanc signals some cautious easing of pandemic travel restrictions coming soon
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Ottawa is in talks with the provinces and territories about creating some type of ``passport'' containing proof of vaccination against COVID-19. LeBlanc says while health information falls under provincial jurisdiction, Ottawa's goal is to provide Canadians with a document to verify vaccinations against the coronavirus if they want to travel outside Canada. But LeBlanc says the government may provide Canadians who want to travel soon with an interim document to verify vaccinations. Non-essential travel into and out of Canada has been sev
CanadaJun 15, 2021
Trudeau visits Pfizer on final day of international trip
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his last day in Europe thanking leaders and local workers for getting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada.Trudeau visited the Pfizer-BioNTech manufacturing facility in Puurs, Belgium, where Canada's vaccine supply was produced until the United States started shipping doses early last month.His main message to those at the plant was ``Thank you.''Trudeau repeated it multiple times to workers during a brief walking tour of the facility, as well as to Pfizer's managing director.He listened as officials showed the deep freezers where vaccines are stored, then walked up
CanadaJun 14, 2021
Defence vice-chief who golfed with Vance steps aside from role, but not from military
Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau says his recent golfing trip with former defence chief Jonathan Vance was only an attempt to reach out and quote ``ensure his wellness.'' But Rouleau is apologizing, saying he understands how the activity could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest and controversy. Rouleau has announced he is stepping aside from his role as vice-chief of the defence staff. He will join the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, which helps members shift into civilian life. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed in the House of Commons that Lieutenant-General Mike
CanadaJun 14, 2021
Terror charges laid against London attack suspect
Prosecutors have laid terrorism charges against a man accused of driving down and killing four members of a Muslim family in London, Ont.The Crown says Nathaniel Veltman's four counts of first-degree murder constitute an act of terrorism and prosecutors have upgraded those charges under section 83 of the Criminal Code.Veltman also faces one count of attempted murder due to terrorism activity.The upgraded charges were laid as Veltman made a brief court appearance via video this morning.Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna and her 74-year-old g
CanadaJun 11, 2021
Over 27.7-million doses of vaccine have been administered across Canada: Dr. Theresa Tam
Canada's chief public health officer says we're continuing to make good progress in the fight against COVID-19. Dr. Theresa Tam says the rolling seven-day average number of cases has been steadily declining.Dr. Tam says Canada is recording 1,850 cases daily, with the number of deaths now down 40 per cent to 31. Chief public health officer says over 27.7-million doses of vaccine have been administered across Canada. Dr. Theresa Tam says over 2.6-million of those were given in the past week.Dr. Tam says Indigenous communities and the territories have some of the highest vaccination rates in the
CanadaJun 11, 2021
MPs unanimously passed an NDP motion demanding emergency summit on Islamophobia
Federal lawmakers want the Trudeau government to convene an emergency summit on Islamophobia. In the House of Commons today, MPs unanimously passed an NDP motion demanding the gathering in the wake of Sunday's deadly attack against a Muslim family in London, Ontario. The motion calls for the summit by the end of July. Police allege the London attack, which saw four family members run down and killed on Sunday night, was a planned act that targeted Muslims. A 20 year old man faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.
CanadaJun 11, 2021
Canada to share up to 100 million vaccine doses with struggling nations
The G-7 summit is now underway in Cornwall, England, with leaders expressing hope to end the COVID-19 pandemic by next year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson this morning. The UK is expecting leaders to agree to give poorer countries access to one-billion doses of vaccines through donations and funding. Trudeau is the only leader who has yet to commit to specifics on vaccine sharing. But a Canadian government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says the country will pledge up to 100-million doses.
CanadaJun 11, 2021
Victoria's Canada Day event scrapped in wake of residential school discovery
City councillors in Victoria have voted unanimously to cancel a planned Canada Day broadcast in order to permit a ``thoughtful reflection'' of what it means to be Canadian.A statement from the City of Victoria says council voted to scrap the virtual celebration following the discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 former students buried in unmarked graves on the site of the now-closed Kamloops Indian Residential School.The city says it will be guided by members of the local First Nation and will replace the broadcast with one that features Indigenous artists. The updated broad
CanadaJun 10, 2021
New Brunswick MP Jenica Atwin crosses floor from Greens to Liberals; Green Leader Annamie Paul says she is disappointed
New Brunswick MP Jenica Atwin has shocked the Green Party by announcing she is crossing the House of Commons floor and joining Justin Trudeau's Liberals. Green Leader Annamie Paul says she is disappointed, but cannot control the decisions of others.Annamie Paul says she takes Atwin at her word that the decision was not a result of her leadership. The defection leaves the Green party with just two lawmakers in the House of Commons. Atwin made history in the October 2019 general election when she became the first Green MP to be elected east of British Columbia. Atwin says a big factor in her dec