Ottawa's largest mall has been evacuated and a suspect has been arrested with a possible weapon, on the first day the shopping centre has been open since protests forced stores to shut down late last month. Police say they responded to Rideau Centre for a shoplifting call. On Twitter, the police wrote one person has been arrested and there is no outstanding suspect or threat to public safety. Witnesses reported they were ordered to evacuate the centre, as police told people to avoid the area just before 1 p.m. ``due to an ongoing police operation.'' One witness said parts of the mall went dar

Tamara Lich, one of the leading organizers behind protests against COVID-19 restrictions and the Liberal government on Parliament Hill, has been denied bail.An Ontario court judge issued the decision in Ottawa this morning, saying she believed there was a substantial likelihood Lich would reoffend if released.A separate bail hearing is scheduled this morning for fellow protest organizer Patrick King.Lich was arrested last Thursday and charged with counselling to commit mischief and promised during a bail hearing on Saturday to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta.King, 44,

There's a sweeping police operation to end a three-week protest on Parliament Hill. Authorities so far have arrested more than 100 people. Law enforcement began the crackdown last night, setting up 100 checkpoints and arresting key organizers. Many more officers have descended on the downtown core, some clad in riot gear and holding what appeared to be tear-gas canisters. The national capital's interim police chief says the plan is ''deliberate and methodical'' and police are in control on the ground. Steve Bell says clearing the area will take time.

One of the main convoy protest organizers, Pat King, has been arrested. King posted a video of himself being arrested on Facebook Live. In the video, an officer can be seen approaching his vehicle and informing him he's under arrest for counselling to commit mischief, counselling to obstruct police and counselling to disobey a court order. The officer asks him to step out of the vehicle and King says he'd like to speak to his lawyer. The officer says he'd like to make sure everything is safe and King responds that his hands are free and empty and he's always been safe. King then tells the cam

Police are making several arrests in Ottawa late today as antigovernment demonstrators with large trucks continue to ignore demands they leave an ongoing blockade. One man sporting an orange hat was put in handcuffs near Parliament Hill and told there was an outstanding warrant against him before being led away. Another was wrestled to the ground and carried to a waiting police car by more than six officers, while at least a dozen others formed a barricade around them. A woman in the crowd shouted, ``Come on, let him go'' as the arrest took place. About two dozen officers escorted another man

Canada claimed its fifth gold medal in seven women's Olympic hockey tournaments by defeating the United States, 3-2 in the final. Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice and assisted on Sarah Nurse's goal to add another chapter to her legacy as ``Captain Clutch'' for Canada. Ann-Renee Desbiens made 38 saves as the Canadians forced the Americans to settle for a silver medal for the fourth time. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Que., scored twice and assisted on the other to lead Canada to the gold medal with a 3-2 victory over the United States, ` the third time she has scored the ``golden

Liberal House leader Mark Holland says the parties in the House of Commons have agreed to debate the use of the Emergencies Act through the weekend with a vote coming Monday evening. The motion declaring the government's decision to invoke the act was introduced Wednesday evening and debate began today. Holland says the debate will run 7 a.m. to midnight today, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday. The vote on the motion will take place Monday evening at 8 p.m.

There are more police officers on the streets of downtown Ottawa today, and Quebec's public security minister confirms provincial police are being deployed to Gatineau, just across the river from the capital. In addition to the growing numbers of officers in position to begin clearing the protest in front of Parliament Hill, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says banks are already freezing accounts. Freeland says the RCMP has shared the names of individuals, businesses and crypto wallets associated with the protest convoy. She's telling protesters there is a really easy way to avoid bei

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened the debate in the House of Commons on the Emergencies Act by saying Canadians have made sacrifices for the past two years. He says with things starting to open up once again, this is not the time to hurt our communities and fellow citizens by setting up illegal blockades.Conservative Interim leader says protesters want to be heard Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen says her party wants to lower the temperature across the country, while the prime minister wants to raise it. As debate got underway on the Emergencies Act, Bergen told the House that the