Bloc Quebecois Yves-Francois Blanchet says his party voted in favour of the Liberal government's new financial-aid package for workers because Canadians need help. But he's complaining MPs were not able to do their jobs to analyse the legislation and propose improvements because the Liberals rammed it through Parliament early this morning. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole feels the same way, and both parties are criticizing the NDP for helping the Liberals fast-track the bill. But the NDP says it did that so Canadians who had been getting the Canada Emergency Response Benefit could get assist

Health Canada has given the green light to a rapid test for COVID-19. First rapid test for COVID-19 has been approved by HealthCanada. The Abbott Diagnostics ID Now test has been in use in the US for several months already, and can produce results in less than 13 minutes in the same place a nasal swab is taken from a patient. Health Canada's approval comes a day after the federal government had signed a deal with Abbott to buy 7.9-million of the test kits. The products from Abbott are one of several rapid tests being reviewed by Health Canada as COVID-19 cases in several provinces surge to le

Ontario is reporting another 52 cases of COVID-19 in schools across the province. The government says at least 32 of those infected are students, while eight are staff and 12 have not been identified. Wednesday's development brings the total number of cases in schools to 342. 188 of these cases are in students. The government says 282 of the province's 4,828 schools have at least one case of COVID-19. It says three schools have been shut down due to the virus. Overall, the province has reported 51,710 cases of the novel coronavirus.

Hundreds of Canadian employees of Royal Dutch Shell could be affected by its plan revealed Wednesday to cut between 7,000 and 9,000 jobs worldwide by the end of 2022.The company has 3,500 workers in Canada, accounting for about 4.2 per cent of its global workforce of about 83,000 employees, confirmed Shell Canada spokeswoman Tara Lemay.If the cuts are made proportionately, they would result in between 294 and 378 fewer jobs in Canada."We do not have an exact figure because the details are still being worked out and we have never had a target to reduce a particular number of jobs," Lemay said i

A lawyer for the Canadian government says a lawsuit filed by 15 youth across the country should be dismissed because their claims about the harms of climate change are too broad. Joseph Cheng says greenhouse gas emissions are cumulative and a worldwide problem that affects all countries so Canada cannot act alone to resolve the impact of climate change. The lawsuit filed in October 2019 by youth who are now between 11 and 20 asks the court to compel Canada to develop a climate recovery plan based on the best available science. Cheng says extreme weather events caused by climate change, such a

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

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

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.