A lawyer for a man who killed 10 people and injured 16 others in the Toronto van attack says his client has autism spectrum disorder and is not faking his symptoms. Alek Minassian has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder. The 28 year old has asked court to find him not criminally responsible for his actions on April 23, 2018 due to a mental disorder. Defence lawyer Boris Bytensky says Minassian does not suffer from any psychopathy or anti-social disorder, and is not narcissistic. The case will turn solely on Minassian's state of mind at the

After hitting an all-time record high for monthly sales in September, the Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales dropped 0.7 per cent last month. But despite that, sales were still up 32.1 per cent compared with October last year, setting a new record for the month. The actual national average home price also set another record in October at 607,250 dollars, up 15.2 per cent from the same month last year. CREA says excluding sales in Greater Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area, two of the most active and expensive housing markets, lowers the national average price by more than $1

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's told premiers that while his government will always be there to help, federal resources are not "infinite." Trudeau says he's heard from premiers about the challenges they're facing, but he says making tough choices now will reduce the chance of facing "impossible decisions" later. He says his government is committed to collaborating on the distribution of a potential vaccine, though the fight against COVID-19 is far from over. Trudeau says Canada reached a new daily high of 5,000 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. Trudeau asks Canadians to do their part and

A Statistics Canada survey reveals 30 per cent of businesses don't know if they can keep going without laying off workers, closing or declaring bankruptcy. Nearly 20 per cent say they will have to take drastic action in less than six months as a second wave of COVID-19 sweeps the country. Canadian Chamber of Commerce chief economist Trevin Stratton is calling for sector-specific support to help the hospitality and arts and entertainment industries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is investing another 1.5 billion dollars in the Workforce Development Agreement, which will help

Cineplex is reporting a 91 per cent drop in customers in its third quarter. Only 1.6 million people went to see a movie after Cineplex re-opened countrywide with limited showtimes and seating on August 21st, down from 17.5 million last summer. The Toronto-based theatre chain posted a third quarter net loss of 121.2 million dollars, down from a profit of 13.4 million a year ago. The company says it had revenue of $61 million in the three months ending Sept. 30, down from $418.4 million during the same period in 2019.

The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau didn't try to tell the premiers what to do or cast blame as he held his 21st call of the pandemic with leaders. Later this morning at an Ottawa news conference, Trudeau is expected keep pushing the premiers to take tougher measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Aides say Trudeau once again assured the premiers and territorial leaders that Ottawa will provide them with assistance so they can act now to protect everyone as cases surge across the country. Saskatchewan's Scott Moe says it was, ``extremely unhelpful'' for Trudeau to frame the issue

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says detailed information on the latest proposed COVID-19 aid programs for hard-hit businesses will be released in the fall fiscal update. Testifying before the Senate's national finance committee, which is reviewing Bill C-9, Freeland would not commit to monthly reports on pandemic spending. Bill C-9 would extend the federal wage subsidy until next summer, cancel a previously planned decline in its value and expand a popular business loan program. It would also revamp a widely criticized commercial rent relief program.

Toronto police say two men arrested in a weekend shooting now face first-degree murder charges after the death of a 12 year old boy who was hit by a stray bullet. Police had said the boy was out shopping with his mother on Saturday when two men allegedly shot at a moving vehicle in the area. A 17 year old boy and two men in the vehicle were wounded but released from hospital later. Police had said earlier this week that the 12 year old boy was in life-threatening condition. Rashawn Chambers, 24, and 25 year old Jahwayne Smart were arrested in connection with the shooting and each face 28 charg

The Liberal government is creating a new measure for young people in Hong Kong: a work permit designed to speed up the process toward permanent residency in Canada. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino is announcing the long-awaited plans to help people living in Hong Kong, including some 300,000 Canadians, amid the Chinese clampdown on democracy. Mendicino says any Canadian citizens and permanent residents living in the territory can return to Canada at any time and Ottawa will expedite any documents they need. Hong Kong was supposed to operate under a ``one-country, two-systems'' framework