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health-canada-approves-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine
CanadaFeb 26, 2021

Health Canada approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine

Health Canada has approved the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca, the third to be given the green light for national use.Canada has pre-ordered 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was co-developed by researchers at the University of Oxford.It will also receive up to 1.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the global vaccine-sharing initiative known as COVAX by the end of June.Vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna had already been approved by Health Canada.Approximately 1.7 million doses of those formulas have been administered in Canada.Health Canada sen
trudeau-government-mum-on-why-the-newly-minted-chief-of-defence-staff-is-being-investigated-for-misconduct
CanadaFeb 26, 2021

Trudeau government mum on why the newly-minted chief of defence staff is being investigated for misconduct

The Trudeau government is keeping mum on why the newly-minted chief of defence staff is being investigated for misconduct. Admiral Art McDonald has stepped aside for now. In the House of Commons today, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole tried, but failed, to get answers about the investigation -- and whether there are any other probes going on in the military. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland acknowledged the investigation in the House of Commons, but revealed no details. She would only say the government takes misconduct allegations seriously. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan revealed lat
military-reeling-as-new-defence-chief-steps-aside-amid-allegations-of-misconduct
CanadaFeb 25, 2021

Military reeling as new defence chief steps aside amid allegations of misconduct

The Canadian Armed Forces is reeling this morning with news chief of the defence staff Admiral Art McDonald is being investigated for misconduct.Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan revealed late last night McDonald has voluntarily stepped aside while military police investigate.The stunning development comes just over a month after McDonald took over as commander of the Canadian military from Gen. Jonathan Vance, who is also under investigation after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.Vance has denied any wrongdoing and McDonald has not commented.Former naval reservist Marie-Claude Gagnon, who
pm-trudeau-boasting-some-new-numbers-for-covid-vaccine-delivery-as-opposition-conservatives-ask-tough-questions-on-vaccine-rollout
CanadaFeb 25, 2021

PM Trudeau boasting some new numbers for COVID vaccine delivery, as opposition Conservatives ask tough questions on vaccine rollout

The Opposition Conservatives are still hammering at the Liberal government over Canada's uneven vaccine rollout. In question period today, Conservative leader Erin O'Toole was incredulous about how many people would have to be vaccinated per day to get every Canadian vaccinated by the end of September as the Liberals say. He said it would be 300,000 per day. But Justin Trudeau says deliveries are ramping up and the government is committed to its September deadline. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is boasting some new numbers for COVID vaccine delivery. But he's facing continued criticism from
CanadaFeb 24, 2021

Winnipeg police seize $13.3M in assets during trafficking investigation

Police in Winnipeg have made what they say is the largest asset seizure in their history after a 10-month investigation into a cocaine trafficking ring calling itself the Company. They say 13 people were arrested earlier this month in relation to cocaine being moved from British Columbia to Winnipeg. Insp. Max Waddell says the total value of assets seized was more than $13.3 million. They included cocaine with a street value of $1.4 million, as well as cannabis and ecstasy, as well as 12 vehicles and 10 properties valued at more than $4.6 million. Officers also took in more than $100,000 in B
CanadaFeb 24, 2021

Provinces announcing their schedules for getting people vaccinated against COVID-19 by age group

Provinces are starting to announce their schedules for getting people vaccinated against COVID-19 by age group. Ontario plans to start vaccinating residents aged 80 and older in the third week of March, depending on vaccine supply. Retired general Rick Hillier, the province's vaccine czar, made the announcement today. The age bracket will drop by five years over regular intervals in the following months. Meanwhile, Alberta seniors born in 1946 or earlier can now apply for a shot. Manitoba is also starting to vaccinate people in the general population. Appointments are now available for people
CanadaFeb 24, 2021

Canada, Australia agree to co-ordinate efforts on regulation of online platforms

Canada and Australia are banding together to ensure the revenues of web giants are shared more fairly with creators and media. A statement from Ottawa says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed to continue "co-ordinating efforts" to address online harm and ensure social media companies pay for journalism. The statement says the two leaders spoke Monday on a range of topics including the growing co-operation between Canada and Australia on the regulation of online platforms. The increasing alliance between the two countries on legislating interne
643-000-covid-19-vaccine-doses-arriving-this-week-anita-anand
CanadaFeb 23, 2021

643,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses arriving this week: Anita Anand

This week Canada is receiving its biggest combined shipment yet of COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Procurement Minister Anita Anand says most of the 643,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses arriving in the country this week have already been delivered. Anita Anand gave an update this afternoon.Anand says vaccine deliveries are starting to ramp up significantly, with 3.5 million doses expected to arrive in March. Dr. Tam is hopeful, relaxations will come soon in most invasive public health measures Canada's chief public health officer Doctor Theresa Tam says she is hopeful provinces and terri
trudeau-biden-to-unveil-partnership-roadmap-following-bilateral-meeting-u-s-officials
CanadaFeb 23, 2021

Trudeau, Biden to unveil 'partnership roadmap' following bilateral meeting: U.S. officials

The White House has released a fact sheet in advance of this afternoon's virtual meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U-S President Joe Biden.This is Biden's first bilateral meeting as president.The fact sheet describes plans for a ``road map'' for progress in areas of mutual interest, like COVID-19, climate change, defence and social justice.It makes no mention of certain Canadian priorities, such as procuring more vaccine doses, freeing Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig from China or securing an exemption to Biden's Buy American plan.Experts want Ottawa to push hard for an exem

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BCJul 15, 2026

Elderly woman distracted and robbed of gold necklace in Vancouver, police seek suspects

A 76-year-old woman was allegedly robbed of her gold necklace after being distracted by an unknown woman in Vancouver's East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive area on Tuesday, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Police said the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. while the senior was waiting for family members. An unidentified woman approached her and claimed she looked like her mother, whose birthday she said it was. The suspect then hugged the victim and, during the interaction, allegedly removed the woman's gold necklace and replaced it with a fake one. The victim reportedly discov
AlbertaJul 15, 2026

Alberta launches online bike lane complaint form ahead of planned legislation

The Alberta government has launched an online public feedback form inviting residents to report concerns about bike lanes as it prepares legislation expected this fall. According to the Alberta government, Albertans can use the online form to share concerns about bike lanes in their communities, including whether they believe a lane is underused, has reduced on-street parking, contributed to traffic congestion, affected local businesses, or delayed emergency response times. The province says the feedback will help inform future transportation policy decisions. Transportation Minister Devin Dre
canada-pauses-new-parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship-applications-for-2026
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Canada pauses new parent and grandparent sponsorship applications for 2026

The federal government says it will not accept any new applications this year under Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program as it works to reduce processing times and manage a large backlog of existing files. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 60,500 sponsorship applications are currently being processed. The department said it expects to approve about 15,000 parents and grandparents each year over the next two years from applications already in the system. IRCC said the temporary pause is intended to improve processing efficiency. The department
federal-government-names-new-members-to-independent-senate-appointments-advisory-board
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Federal government names new members to independent Senate appointments advisory board

The federal government has announced new appointments to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney named four new senators to the upper chamber. According to a federal government news release, the advisory board will continue to provide non-binding recommendations to the prime minister on Senate appointments. The board was established in 2016 to support a merit-based and independent appointments process. The government said the board will continue to include three federal members, including a chair, along with two additional members from
BCJul 15, 2026

Surrey man sentenced to nearly five years in prison in extortion-related shooting and arson case

A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced Abhijeet Kingra to nearly five years in prison for his role in a 2024 extortion-related shooting and arson targeting a Surrey home. According to court records, Kingra pleaded guilty on July 6 to charges of discharging a firearm at a residence and committing arson. The offences stem from an Aug. 10, 2024 incident in which a home belonging to a person who had reportedly received extortion threats was shot at and set on fire. The court imposed a two-year sentence for arson and a sentence of four years, 10 months and 19 days for the shooting offence. T