NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he is taking the Liberal government's move to increase the value of benefits for unemployed workers to $500 a week as a ``major win'' for his party. That was one of the demands the NDP issued in exchange for supporting the minority Liberal government on a confidence vote triggered by Wednesday's throne speech. Singh stopped short of saying the NDP will support the throne speech, saying the party is still negotiating with the Liberals on its second demand: paid sick leave. The Liberals need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid trigge

Medical experts say an abrupt shift in Ontario's testing strategy highlights the complexities of responding to a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Doug Ford's government announced today that assessment centres would revert back to testing only symptomatic individuals, those who've come into contact with a case and those who work in high-risk settings. Testing for asymptomatic residents is available at up to 60 pharmacies by appointment starting on Friday. The move marks a sharp reversal from the message the government touted for months that anyone could obtain a test if they wante

The value of weekly benefits for unemployed workers would rise to $500 a week under legislation the Liberals introduced today. The proposal still needs parliamentary approval, but would bring the value of payments to the same level as under the soon-to-disappear Canada Emergency Response Benefit.The same floor will be placed on employment insurance benefits for those eligible for the program.A bill to create the new benefits regime was introduced in the House of Commons this morning, with only a few days before the first wave of recipients max out the CERB.The Liberals first unveiled the pack

The fate of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government hangs in the balance as Parliament resumes all normal operations today for the first time in six months.Opposition parties will give their official responses to Wednesday's speech from the throne but they've already signalled that Trudeau can't count on support from any of them to survive the eventual confidence vote and avoid plunging the country into an election in the midst of a second wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.The Conservatives were unequivocal: they will not support the throne speech.The Bloc Quebecois was

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the second wave of COVID-19 is already underway across the country. He says the numbers are clear with more than a thousand new cases yesterday. Trudeau says families won't likely be able to gather for Thanksgiving, but it's not too late to save Christmas. He says we need to keep wearing masks, use the government's exposure-alert app and obey public health instructions. Trudeau made his comments after the throne speech in an address to Canadians on the state of the pandemic.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week is a cause for real concern. Dr. Tam says there was an average of 1,123 new cases per day over the past week, up from 380 cases in mid-August. She says the country is on track for what she calls a big resurgence in several provinces. While most of the new cases are in young adults, Tam points out the impacts affect everyone. Quebec reported 471 new cases today and Ontario 335.

More than 400 schools in Quebec and another 153 in Ontario are reporting at least one case of coronavirus disease.The figures from the group COVID Ecoles Quebec and the Ontario government come as authorities across Canada battle a second wave of COVID-19. Data from Ontario show cases among people in their 20s have risen sharply in recent months.One expert attributes the increase among younger Canadians in part to the reopening of schools and universities. Several provinces and universities have warned of stiff fines for violating anti-COVID restrictions.However, Quebec says it will not allow p

A promised reset of federal priorities to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic begins today with the Liberal government's speech from the throne. The nearly hour-long speech is expected to address three areas: immediate action to push back against a second wave of the pandemic, supports for those still not back on their feet after the first wave, and how the economy might be further rebuilt once it can stand more on its own.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan comes as public health officials are warning the country is but a few house parties away from plunging into a full-blown second wave.He's ex

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says staving off future lockdowns will depend on whether people can follow COVID-19 mitigation measures. She says keeping gatherings small and respecting the rules is a sacrifice everyone needs to make. But she says virus activity is not the same across the country, or even across single provinces. So she says a ``surgical approach'' is needed to determine whether restrictions need to be tightened and it should be targeted to regions of concern.