The military, health workers and government officials will go through a practice run today of the complex plan to deliver COVID-19 vaccines across the country.The first vaccine, made by Pfizer-BioNtech, could be approved for use in Canada as early as this week. And Major-General Dany Fortin, who's leading the military through the vaccine distribution process, says the dry run is intended to get everyone involved comfortable with the intense requirements of handling a vaccine that has to be kept below minus 70 Celcius at all times.The national operations centre quarterbacking the effort is loo

Canada hit another milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic reaching 400,000 cases. The speed at which Canada reached the 400,000 mark is the latest sign of the accelerating pace of the second wave across the country. Canada recorded its 300-thousandth case of COVID-19 just 18 days ago. Canada's national death toll from the virus currently stands at 12,470.

Three people have been charged with supplying ammunition to the gunman who killed 22 people in the April 18-19 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. RCMP say 64 year old James Blair Banfield, 52 year old Lisa Diane Banfield and 60 year old Brian Brewster are charged with unlawfully transferring ammunition, specifically .223 calibre Remington cartridges and .40 calibre Smith and Wesson cartridges. Lisa Diane Banfield is listed on court probate documents as the common law spouse of the killer, Gabriel Wortman, who was killed by police on April 19. The RCMP say the charges against 52 year old Lisa Banf

The prime minister is not commenting on a Wall Street Journal report that the US Department of Justice has approached Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou with a plea deal of sorts. When pressed today, Justin Trudeau would only repeat what he has said in the past: that he is hopeful of winning the release of two Canadians caught up in the diplomatic standoff that started with Meng's arrest. Meng's 2018 arrest at Vancouver's airport at the behest of the US sparked the diplomatic standoff, and is widely believed to be behind China's decision days later to detain Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kov

The rate of job growth continued to slow in November with the economy adding 62,000 jobs, down from 84,000 in October. The gains were mostly focused in full-time work with a gain of 99,000 jobs, offset somewhat by a decline in part-time work of 37,000 positions, Statistics Canada reported Friday. The average economist estimate had been for a gain of 20,000 jobs and an unchanged unemployment rate, according to financial data firm Refinitiv. The gains in November left the country 574,000 jobs short of recouping the approximately three million jobs lost from lockdowns in March and April that sen

The head of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine distribution program says a practice run next week will help get those involved comfortable with the intense requirements of distributing a compound that has to be kept below minus-70 Celsius at all times. Major General Dany Fortin says the military has been working with the government for months to prepare for eventual vaccine distribution, and Monday's dress rehearsal will involve officials from every province and territory. He says by practicing now, everyone will be ready when the first doses begin arriving in January. Health Canada has said it expect

The Quebec government is cancelling its plan to allow gatherings over four days at Christmas. Premier Francois Legault announced today the province will no longer permit multi-household gatherings of up to 10 people between Dec. 24 and 27, as had been planned. Legault first announced the Christmas plan on Nov. 19, saying people could get together as long as they quarantined for a week before and a week after the holiday period. But with COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths on the rise and a health system deemed fragile due to a lack of staffing, Legault says it's not realistic to think

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo says there is light at the end of the tunnel. Njoo says Health Canada is expected to approve COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use early in the new year, triggering one of the most ambitious vaccination programs in Canadian history. He says there will eventually be enough vaccine doses for every Canadian. The military is going to conduct a practice run on Monday to ensure the plan to distribute vaccines will work. News of the vaccine program comes as Ontario reported a near-record 1,824 new COVID-19 infections and Quebec reported 1,470 new case

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says the Liberal government's failure to be transparent about plans to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine is fuelling anxiety among Canadians. O'Toole says a plan should help provide details about the vaccine candidates and educate Canadians on their research and approval. He says information is just as important a tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as rapid tests. The Conservatives have a motion before the House of Commons today that calls on the Liberals to present specific details on their vaccine rollout strategy by Dec 16. Among other things, the T