The federal government is publishing new advice for companies rushing to develop rapid tests for COVID-19 as Ottawa faces growing calls to approve such devices. The calls to approve devices that can provide faster results come as hospitals and public health agencies across Canada are struggling to keep up with the demand for COVID-19 tests. Many, including the Opposition Conservatives, have pointed out such tests already being rolled out in the U.S. and other countries. Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, says the department is making it a top priority to review the ra

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will commit an additional $400 million in development and humanitarian spending to combat COVID-19. Trudeau says the new money will go to trusted partners that are fighting COVID-19 around the world.Trudeau made the pledge during a videoconference at the United Nations that he co-hosted with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness.It was the second time since the spring the three held a meeting of the UN’s High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.Trudeau says Canada will i

Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. says its workers represented by Unifor have voted in favour of a new contract that runs through 2023. The deal, which was announced by Unifor last week, includes a $1.8-billion investment to build electric vehicles at the company's plan in Oakville, Ont. The agreement between Unifor and Ford is expected to set the tone for upcoming contract talks with Fiat Chrysler and General Motors. Ford says the deal will see more flexible work arrangements and a quicker path for new hires advancing up the ranks. It also includes two 2.5 per cent raises and a $7,250 ratif

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling on countries with the largest land mass to do more to protect the biodiversity of their land and water. Trudeau made that call today at a special session of the United Nations via video conference on the sidelines of the virtual General Assembly meeting. Trudeau was taking part in the Leaders Event for Nature and People that also featured the leaders of Costa Rica and Norway. The prime minister was pledging Canada's support for a UN initiative that aims to protect 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030. But Trudeau says that Canada is the only country

International Trade Minister Mary Ng says it is extremely disappointing that the United States has decided to appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against its softwood-lumber duties, particularly because the U.S. is making it impossible for that appeal to be heard. The WTO ruled in August that the U.S.'s import duties on Canadian softwood violate international trading rules because the U.S. cannot prove that Canada is unfairly subsidizing its softwood producers by undercharging for wood coming off government land. Ng says the U.S. decision to appeal is confusing since earlier this year th

The RCMP says there is no safe and proven face covering for officers with beards, but it is working to find one for Sikh members temporarily sidelined from front-line policing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly expressed disappointment that Sikh RCMP officers find themselves on desk duty during the COVID-19 pandemic because their religiously mandated facial hair makes it difficult to properly wear a mask. In a statement today, the RCMP says while a respirator, such as an N95 mask, is not mandatory in all front-line situations, it is sometimes required to reduce risk. The national poli

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole and Bloc Quebecois chief Yves-Francois Blanchet are expected to take their seats in the House of Commons this week after being benched due to COVID-19.The two opposition leaders were absent from the Commons last week as both were in isolation after contracting COVID-19.Their formal replies to the Liberals' speech from the throne will come as Parliament is set to debate new COVID-19 relief measures over the coming days and potentially pass them into law.The government plans to set up a new pandemic-benefits regime under the umbrella of the existing employment i

The head of the federal New Democrats is hailing it as a historic moment for Canadian workers. Jagmeet Singh says there's a deal with the Liberals, in exchange for NDP support for the throne speech, the minority government will maintain a 2,000 dollar a month support payment for those who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and it will provide paid sick leave. The agreement is on the legislation known as Bill C-2, which is scheduled for two days of debate early next week. It also likely means the NDP will end up voting with the Liberals on the throne speech.

The annual Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1999 CP has sent the decorated train across the country, from Montreal to Metro Vancouver, stopping in more than 100 cities and towns to collect cash and food donations for food banks in each community. The program has raised nearly 18-million dollars and collected more than two-million kilograms of food since it began but this year CP says the company will instead donate food directly to stops along its usual route, including 24 in BC. CP also plans to host a virtual concert to raise funds for fo