Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says securing the release of two Canadians facing spying charges in China isn't just another consular issue. She calls it a foreign policy priority for the Trudeau government. Freeland today also demanded that China reinstate consular access for both Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls word of the charges disappointing. He says Canada is doing everything it can both publicly and in back channels to put pressure on China to release the two men who've been held since December of 2018.

China has charged two detained Canadians with spying today, further escalating tensions between the two countries. Chinese prosecutors say Michael Kovrig was charged on suspicion of spying for state secrets. They say Michael Spavor was charged on suspicion of spying for a foreign entity and illegally providing state secrets. The charges were announced by China's highest prosecutor's office in brief social media posts. Both men have been held since December 2018 in a move seen as an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. They have been in Chinese prisons

There are 100,220 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 54,383 confirmed (including 5,340 deaths, 22,754 resolved) Ontario: 32,917 confirmed (including 2,553 deaths, 28,004 resolved) Alberta: 7,579 confirmed (including 152 deaths, 6,938 resolved) British Columbia: 2,783 confirmed (including 168 deaths, 2,425 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,061 confirmed (including 62 deaths, 997 resolved) Saskatchewan: 708 confirmed (including 13 deaths, 636 resolved) Manitoba: 297 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 293 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 deaths,

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet is defending the actions of one of his MPs, who NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called a racist for blocking a New Democrat motion on systemic racism in the RCMP.Bloc Quebecois leader is calling on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to apologize for calling a Bloc MP racist. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending Singh, saying he was within his rights yesterday in criticizing MP Alain Therrien. Therrien did not support Singh's motion to investigate systemic racism in the RCMP. Singh was then kicked out of the Commons for calling Therrien racist. Outside the Hous

A Surrey man could face fines totalling 13-thousand dollars if he's convicted of forcing the diversion of a plane flying from Vancouver to Toronto. The 60 year old was arrested early Sunday when the plane diverted to Winnipeg after it's alleged he lit a cigarette, ignored the direction of crew and refused to wear a protective face mask when ordered. Winnipeg RCMP say the man has now been charged with mischief over five-thousand dollars. But he could face fines almost triple that amount if it's decided he failed to comply with aviation regulations such as the prohibition against smoking aboard

The prime minister says he is committed to combat racism in the federal government, including the R-C-M-P. Justin Trudeau made the pledge in the House of Commons today under questioning by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. Meantime, the Bloc Quebecois tried today to have the NDP leader kicked out of the House of Commons for a second day for calling a Bloc member racist yesterday. Commons Speaker Anthony Rota said he would take the request under advisement, but allowed Singh to remain and ask questions as part of the special Commons committee on COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a made-in-Canada mobile app to alert Canadians who may have been exposed to a person infected with COVID-19 is ready for testing in Ontario.Trudeau says the app is completely voluntary and will not share or store any personal information, including a user's geographical location.However he says the app will be more effective the more people download and use it.It will work by asking people to anonymously tell the app if they have tested positive for COVID-19, and then all the phones that have recently been close to that phone for an extended time will alert t

Canada has officially recorded more than 100,000 cases of COVID-19 across the country. The 173 new cases of COVID-19 reported today in Ontario, one of two provinces at the epicentre of the outbreak, pushed the overall tally past the grim milestone. Such a figure seemed incomprehensible six months ago when public health officials greeted word of the country's first COVID-19 case with repeated assurances that the risk of contracting the virus was low. That message shifted dramatically in mid-March as cases were reported across the country, prompting widespread shutdowns meant to help flatten th

Canada has lost its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Canada's loss came in the first round of voting today in a secret ballot of 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly. It follows the loss by the former Conservative government of Stephen Harper in 2010, and after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared Canada's candidacy after coming to power in 2015. Canada lost to Norway and Ireland for two available seats for a two-year term starting next year. The voting began at 9 a.m. eastern time, with the UN ambassadors being given staggered access to the General