Canada's budget watchdog says the federal government lost at least $439 million so far this year in productivity through a policy that allows civil servants to stay home, with pay, during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Parliamentary Budget Office says most of that total was a result of employees at the Canada Revenue Agency staying home, unable to work, between March 15 and May 31. That one department accounted for just over $311 million in paid leave, far ahead of the second-costliest department, Correctional Services Canada, at more than $33.8 million. The PBO report was comp

There are 113,208 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 58,243 confirmed (including 5,663 deaths, 50,615 resolved) Ontario: 38,405 confirmed (including 2,758 deaths, 34,100 resolved) Alberta: 10,086 confirmed (including 178 deaths, 8,567 resolved) British Columbia: 3,419 confirmed (including 191 deaths, 2,934 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,099 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 848 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,067 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 1,003 resolved) Manitoba: 371 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 319 resolved), 13 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 265 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 259 resolve

The legal team representing Huawei CFO Meng Wenzhou has filed another raft of documents urging a BC court to throw out the extradition proceeding against her. The documents allege US President Donald Trump has ``poisoned'' the case against Meng and has abused the legal process by trying to use the telecom executive as a ``bargaining chip'' in trade negotiations. Meng's team says the BC Supreme Court Justice hearing the extradition case against Meng has the power to stay the proceedings when these arguments are presented to her in February. At the request of the US, Meng was arrested in Decemb

Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam is doubling down on warnings to young Canadians to stop fuelling the spread of the novel coronavirus. Tam says that age group accounted for the highest incidence rates for COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks. "I must urge all Canadians, particularly younger adults, to not give in to COVID-19 fatigue," she said Friday in Ottawa."This is your generation and your future that is being shaped. Younger age groups are not invincible against COVID-19," said Tam, who returned to the government's public briefings after her own summer break.Chief publ

The Government of Canada has been working closely with provinces and territories to ensure all families have access to affordable and high quality child care. The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges, including temporary closures and loss of critical revenue from placement fees, which have put the sector at risk. Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced $625 million in federal support for Canada’s child care sector to help ensure that safe and sufficient child care spaces are available to support parents

Outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign over his role in the controversy involving the We organization.Scheer has previously called for Finance Minister Bill Morneau to be fired for trips he and members of his family took in 2017, part of which were paid for by the WE organization.Scheer now says members of the Liberal caucus who do not want to be seen as complicit should demand that their leader quit.When asked if he would be willing to force an election over the issue in the minority Parliament, Scheer said such an opportunity will not come

There are 112,672 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 58,080 confirmed (including 5,662 deaths, 50,505 resolved) Ontario: 38,210 confirmed (including 2,755 deaths, 33,963 resolved) Alberta: 9,975 confirmed (including 176 deaths, 8,506 resolved) British Columbia: 3,392 confirmed (including 190 deaths, 2,898 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,072 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 838 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,067 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 1,003 resolved) Manitoba: 362 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 319 resolved), 13 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 264 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 259 resolved

Canada's top soldier, General Jonathan Vance, is retiring after a lengthy career. His nearly 40 years in uniform included battles to end sexual misconduct within the Forces when he became chief of defence staff. He is also credited for taking the military in new directions after Canada brought troops home from war in Afghanistan. Vance launched Operation Honour to try to root out sexual misconduct, and he pushed for more diversity. He says he will leave in a few months when his replacement is installed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is thanking Vance for his service, saying in a statement th

The federal government says a smartphone app meant to warn users if they've been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 is now in beta testing.The app was supposed to be tried in Ontario starting early this month but the trial to look for bugs and other problems was delayed.Now the Canadian Digital Service, an agency that puts federal services online, is asking people to sign up and try the app out.The COVID Alert app is supposed to track phones' locations without collecting personal data anywhere centrally.Then users can be told if their phones have recently been near t