Federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and her B.C. counterpart Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister Scott Fraser have arrived in Smithers for afternoon meetings with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs. In a Twitter message posted before she left Vancouver this morning, Bennett called the meeting "truly important", and after she reached Smithers she said the talks will "reaffirm" the interest of senior levels of government in speaking with the Wet'suwet'en about title and rights. Fraser says he's pleased further talks have been arranged with chiefs opposed to th

RCMP officers have been helping the United Kingdom's Metropolitan Police provide security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since they arrived in British Columbia late last year, but that help will end soon. Public Safety Canada says it is obligated to provide security for Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their infant son, Archie, because the couple are Internationally Protected Persons. But a statement from the RCMP say its assistance will end in the coming weeks ``in keeping with the change in status'' of the Duke and Duchess. Harry and Meghan have been living on Vancouver Island and say

Ontario health officials say the latest case of the novel coronavirus marks the first time the illness was transmitted in the province.The province's chief medical officer of health says the man in his 60s is the sixth case of the virus which is known as COVID-19 in Ontario.They say he contracted the disease from his wife, who had recently returned from a trip to Iran.The Middle Eastern nation is one of the worst affected countries outside China, with hundreds of people infected and at least 26 deaths.

A meeting between Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and the federal and British Columbia government is expected to take place today.Nationwide rail and road blockades have been popping up for weeks as a show of support for the hereditary chiefs of the First Nation in northwestern B.C., who oppose a natural gas pipeline project cutting across their traditional territory.Chief Na'Moks, who is also known as John Ridsdale, says the meeting scheduled to start this afternoon and continue Friday.It was abruptly cancelled Wednesday afternoon, but Na'Moks says he and the other hereditary chiefs were notif

Canada has a leg up on preparing for a potential outbreak of the novel coronavirus because the country already has a detailed pandemic plan, according to federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu. It includes lessons learned from the 2003 outbreak of SARS in Ontario and the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. So what is supposed to happen if the virus starts spreading in Canada? Here's a simplified look:Some steps in the plan are already underway, like stepping up surveillance of the disease in Canada and globally, and alerting the public to the potential outbreak. The government has also increased lab c

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the latest actions by protesters on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory are ``extremely concerning.'' Video shared online shows a group of protesters standing on the tracks near Belleville, Ont., as a CN Rail train approaches, then jumping out of the way at the last moment. A few appear to be throwing items at the train. Provincial police say fires were also set near and on the tracks this morning. The prime minister told reporters people should not be endangering their lives and those of others by interfering with the trains. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair made

Medical officials in Ontario are reporting a fifth case of the novel coronavirus in the province.The Ministry of Health says the latest case is a woman in her 60s who had recently travelled to Iran.They say the woman arrived at a Toronto hospital on Monday and has since been discharged to her home where she is in self-isolation.The ministry says Toronto Public Health is following up with the patient and looking into people she had close contact with.This is the 12th case of COVID-19 in Canada, but public health officials say the risk of the virus spreading in this country is still low.The viru

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says it's clear that COVID-19 is spreading around the world and Canadians have to be prepared for that. Currently there are 11 confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus reported in Canada, but most people have recovered and the rest are not seriously ill. She says her message to Canadians is to take the disease seriously and to be prepared for possible disruptions in their communities. Hajdu says health officials do have a plan in place for a pandemic.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau says the CN and CP railways have been co-operating to move freight between Toronto and Montreal despite the blockade of a key CN track. That blockade has been taken down but rail service has yet to resume. Garneau is commending the railways' co-operation in getting some essential goods to Canadians. Meantime in the Commons today, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer continued to accuse Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of weak leadership that has led to the escalating blockade crisis. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair replied that the government is letting police do t