Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is asking all Canadians to put in their two-cents' worth as she prepares what she calls one of the most important federal budgets in the country's history. Freeland is launching consultations designed to help Canada recover from the pandemic. She says she wants people to share their priorities when it comes to the government supporting families and businesses. The government has set up a website called letstalkbudget2021.ca, where Canadians can fill out a questionnaire and share their views. Freeland says the Trudeau government will emphasize the interconnect

It's been exactly one year since the first known case of COVID-19 was detected in Canada.The 56-year-old man had arrived at Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto with what seemed to be mild pneumonia. But because he had travelled from China and his X-rays were unusual, the decision was made to admit him.Samples were sent by taxi to Ontario's public health laboratory, which had been working to come up with a reliable test.The lab was soon able to confirm the man was infected with what was then being called the novel coronavirus. Although ``Patient Zero'' eventually recovered, more than 19,000 people

B.C. is reporting 508 new cases of COVID-19, pushing active infections to 4,479. Nine more people have died due to the illness, bringing the death toll in the province to 1,128. There have been 110,566 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in B.C., including 2,202 second doses. The province is reporting new outbreaks at two hospitals, one in Kamloops and the other in New Westminster, as well as at the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement the risk from the virus in B.C. remains high a

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning that his government could impose stricter restrictions on travellers at any moment in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the coronavirus. That could include making it mandatory to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada. Trudeau said Friday that such measures could be imposed suddenly and bluntly warned against nonessential trips abroad. Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days and to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before arrival. The suggeste

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there have been 90 reports of adverse events for a patient in Canada who received one of the COVID-19 vaccines. She said those include all health problems after the vaccine was given and may not all be related to the vaccine. Twenty-seven of those events, or one in 22,000 doses injected, were serious, including allergic reactions. 31 cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in the UK reported in CanadaChief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there have now been 31 cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdo

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc concedes Julie Payette's resignation as governor general shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting vice-regal appointments.Payette resigned Thursday, about a week after the government received the damning findings of an independent investigation into allegations that she presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall.LeBlanc says the report, commissioned by the Privy Council Office which he oversees, came to ``compelling'' and ``stark'' conclusions.He says the debacle of Payette's tenure shows that the vetting system for such

BC reported 564 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the province's total since the pandemic started to 62,976. There are 4,450 actives cases and 15 new deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that despite the number of COVID-19 cases trending downward, the province is continuing to see new community outbreaks and clusters. They say residents need to work to break the chains of transmission. To date, 104,901 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 1,663 of which are second doses. COVID-19 community cluste

Julie Payette has resigned as Governor General following an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall. She issued a statement apologizing for tensions in her office but did not take direct responsibility for creating such an atmosphere. Says Payette, "We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better, and be attentive to one another's perceptions." She also suggests the move was made for personal reasons, citing her father's declining health. The allegations against Payette include that she belittled and publicly humiliated employees, redu

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette is resigning. The news comes as the results of an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace environment at Rideau Hall are expected to be released. The Privy Council Office revealed last year that Quintet Consulting Corp. had been hired to conduct a third-party investigation into allegations of workplace harassment in the office of the Governor General. That came after CBC reports alleged that Payette belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit. That prompted the Privy Council Office to launch a workplace revie