Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has reached a deal with Pfizer to buy an extra 20 million doses of the vaccine it produced with its German partner BioNTech. He says that means Canada will receive 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year. He also says that between now and sometime between April and June, Canada will have enough doses to vaccinate up to 20 million people against the deadly coronavirus. Trudeau is also announcing the Canada-U. S. land border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least Feb. 21. It's another 30-day extension to the re

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has conducted a small shuffle of his ministers before holding up later in the day for a cabinet retreat to plot strategy for the resumption of Parliament. The shuffle is due to the departure of Navdeep Bains, who stepped down as innovation minister Tuesday and is not intending to run again in the next election. In the first virtual swearing-in ceremony in Canadian history, Francois-Philippe Champagne shed his title as foreign minister to take up Bains' former role, while ex-transport minister Marc Garneau moved into Champagne's old job. Toronto-area MP Omar Algha

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is planning to suspend the new farm laws, but not indefinitely.Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the Apex Court is also forming a committee to get a clearer picture of the three farm laws. A three-judge bench, headed by the CJI, is hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD MP Manoj K Jha, regarding the constitutional validity of three farm laws, passed by the Central government, and the plea to disperse protesting farmers. "We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We d

The ongoing farmers' protest against farm laws entered 47th Day on January 11.A sikh museum was set up at the Singhu Border to inspire the protesting farmers and keep their morale high. The museum portrays the story of the sacrifices made by the community. So far, more than 70 farmers have died in the ongoing protest. The museum at the site has been set up by the Sikh Heritage and Culture Society.

British Columbia's top doctor says the first dose of a vaccine for COVID-19 gives "amazing" immunity, so the government's decision to allow for a 35-day gap before the second dose is administered is rooted in science. Dr. Bonnie Henry's statements come as B.C. recorded a grim milestone Monday, reaching 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths. She says the decision to delay the second shot is about maximizing the vaccines' distribution, while balancing the supply and making sure the province has a safe and effective immunization program. Dr. Henry says the first dose primes the immune system while the s

Members of the Vancouver Canucks were back on the ice this morning after concerns about a possible COVID-19 exposure halted practice yesterday. The team says practice resumed at 11 a.m., and a media availability will be held later in the day. Team officials said in a social media post yesterday that practice had been cancelled "due to an abundance of caution" bud didn't say if the possible exposure involved a player or member of the coaching staff. The Canucks and the rest of the NHL launch a COVID-19-shortened 2021 season starting Wednesday. Vancouver would be in Edmonton to take on the Oile

US president-elect Joe Biden has received his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine. It comes three weeks after the 78 year old got his first dose with television cameras rolling in an attempt to reassure the American public. Biden got his first dose of vaccine in December last year. Speaking in Newark, Delaware, Biden says too many people are losing their lives to COVID-19. Biden says his top priority is "getting vaccines in people's arms" as quickly as possible.

A Vancouver police officer has been suspended and is facing charges of theft, breach of trust and drug possession linked to alleged on-duty activities. A statement from the VPD says Constable Neil Logan, who is in his early 40s, is no longer an active member of the department. It says the charges are linked to offences alleged to have occurred in Vancouver between May and October of last year. While a 20 year old associate of Logan also faces trafficking and possession charges. Police say an additional charge of theft and a charge of possession of a controlled substance have also been approve

The latest figures from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate that as of Sunday night, there have been 660,289 reported cases of COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic, including 16,950 deaths. There were 84,567 active infections, with a daily average of 7,672 new cases across Canada from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7. During the same period, an average of 4,336 people with COVID-19 were being treated in hospital, including 811 in intensive care. The federal agency says COVID-19 is spreading rapidly among all ages groups. Although the infection rate remains highest for people aged 80 and older, w