The federal Liberals are defending the sweeping temporary powers now afforded to police under the Emergencies Act, but the Conservatives are denouncing the unprecedented move. During question period in the House of Commons, Conservative M-P Michelle Rempel Garner noted that the legislation has not been used for any previous crisis. She says it wasn't used to settle the rail blockades of 2020, the Oka crisis in Quebec, the standoff in Caledonia or any other dispute in Canadian history. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Monday, as protesters blockaded several border crossings and

Canadian speedskater Charles Hamelin has become the country's most decorated male Winter Olympian, and he did it in golden fashion. The 37-year-old Hamelin joined teammates Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion to win the men's 5000m short-track relay. It's a sixth career medal for Hamelin and the third of the Games for Dubois, who now has a gold, silver and bronze in Beijing. Canada won the 5,000m relay in short track speedskating. The team of Charles Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion skated cleanly to take their nation's eighth gold medal in the 45-

Protesters in downtown Ottawa are ignoring police notices to leave and a court injunction against blaring the horns on their trucks. Ottawa police are handing out notices telling the protesters to go home, but that only seems to generate more horn-honking. The usual crowd is gathered at an intersection across from Parliament's Centre Block, waving Canadian flags and dancing to music blaring from speakers. It is now illegal under the Emergencies Act to bring a child to a demonstration and the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa is urging parents to make alternate care arrangements if they can't c

Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly has resigned, just as the federal government prepares to introduce a motion to enact the Emergencies Act. City councillor Riley Brockington tweeted the news. Sloly has been widely criticized for how the police have handled the protest on the streets of downtown Ottawa, with little enforcement over the past several weeks. Residents have grown increasingly frustrated at the street party atmosphere that has included a gym, bouncy castles, a hot tub and stage being set up as officers appeared to stand and watch.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says vaccinated travellers will no longer need a molecular COVID-19 test to enter Canada starting Feb. 28 because the COVID-19 situation in Canada has improved. Travellers can instead opt for a rapid antigen test approved by the country they are coming from. Unvaccinated children travelling with vaccinated adults who come to Canada will no longer have to isolate from school or daycare for 14 days. Some fully vaccinated travellers might still be randomly selected for a molecular test at the airport, but they will not be required to quarantine while they wait fo

Conservative interim leader Candice Bergen says she will be taking a look at the Emergencies Act invoked Monday by the federal government. She blamed the ongoing blockade of Parliament Hill and different border crossings on the divisive language she says Trudeau has used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Conservative MPs, including Bergen, supported protesters who travelled to Ottawa more than three weeks ago. Many of them have not left. Bergen says Conservatives are the party of law and order and want the blockades to be removed and people to protest peacefully. Conservative leader Cand

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has invoked the Emergencies Act to bring to an end to antigovernment blockades he says are illegal and not about peaceful protest. Trudeau says the act will be used to protect critical infrastructure such as borders and airports from the blockades, and is creating time-limited powers that do not already exist. This is the first time the Emergencies Act has been invoked since it came into force in 1988. Trudeau says the act will be used to protect critical infrastructure such as borders and airports, and is creating time-limited powers that do not already

Ontario is declaring a state of emergency in response to the ongoing protests against public health measures in Ottawa and Windsor. Premier Doug Ford says he will use legal measures to enact orders that make it clear that it's illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure. Ford says that includes protecting international border crossings like the Ambassador Bridge that links Windsor to Detroit, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways. The premier notes that fines for non-compliance will be up to $100,000

Canada’s chief public health officer says as we continue to take action to limit the impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare system, health authorities across the country are now looking ahead to longer-term, sustainable management of the virus. Dr. Theresa Tam says this includes transition plans for the immediate future as the level of virus activity continues to improve.Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the federal government will announce changes to pandemic measures at Canada's borders next week, adding the worst of the latest wave of the pandemic is now behind us.