Tamara Lich, one of the principal organizers of the so-called ``Freedom Convoy'' protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for three weeks, has been granted bail on a $25,000 bond. Lich was initially denied bail on Feb. 22 after Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois deemed her detention was ``necessary for the protection and safety of the public.'' Lich's lawyer launched a bail review, arguing that decision may have been tainted by the fact that Bourgeois ran as a federal Liberal candidates in the 2011 election and expressed that her own community had been affected by the protest. On Monday, Su

Ottawa is imposing strict COVID-19 rules on cruise ship companies, crews and passengers in advance of the first ships docking in Canadian ports next month. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says passengers and crews must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and cruise lines must inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report pre-boarding test results. Alghabra says no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the requirements. Alghabra says passengers will also need to take COVID-19 tests before and after boarding a vessel and won't be allowed off cruise ships u

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced sanctions against 10 more Russian political and business leaders. At a news conference in London, he took a clear jab at President Vladimir Putin, pointing out the 10 were identified by Alexei Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader who is considered Putin's main rival. Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also acknowledged the need to increase defence spending in response to both Russia's actions and growing instability around the world. Trudeau wouldn't say if that would extend to Canada meeting N

Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre says he would repeal a ban on oil tankers off B-C's north coast if becomes the leader of the Conservative party and wins the next federal election. He made the comment during a campaign stop in Regina today. Poilievre also says he would bring in new laws to support the energy sector and protect the environment, and he promises the work will include consultation with First Nations. During a stop in Saskatoon yesterday, Poilievre the only declared candidate so far in the race to replace Erin O'Toole, pledged to axe the federal carbon tax if elected prime minister

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Europe to meet with key allies as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine. Trudeau will spend next week in meetings in London, Berlin, Riga, Latvia and Warsaw as leaders present a united front against President Vladimir Putin. Trudeau says allies will also work on countering the disinformation and misinformation that is a particularly strong facet of the war in Ukraine. Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly attended a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, which was followed by a G-7 foreign ministers' meeting. The ministers d

Canada is opening its arms to Ukrainians fleeing war by relaxing immigration rules.The government is announcing expedited temporary visas for Ukrainians that will take just weeks to process, instead of the usual year.Canada is also tightening its economic chokehold on Russian oligarchs, and booting Russia and its ally Belarus off its most favoured nation list of trade partners.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada and other close partners are calling for Russia's suspension from the international policing agency Interpol.

Forty-seven Canadians have been arrested and 12 children have been removed from abusive situations as part of a global investigation into online child sexual exploitation, the RCMP said Wednesday.The Mounties said 186 charges have been laid in Canada so far during the investigation, dubbed Operation H. Arrests have been made in eight provinces over the past two years, they said, adding the investigation is still underway.The RCMP say the probe began in New Zealand in the fall of 2019, after law enforcement officials there were alerted by an electronic service provider who had discovered a larg

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says co-ordinated sanctions against Russia by G7 countries will go even further in the coming days, choking off President Vladimir Putin's ability to fund his war on Ukraine.Freeland says she spoke with her G7 counterparts this morning, joined by Ukraine's "tired but determined" finance minister, who assured them his country would win the war as he spoke from a windowless room furnished with a spartan cot and a blue and yellow flag taped to the wall.She says existing sanctions are the most serious and stringent ever imposed on a major economy and new measures

Ottawa has asked the International Criminal Court to speed up its investigation into Russia for possible war crimes and announced Canada is closing its ports to Russian ships.Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says petitioning the court is important for Canada to show that it is steadfast in its support of Ukraine.The ban on Russian-owned or registered ships and fishing vessels in Canadian ports and internal waters will take effect later this week and is in co-ordination with G-7 partners and other countries. More than 100 diplomats from some 40 countries and allies on Tuesday walked out of