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first-doses-of-paxlovid-reach-canada-more-coming-in-february-and-march
CanadaJan 17, 2022

First doses of Paxlovid reach Canada, more coming in February and March

Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19, Paxlovid, has received Health Canada approval. It’s a combination of two different drugs, to be taken together twice a day for five days. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the first doses are already here with more to come in March. He says the provinces and territories have been given preliminary information on deliveries, which will be done on a per capita basis.Canadian doctors have been anxious to get their hands on the medication as the Omicron wave is spreading so quickly. Canada bought one-million courses of the treatment for delivery thi
health-canada-approves-pfizer-antiviral
CanadaJan 17, 2022

Health Canada approves Pfizer antiviral

Health Canada has approved Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19. The authorization posted to the Health Canada website this morning says the treatment is greenlighted for adult patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are also at high risk of becoming more seriously ill. Health Canada did not authorize it for use on teenagers. It is also not authorized for use on patients who are already hospitalized because of COVID-19.Paxlovid is a treatment that uses a combination of drugs to prevent the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating once it has infected a patient.Clinical trials sho
CanadaJan 14, 2022

Federal modelling shows COVID-19 hospitalizations to surge

New modelling by the federal government suggests daily hospitalizations will surge in the coming weeks, driven by extremely high levels of transmission of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Though the rate of people who are hospitalized with Omicron is lower compared to the Delta variant, the forecast shows new daily hospital admissions will far exceed previous historical peaks due to the sheer number of cases. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam released the new modelling today, which suggests the current wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant will peak this month at between 1
ottawa-to-go-ahead-with-trucker-vaccine-mandate-after-stating-it-would-scrap-it
CanadaJan 14, 2022

Ottawa to go ahead with trucker vaccine mandate after stating it would scrap it

The federal government says a statement from the Canada Border Services Agency that said Canadian truckers would be exempt from a new COVID-19 vaccination requirement was provided in error. Federal officials say today the vaccine mandate for truckers crossing into Canada from the United States will come into effect this Saturday as planned. There was no explanation for the incorrect information emailed to media more than 20-hours earlier. The federal Conservatives, as well as trade groups representing oil, manufacturing and export companies, had called on Ottawa this week to postpone the Janu
otoole-says-he-opposes-quebecs-plan-to-tax-and-target-the-unvaccinated
CanadaJan 13, 2022

O'Toole says he opposes Quebec's plan to 'tax and target' the unvaccinated

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says while he respects provincial jurisdiction, he opposes Quebec's plan ``to tax and target'' those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19. The Tory leader made his position known on Premier Francois Legault's proposal during a Facebook Live today. Earlier in the week Legault announced adults living the province who are unvaccinated and don't have a medical exemption could expect to start paying a ``significant'' financial penalty. The premier said the measure was needed because around half of the patients in intensive care are unvaccinated even those only abo
health-canada-7-to-10-days-from-decision-on-pfizer-antiviral-drug
CanadaJan 13, 2022

Health Canada 7 to 10 days from decision on Pfizer antiviral drug

Health Canada's chief medical adviser says a decision on Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is expected in seven to 10 days.But Supriya Sharma says the department reached out to Pfizer asking for shipments of the drug before approval, using regulations that allow medications approved elsewhere to be used in Canada when there is an urgent health need.Sharma says the company said no because it didn't have any supply to send.Canada has a contract to buy one million doses of Paxlovid but Pfizer spokeswoman Christina Antoniou says information on shipments to Canada won't be provided until H
unvaccinated-canadian-truckers-will-not-have-to-quarantine-when-crossing-border-csba
CanadaJan 13, 2022

Unvaccinated Canadian truckers will not have to quarantine when crossing border: CSBA

Only days before Canadian truck drivers were required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to get into the country or face quarantine, the federal government is backing away from the vaccine mandate. The new rule will still take effect for American truckers starting this weekend, with drivers being turned away at the border unless they've been inoculated. But a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told The Canadian Press late Wednesday that unvaccinated Canadian truck drivers, or those who have had only one dose, will not have to quarantine. The head of the Canadian Trucking Allia
trudeau-says-too-early-to-comment-on-quebecs-plan-to-make-unvaccinated-pay-penalty
CanadaJan 12, 2022

Trudeau says too early to comment on Quebec's plan to make unvaccinated pay penalty

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he needs to see more details before taking a stance on Quebec's plan to levy a financial penalty against people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Trudeau told reporters today in Ottawa he wants to see how the Quebec proposal balances people's rights with the state's goal of protecting them from the disease. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Tuesday he planned to make the unvaccinated pay a ``significant'' financial penalty. Legault said people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 occupy a disproportionate number of hospital beds and should be re
trudeau-warns-of-more-russia-sanctions-amid-moscow-military-build-up-near-ukraine
CanadaJan 12, 2022

Trudeau warns of more Russia sanctions amid Moscow military build up near Ukraine

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Russia may face further Western sanctions as a consequence of its military build up on the Ukrainian border. And Trudeau strongly suggests today that Canada will renew its modest commitment of 200 Canadian Forces personnel to a NATO training mission in Ukraine, amid rising tensions between the West and Russia. The Ukrainian government has been waiting on Canada to publicly renew the commitment, set to expire at the end of March, as part of show of NATO solidarity toward Russia at a time of rising tensions. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his ca

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surrey-police-probe-early-morning-shooting-at-newton-business
CanadaJan 20, 2026

Surrey police probe early morning shooting at Newton business

Surrey Police Service is investigating an early morning shooting that damaged a business and several vehicles in the city’s Newton neighbourhood. Police say officers were called to the 7200 block of King George Boulevard around 4:30 am after reports of gunfire. When members arrived, they found evidence of shots fired at a commercial property and nearby vehicles. The business was closed at the time, and no injuries were reported. The Surrey Police Service Frontline Investigative Support Team attended the scene, and the Major Crime Section has now taken over the investigation. Officers remain
woman-charged-in-alleged-downtown-eastside-stabbing-vancouver-police-say
BCJan 20, 2026

Woman charged in alleged Downtown Eastside stabbing, Vancouver police say

A 29-year-old woman is facing multiple charges following an alleged stabbing involving a stranger in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside early Sunday morning, according to police. Vancouver Police say an officer on patrol near the intersection of Hastings and Abbott streets was approached around 2:50 a.m. by several people who reported their friend had just been assaulted. Investigators allege the suspect used a knife to slash the victim’s shoulder before fleeing the area. Police located the suspect shortly afterward and arrested her following a brief foot pursuit. Officers deployed a taser duri
canadian-teens-death-on-australian-beach-shocks-friends-in-b-c
CanadaJan 20, 2026

Canadian teen’s death on Australian beach shocks friends in B.C.

Friends of a Canadian woman found dead on a remote Australian beach say the news has left them stunned and grieving, as authorities continue to investigate what happened. Police in Queensland say the body of a 19-year-old woman was discovered on a beach on K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, and that it appeared to have been interfered with by a pack of about 10 dingoes. Officials have not publicly confirmed the woman’s identity, though Australian media have reported she was Canadian. Brianna Falk, a close friend from Campbell River, B.C., says she first learned something was wrong while
fog-warning-extended-for-metro-vancouver-and-inland-vancouver-island
BCJan 20, 2026

Fog warning extended for Metro Vancouver and inland Vancouver Island

Environment Canada has extended a fog warning for parts of Metro Vancouver and inland areas of Vancouver Island, citing continued near-zero visibility conditions expected to persist into Wednesday. The weather agency says dense fog remains trapped over the region due to a ridge of high pressure that is holding moist air close to the surface. The warning covers much of Metro Vancouver, excluding the North Shore, as well as inland sections of Vancouver Island, including Port Alberni. The prolonged fog has already affected transportation across the Lower Mainland. Vancouver International Airport
AlbertaJan 20, 2026

Alberta Court of Appeal Overturns Calgary Man’s Double Murder Conviction

The Alberta Court of Appeal has overturned the conviction of a Calgary man previously sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 killings of two men in northwest Calgary. Gerald Benn was initially found guilty of two counts of second-degree murder three years after the fatal shooting. At trial, the judge cited surveillance footage and DNA found on plastic bags at the scene as key evidence. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal concluded that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to conclusively prove Benn was the shooter. The decision means Benn’s conviction has been quashed, though th