Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India.The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.In Jakarta, Trudeau will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where the group of 10 countries that will ratify a strategic-partnership agreement with Canada.The next stop in Singapore will involve meeting with the city-state's head of government and business leaders to promote investment i

The first case of the BA.2.86 variant of Covid has been reported in Canada.This is the first case found in British Columbia.B.C. health officials have confirmed this variant.B.C.'s Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the variant was found in a person in the Fraser Health Region, east of Vancouver, who has not traveled outside the province.Medical Director of Vancouver Infectious Disease Control Dr. Brian Conway says the new BA.2.86 variant has not yet been shown to cause more severe disease.Conway says the first case being recorded here in B.C. is a reminder that COVID never truly went

Canada, the world's fourth largest wheat exporter, is set to face a decline in wheat production this year due to drought. According to a government report, in parts of the Prairie Provinces, namely Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan wheat and canola production expected to decline. Canada is also among the world's largest shippers for canola, from which vegetable oil is produced. According to Statistics Canada, the production of wheat this time is likely to be 29.5 million metric tons, which is the second lowest in the last 8 years and 14 percent down compared to last year. At the same time, t

Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory for the United States, warning LGBTQ people that some state laws may affect their travel.The post shared Tuesday morning said some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.This advisory is issued to travelers to stay aware of laws that criminalize same sex activities and relationships.The updated advisory does not mention any specific law or state policy, nor does it suggest avoiding any particular state.On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland supported the decision to update the travel advisor

The North West Territories were supposed to go to polls on October 3 but now the regional elections will be held on November 14.MLAs have voted in favor of bringing the polls forward by six weeks.Votes have been postponed due to forest fires.The Chief Electoral Officer of the North West Territories had suggested that the elections be brought forward.The current firefighting budget for the Northwest Territories is approximately $22 million.Members of the regional legislature made the decision in a special session held at the town hall in Inuvik instead of the regional capital of Yellowknife.Mos

Police have laid a dozen new charges against an Ontario man.The police have framed 12 charges against the accused who sold deadly substances to people who wanted to harm themselves.Peel Regional Police has revealed that a week ago, British police revealed they were investigating the deaths of 88 people in the UK who bought products from Canada-based websites.These products were deadly to people.Police across the state assisted in the investigation of the matter.The investigation begun when a Canadian man named Kenneth Law was arrested.Law is accused of selling sodium nitrite using various webs

The Northwest Territories legislature is to meet later today to discuss delaying a territorial election set for October because of wildfires.The territory is scheduled to go to the polls on Oct. 3.But because of massive evacuations in several communities and general safety concerns, the N.W.T.'s chief electoral officer has suggested that be pushed until November.Some members of the territory's legislature say there's clear support for delay.The territory operates by a consensus system without political parties, in which elected members choose the premier from among themselves.Over the weekend,

According to Statistics Canada, there were 311,640 deaths in Canada in 2021, a 1.0% increase from 2020.More people died in Canada in 2021 than last year.Cancer, heart disease, overdose and Covid-19 are cited as leading causes of death.Male deaths increased by 2.5%, and female deaths decreased by 0.5% compared to 2020.Cancer and heart disease remain the two leading causes of death, Statcan says.Accidental deaths have increased by 14.5 percent in 2021.The fourth leading cause of death was reported to be Covid-19, which also continued to affect the health of Canadians.Statistics show that in the

A March fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people is now being investigated as a homicide.A press conference will be held by the Montreal Police at 3 pm.In the meantime, the police can lay charges of murder.Most of the seven people who died in the fire were living in illegal short-term rentals.An investigation into the matter was launched by the Montreal Police Arson Squad.According to sources, the case has now been transferred to the Montreal Police Major Crimes Division.If the fire was set on purpose, the police may add charges of murder in this case.