The federal government is temporarily expanding eligibility for two COVID-19 benefit programs to aid those affected by capacity limits imposed in response to the spread of the Omicron variant.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making the announcement today as provinces tighten restrictions on businesses in response to a countrywide surge of COVID-19 cases.Last week Parliament passed the new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, a program that grants $300 a week to anyone who can't work because of a COVID-19 lockdown.The law also includes targeted aid for businesses that are ordered close as part of a

Canadian Maggie Mac Neil has won the gold medal in the women's 100 metre butterfly at the world short course swimming championships in Abu Dhabi. She did it in a Canadian record time of 55.04 seconds. Mac Neil was also part of the team that earned silver in the women's four-by-100 medley today, and yesterday she set a world record in the 50 metre backstroke. FINA on Twitter: 4 gold medals and a WR for Maggie Macneil at the World Swimming Championship 🤩"If you would have told me my first world record would be backstroke, I wouldn’t have believed you" said MacneilHow would you describ

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has tested positive for COVID-19. She shared the information on Twitter. Her rapid test has ben found positive as she waits for the results of a PCR test. Mélanie Joly on Twitter: I have taken a rapid test and tested positive for #COVID19. Following public health guidelines, I am in isolation and will continue my work virtually, as I have been for a number of days, until I get the results of my PCR test. 1/3 I’m grateful for the protection that vaccines offer us and encourage everyone to get vaccinated and boosted. It’s the best thing we c

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube says the situation in his province is critical, so new restrictions are necessary. Dube has announced the complete closure of bars and casinos and says restaurants can open only between 5 and 10 pm. Schools will also close as of today and until January 10th. Quebec reported a single-day record of 4,571 new COVID-19 infections today. Ontario reported 3,784 new cases today as many newly-eligible residents 18 and up scrambled to try to book a vaccine booster shot.

Ontario is reintroducing capacity limits at restaurants, bars and retailers, and capping indoor social gatherings at 10 people in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The province is also limiting outdoor gatherings to 25, and prohibiting food and drink consumption at sports arenas, cinemas and other large venues. The new rules come into effect first thing Sunday morning, and don't apply to facilities hosting weddings, funerals or religious services. Premier Doug Ford is making the announcement a day after the province's science advisers said a ramped-up booster campaign would

Canada's chief public health officer says all confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Canada are mild or asymptomatic. But Dr. Theresa Tam says most of the 300 plus Canadians who have contracted the variant are younger, and even a milder version of COVID-19 version could wreak havoc at a societal level. Tam says both vaccinated and unvaccinated people have tested positive for the Omicron variant. But she stresses that being fully vaccinated and then getting a booster is expected to provide reasonable protection against infection and likely strong protection against severe illness.

Health Minister Jean Yves Duclos says with the evolving situation and the overwhelming evidence of Omicron transmission around the world, Canada is lifting its travel restrictions on the 10 African countries it had earlier established in response to the emergence of the new variant. He says this is effective tomorrow.As of Tuesday, Canada will reinstate the requirement for a pre-arrival negative P-C-R test result for all travellers entering the country, even if they are returning to Canada after being away for under 72 hours.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced it will be waiving fees for BC residents who need to replace documents that were destroyed in the floods that displaced nearly 15,000 people last month. Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser says the special measures will cover submissions from November 15th until May 31st for passports, refugee travel documents, certificates of identity, citizenship certificates and permanent resident cards. He says this will allow Canadians and permanent residents time to sort out what documents they need to replace and to apply at no cost. Immigratio

The Canadian military confirmed today that 21 of its 23 Cyclone helicopters have cracks in their tails. Cracks were first detected in one of the maritime helicopters during a routine inspection on Nov. 26 at 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron at Patricia Bay, B.C. By Dec. 5, the Air Force said it had discovered damage in the same general area on a total of 19 helicopters. At the time, the military said two Cyclones did not appear to have any tail defects, and the remaining two in the fleet were receiving longer-term maintenance and would be inspected at a later date. As of today, cracks on six