Stricter COVID-19 measures are taking effect in Ontario today. School classes will run remotely until at least Jan. 17, while most other measures, including business closures, are slated to last at least 21 days. Hospitals are ordered to pause all non-urgent surgeries to free up staff to cover absences and the rising number of hospitalized virus patients. Several kinds of business including cinemas, gyms, theatres and restaurants must close for indoor activities. Some other businesses including retail stores and personal care services are limited to 50 per cent capacity. Social gatherings are

The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau and B-C Premier John Horgan spoke Tuesday about flooding relief efforts as well as how governments can keep citizens safe during the wave of Omicron variant cases. Trudeau says he and Horgan -- who is the chair of the Council of the Federation -- discussed how provinces and territories can deal with the surge of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Trudeau's office also says a talk will be scheduled with provincial leaders next week on efforts to reduce the health, economic, and social impacts of the variant. He and Horgan also spoke about

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has again staged media coverage of himself getting a COVID shot. This time it was his third one, the booster. Trudeau got the jab at an Ottawa pharmacy this morning. Provinces have been racing to deliver booster shots as COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations continue to surge to new heights driven by the Omicron variant. Most provinces have so far delayed in-person learning in schools because of the rampant infection.

An agreement in principle that will see Ottawa pay billions in compensation to First Nations children harmed by an underfunded child welfare system is set to be announced in Ottawa today.Sources have confirmed to The Canadian Press that negotiations reached final stages on New Year's Eve, resulting in an agreement that may finally bring an end to a human rights challenge launched 14 years ago. The case has been a major sore point in reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, as both the former and current federal governments spent millions fighting it in court. The battle began

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked Canadians to celebrate new year while following the public health guidelines. PM Trudeau on Twitter: I know tomorrow’s a big day. We’re ready for the year to end, and we’re used to celebrating that with a bunch of our friends and family members. But just like we did last year, we’re going to have to switch things up - for our own safety, and for the safety of our loved ones. However you choose to celebrate tomorrow night, please, make sure you’re following the public health guidelines in your area. If we all do our part, we’ll be able to look

Ontario is reporting a record-breaking 13-thousand, 807 new COVID-19 infections and three more deaths.There are now 965 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 200 in intensive care.Chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore has a news conference planned for this afternoon as parents wait to find out if their children are going back to classes next week.Some provinces are extending the winter break, while others are switching to virtual learning starting next week.

The world junior men's hockey championship in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., was cancelled Wednesday in the face of lost games due to COVID-19. A third game forfeited in two days left the International Ice Hockey Federation, Hockey Canada and organizing committee with few options to continue a tournament with competitive integrity, and they opted to call off the 11-day, 10-country tournament in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta. After two days of games, players testing positive for COVID-19 had put defending champion United States, Russia and Czechia into mandatory quarantines by Wednesday. Canada w

Mounties are on the scene of a train derailment in southern Alberta. They say the Canadian Pacific Rail train had an engine derail at 9:30 am and some empty fuel cars tipped over near Barons north of Lethbridge. Some diesel is spilling out. No injuries have been reported. Crews are clearing the scene of a train derailment near a small village in Saskatchewan. Canadian Pacific Railway says in a statement that a freight train carrying potash went off the tracks last night near Craven, which is about 38 kilometres northwest of Regina. The company says there were no injuries or public safety conc

Canada's two most-populous provinces are again smashing daily COVID-19 records. Ontario has surpassed its previous one-day record set Christmas Day with 10,436 new COVID-19 cases. Quebec is reporting more than 13,000 new infections. As cases threaten to overwhelm Quebec's health-care system, unions say a plan to permit some asymptomatic staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 to stay on the job is too risky. Meanwhile, Nunavut's premier says a ban on indoor gatherings is being extended to January 17th as a result of the rising case counts of the Omicron variant. The territory now has 74 C