CanadaJan 21, 2021
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette resigns
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette is resigning. The news comes as the results of an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace environment at Rideau Hall are expected to be released. The Privy Council Office revealed last year that Quintet Consulting Corp. had been hired to conduct a third-party investigation into allegations of workplace harassment in the office of the Governor General. That came after CBC reports alleged that Payette belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit. That prompted the Privy Council Office to launch a workplace revie
CanadaJan 21, 2021
COVID cases in Ont., Que. hold steady, while feds warn severe illness is on the rise
Federal officials say COVID-19 case counts in Canada seem to be on the decline, but warn that infection rates are still highest among the people most vulnerable to severe illness. In a daily update, Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada has averaged 6,309 new diagnoses a day over the past week, and 148 deaths from the illness each day. But Tam says she expects that cases of severe illness will continue to rise, because it takes several days for symptoms to get bad enough to require hospitalization. The downward trend in infections seems to be holding steady in two of Canada's hardest-hit provinces. Ont
CanadaJan 21, 2021
Trudeau will be first foreign leader to speak with Biden on Friday: White House
The White House says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will speak with newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday.Press secretary Jen Psaki says Trudeau will be the first foreign leader to speak with Biden since his inauguration.The two have a lot to talk about: hours after his inauguration, Biden signed an executive order effectively cancelling the US$8-billion Keystone XL pipeline expansion.In a statement, Trudeau says he's disappointed in the decision, but appreciates Biden's commitment to climate change — a sign Ottawa isn't going to push hard on trying to reverse the decision.He
CanadaJan 21, 2021
Conservative MP Derek Sloan ejected from party caucus
Controversial MP Derek Sloan has been kicked out of the Conservative caucus in a move party leader Erin O'Toole said was due to a "pattern of destructive behaviour" that had become a distraction. But Sloan is not going quietly. On Facebook, he urged so-called "blue" Tories to keep their party memberships and make their voices heard at an upcoming policy convention. Party leader Erin O'Toole initiated the caucus removal process late Monday after news of the donation surfaced. Sloan did not dispute he received the money from Paul Fromm, but has said he was unaware of it. Sloan has been in hot wa
CanadaJan 20, 2021
Canada will get no doses of vaccine from Pfizer at all next week: Major-General Dany Fortin
Canadian leaders and health officials are promising that a slowdown in delivery of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine will only be temporary. But Major-General Dany Fortin says Canada will get no doses of vaccine from Pfizer at all next week. Fortin, the vice-president of operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, says this week's shipment is almost one-fifth smaller than expected. He says Pfizer is still expected to meet its contractual obligation to ship 4 million doses to Canada by the end of March. Pfizer is upgrading its plant in Belgium, which is causing the delay.
CanadaJan 19, 2021
PM Trudeau warns to cancel international trips; government could at any time, and without warning, enforce new restrictions on return to Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says any Canadian planning an international trip should cancel it. Trudeau is warning that while Canadians have the right to travel, the government could at any time, and without warning, enforce new restrictions on travellers returning to Canada. New variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 add a level of uncertainty that could affect decisions about how to handle international arrivals. The Public Health Agency of Canada has documented 183 flights arriving in Canada from abroad since Jan. 4 alone, on which at least one passenger had COVID-19. That includes fo
CanadaJan 19, 2021
Tory MP Derek Sloan says he'll fight efforts to expel him from party ranks
Ontario Conservative MP Derek Sloan says he'll fight efforts by his party's leader to boot him from caucus.Sloan says a decision by leader Erin O'Toole that he should be tossed out over a donation to his leadership campaign by a known white supremacist is ridiculous.O'Toole announced he's launching the effort to remove Sloan late Monday, after news broke that Sloan's campaign had received a donation from Paul Fromm last year.O'Toole framed the decision as being a question of having no tolerance for racism within his party.But Sloan is raising questions about that approach, saying Fromm is a p
CanadaJan 19, 2021
Alberta is putting a pause on administering the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines: Premier Kenney
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the province is putting a pause on administering the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Kenney says he is "deeply disappointed" by pharmaceutical company Pfizer's decision to cut back on promised deliveries of vaccine doses to Canada over the next four weeks. Meantime, Ontario is stretching the time for a second dose to 42 days instead of 21, and BC is thinking of going beyond 35 days. Biden should give Canada a chance to make the case for pipeline Alberta Premier Jason Kenney wants US President elect Joe Biden to give the Canadian government a chance to make
CanadaJan 19, 2021
Transport Canada says the Boeing 7-37 MAX can return to Canadian airspace beginning Wednesday
Transport Canada has cleared the Boeing 7-37 MAX to return to Canadian airspace beginning Wednesday, capping a recertification process without precedent in the history of modern aviation. The planes will be permitted to fly as long as they meet several conditions, including allowing pilots to disable a faulty warning system that was key to two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says Canadians can rest assured that his department has diligently addressed all safety issues that led to the planes being grounded worldwide in 2019. The planes have been grounded sinc