A new report from a committee of senators says the country is ill-prepared to handle a second wave of COVID-19. The Senate's social affairs committee says the federal government needs to pay urgent attention to seniors in long-term care homes where outbreaks and deaths in the pandemic have been concentrated. There are also concerns in the report about the vulnerability of low-income seniors should there be a second wave of the novel coronavirus later this year. The document made public this morning is the committee's first set of observations on the government's response to the pandemic, with

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday kept a hold on President Donald Trump’s financial records that Congress has been seeking for more than a year. The ruling returns the case to lower courts, with no clear prospect for when the case might ultimately be resolved. The 7-2 outcome is at least a short-term victory for Trump, who has strenuously sought to keep his financial records private. The decision came after the court upheld a prosecutor’s demand for Trump’s tax returns as part of a criminal investigation that includes hush-money payments to women who claim they had affairs with Trump.

British Columbia crossed the 3,000 mark for cases of COVID-19 as health officials reported 18 new infections and three more deaths on Wednesday. The total number of cases stood at 3,008. There have been a total of 186 deaths. Health officials said in a statement that B.C. has 162 active cases of COVID-19 and 2,660 people who tested positive have recovered. The government says while there are no active outbreaks, new cases and community exposure to the virus continue.

The Liberals are projecting the deficit will soar to $343.2 billion in 2020-2021 due to pandemic relief programs.That is a historic level and 43-billion-dollars beyond even the highest private sector predictions.Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government expects nearly two-million Canadians will remain out of work this year as the COVID-19 pandemic drags down the economy.In the event of a second wave of infections, the government is forecasting a deeper and longer-lasting negative impact on the economy. The COVID-19 fiscal snapshot: By the numbersEstimated federal deficit for 2020-21:

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Rideau Hall intruder had been a person of colour the outcome would have been different. Military reservist and Manitoba businessman Corey Hurren is in an Ottawa jail facing 22 charges for allegedly carrying weapons and making a threat against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Police say they arrested Hurren early on July 2, about 200 metres from Trudeau's front door, after he allegedly rammed his pickup truck through gates at Rideau Hall and then ran with a loaded gun through the grounds towards Trudeau's residence. Singh says systemic racism is at play when H

British Columbia health officials announced 12 new infections of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the government extended the provincial state of emergency for two more weeks. The government says the province has had 2,990 cases of COVID-19 in total. The province has 162 active cases and 2,645 people who tested positive have recovered from the illness. The statement says there have been no new COVID-19 related deaths and the number of people who have died stands at 183. One of the new cases announced on Tuesday is epidemiologically linked, which means public health investigations have shown that it mee

The parliamentary budget office says it could cost more than $98 billion to provide almost all Canadians with a basic income for six months beginning this fall.That figure is the upper range of the scenarios the budget watchdog was asked to research as part of a report out this morning.The idea of providing a basic income to Canadians has taken on more steam as millions have watched their jobs or earnings evaporate in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the federal spending of about $174 billion to provide a financial floor for individuals and businesses.The cost for the federal government could range

British Columbia is reporting six more deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic with all those who died in long term care. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says four deaths were in the Vancouver Coastal health region and two were in Fraser Health. One person died in June but that death has now been attributed to the virus. The total number of people who have died due to COVID-19 in B.C. stands at 183. There have been 31 new cases of the novel coronavirus since Friday. The province has recorded a total of 2,978 cases of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking a pass on a meeting this week with U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Trudeau's office says he wishes the two countries and their leaders well but Trudeau will remain in Ottawa for a cabinet retreat and a scheduled sitting of Parliament.Lopez Obrador is travelling to D.C. in part to celebrate the entry-into-force of the new North American free-trade deal and had expressed hope Trudeau would join as well.Trudeau's office says the prime minister will continue to work with both countries to ensure the agreement be