Canada will face Belgium, Morocco and Croatia in Group F in the opening group stage of the World Cup in Qatar this November. The Canadian men are ranked 38th in the world compared to No. 2 for Belgium, No. 16 for Croatia and No, 24 Morocco. Canada was the last ball taken in the draw. The Canadians drew France, Hungary and the Soviet Union as first-round opponents in their only other visit to soccer's showcase, Mexico '86. Canada lost all three matches and was outscored 5-0. Friday's draw had Canada in Pot 4, which featured the lowest-ranked qualified teams. Rules of the draw meant that the Ca

Vaccinated travellers will no longer need a COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of Friday. The change is a departure from Canada's policy since the early days of the pandemic, and the struggling tourism industry describes it as a major boon. Travel agents say they've seen a surge in demand for flights since the change was announced two weeks ago. Domestic tourism groups also report a big bump in bookings over the last few weeks. While no test will be required after April 1 for people who are considered fully vaccinated, Health Canada still requires that anyone arriving from outside the country w

Retired general Jonathan Vance has pleaded guilty to one charge of obstruction of justice following a months-long investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The judge has given the former chief of the defence staff a conditional discharge and sentenced him to 80 hours of community service. Vance was accused of repeatedly contacting a woman and trying to convince her to make false statements to military investigators about their past relationship. He was not charged with any inappropriate sexual misconduct. Defence Minister Anita Anand told reporters it's not her role to comment on c

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says she will deliver this year's budget next week. Freeland tells the House of Commons she will unveil the government's spending plans on April 7 in a document that has been expected to focus on measures to spur economic growth. The budget is also expected to have new social programs promised as part of an agreement to earn the backing of the New Democrats in key parliamentary votes. That includes the first steps on national pharmacare and dental care. The budget is also expected to have billions of dollars in housing-related measures that the Liberals and

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia says it has suspended a doctor from practising while it completes an investigation into allegations that he circumvented COVID-19 public health orders.The interim suspension order, effective March 24 but posted on the college's website on Monday, affects Dr. Stephen Malthouse, a family practitioner on Denman Island.The order says an inquiry panel hasn't decided on the merits of the allegations, but it has determined there would be "a real risk of harm to the public" if Malthouse continued to practise without restriction.It says Malthou

The Liberal government is entering into final negotiations on purchasing the F-35 fighter jet. Procurement Minister Filomena Tassi and Defence Minister Anita Anand are announcing the decision at a news conference this afternoon. The move doesn't mean a deal to purchase the stealth fighter from U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin is officially done. The government still has the option to begin talks with Saab about its Gripen fighter should negotiations with Lockheed Martin stall. Canada plans to buy 88 new fighter jets to replace its CF-18s, budgeting up to $19 billion for the purchase. The go

Premier John Horgan says drivers in British Columbia will get a one-time relief rebate to help drivers deal with the cost of rising gas prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Horgan says the provincial government approached the Insurance Corporation of B.C. to provide drivers with a basic auto insurance policy with a $110 rebate and commercial drivers with $165.He says a one-time payment is a better approach than cutting fuel taxes because the price will only increase again at the pumps.Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the payment will cost $395 million.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is going to impose sanctions on 160 members of the Russian Federation Council. That brings the total number of sanctioned people with links to President Vladimir Putin to 964. Trudeau says Canada is going to increase its defence spending, but at a news conference in Brussels following NATO and G-7 leaders' meetings he wouldn't be pinned down on specifics. NATO's secretary-general says leaders have agreed to present plans by June on investing billions of additional dollars into their respective militaries.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making a plea to European leaders to come together as democracies in the face of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Trudeau is addressing the European Parliament for the first time since 2017. He says Putin's attack on Ukraine is an attack on the values that form the pillars of all democracies. Trudeau says Western countries must provide more humanitarian aid, send military equipment and lethal aid to Ukraine, and further tighten economic sanctions on Putin. Trudeau says democracies face a new threat from Russian President Valdimir Putin. Trudeau will joi