Category Archives: National
Judge questions whether B.C.’s top doctor appreciated right to religious freedom
VANCOUVER — British Columbia's top doctor understands the importance of balancing any COVID-19 restrictions against the charter right to freedom of religion, a lawyer for the province's attorney general has told the B.C. Supreme Court. In a hearing ove...
Legal challenge to Quebec common-law rules seeks equal rights for unmarried spouses
MONTREAL — A well-known Quebec lawyer says she's mounting a legal challenge to provincial laws that don't grant common-law spouses the same rights as married couples in the event of a breakup. Anne-France Goldwater said today Quebec family law treats u...
Kielburger brothers decline request to testify before ‘partisan’ Commons committee
OTTAWA — WE Charity co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger are declining requests to testify before two House of Commons committees. In a statement Wednesday, the charity noted that New Democrat MP Charlie Angus has requested that the RCMP and the Canad...
A look at the studies from Israel, U.K. that informed B.C.’s second-dose delay
VANCOUVER — Studies from Israel and the United Kingdom showed that a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine significantly reduced COVID-19 infections, helping to guide British Columbia's decision to delay the second dose of vaccines by four months....
Public Health Agency of Canada budgets $5B for COVID-19 vaccines, treatments
OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada expects to spend up to $5 billion on vaccines and other COVID-19 treatments. Federal budget documents show $5.3 billion was approved in December for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, including the purchase of...
Trudeau signals support for Hassan Diab as advocates demand intervention with France
OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau signalled Wednesday that Canada will stand up for an Ottawa sociology professor facing trial in France as human-rights advocates renewed calls for the Liberal government to intervene. The prime minister's words left Hassan Diab'...
Jewish groups raise anti-Semitism concerns ahead of NDP MP’s chat with Corbyn
OTTAWA — Two prominent Jewish advocacy groups are voicing concerns about anti-Semitism ahead of a public conversation between NDP MP Niki Ashton and former U.K. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The planned livestream talk risks pulling New Democrats in a d...
Over 100 new projects to get $518 million in federal research funding
OTTAWA — Efforts to boost Canada's ability to produce vaccines are among over 100 research projects receiving new federal money. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $518 million Wednesday he says will support the work of nearly 1,000 researchers. ...
In U.S., public health caution clashes with vaccine optimism, eased restrictions
WASHINGTON — The United States is at a COVID-19 crossroads — and public health officials are worried about which path the country will choose. After a year of more than 513,000 deaths, a devastating economic crisis and restrictions on their personal
Conservative MP David Sweet joins chorus calling for end to COVID-19 restrictions
OTTAWA — A Conservative MP has joined the chorus of voices calling for an end to COVID-19 lockdowns in Ontario. Ontario MP David Sweet said Wednesday the pandemic-related restrictions are causing huge psychological and economic damage, and take an "inc...
