Beyond Local

Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product shrank 5.4 per cent in 2020, the steepest annual decline since comparable data was first recorded in 1961.

CREB's chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie attributed the spike to pandemic conditions.

Dairy Farmers of Canada is encouraging its members to find alternatives to palm supplements in cattle feed as a working group looks into consumer concerns that butter has become harder.

Airline spokeswoman Morgan Bell says the layoff notices are going out ahead of the expiration of a memorandum of agreement on March 31, though negotiations are ongoing.

Irwin said she's reported the incident to police and plans to talk with them about the possibility it may be connected to previous hateful messages she's received.

Two doctors who co-chair the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association's pandemic committee made the plea in a statement released Friday.

"I don't believe anyone would say that this is in any way an acceptable situation in Canada in 2021."

"If you talk to any special needs family, they are really the victims right now during COVID. They're not getting the medical intervention they need, they're not getting the supports they need, and on top of that, they are being discriminated in public spaces."

The report shows Canada spent at least $1.9 billion in direct aid to the traditional energy sector last year, up from $600 million in 2019.

The changes seek to clarify the Criminal Code and other laws to expand remote options, including video or audio appearances by accused people at preliminary inquiries, trials and pleas or sentencing hearings.