Indigenous

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba Crown corporation has backed down from a plan that would have let some people get their driver’s licences without road tests.

Authorities in New Zealand say they are investigating deaths that may be linked to an Ontario man accused of sending a lethal substance to those at risk of self harm.

Pandemic-era public health charges have been dropped against an Edmonton-area pastor and church, as well as a central Alberta man who hosted a rodeo in protest of COVID-19 restrictions.

OTTAWA — A civil society delegation that visited Syrian prison camps is calling on Ottawa to give immediate consular assistance to Canadian detainees and to swiftly repatriate all citizens wishing to return to Canada.

VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby has called on the Bank of Canada to halt further interest rate hikes, saying people are "hurting," and another rate increase next month might worsen, and not reduce, inflation.

VANCOUVER — British Columbia is extending its provincial state of emergency over devastating wildfires that are burning across the province while warning that drought conditions could last into 2024.

PORT ALBERNI, B.C.

Vancouver Whitecaps captain Ryan Gauld is aiming to build on his own momentum, as well as his team's. After a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday, he officially became the team's all-time leader in assists in Major League Soccer.

TORONTO — Intact Financial Corp. in a report Thursday estimated that its catastrophe losses due to wildfires and other weather events totalled about $570 million for the third quarter so far.

TORONTO — Affordability is the top reason cited among Canadians who opted for co-ownership with family members and friends, according to a new Royal LePage survey.