National News

OTTAWA — The federal government is opening the doors to a loan program that will provide financing to Black-owned businesses that often face a steep hill to access capital.

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 31 ... What we are watching in Canada ...

OTTAWA — Canada is set to receive 2.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses this week thanks in large part to an increase in planned deliveries from Pfizer and BioNTech.

The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Monday May 31, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 315,187 new vaccinations administered for a total of 23,471,446 doses given. Nationwide, 2,012,849 people or 5.

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Monday May 31, 2021. There are 1,378,971 confirmed cases in Canada. Canada: 1,378,971 confirmed cases (35,935 active, 1,317,524 resolved, 25,512 deaths).

As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have begun planning to give second doses in the coming weeks. More than 23 million people across Canada have now had at least one dose of a vaccine.

KAMLOOPS, B.C.

OTTAWA — Work is underway for a travel exemption that would let the winner of the NHL's all-Canadian division and an American counterpart cross the border during the third and final rounds of the playoffs.

JASPER, Alta. — Parks Canada says two people have died in an avalanche on an Alberta mountain popular with climbers.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6 p.m. The number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta hospitals continues to fall, as does the number of active cases.