National News

A top science adviser says Ontario is far from in the clear despite a downward trend in COVID-19 cases, while some provinces criticized Ottawa for lower-than-expected vaccine shipments and the pandemic was flagged as an outsized contributor to Quebec

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 7:25 p.m. Alberta health officials are reporting 461 new cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths. They say 591 people in the province are in hospital, with 112 in intensive care.

Montreal police say they have arrested a suspect after an officer was injured when a traffic stop turned violent. Const. Jean-Pierre Brabant says the injured officer is recovering in hospital and his life is not in danger.

WINNIPEG — A police officer will not be criminally charged for fatally shooting an Indigenous teenager who was driving a stolen vehicle last spring.

OTTAWA — With a growing sentiment that Julie Payette's abrupt departure from Rideau Hall provides an opportunity for Canada to have its first Indigenous governor general, Perry Bellegarde laughs when asked if he's been taking French lessons.

VANCOUVER — A government-commissioned panel has rejected the idea of introducing a basic income for all in British Columbia, saying the billions of dollars would be better spent patching holes in the social safety net.

OTTAWA — The federal government intends to make Jan. 29 a day to honour victims of the deadly 2017 attack on a Quebec City mosque.

VANCOUVER — Two men found guilty of British Columbia's most notorious gang killings will be allowed to argue the case should be thrown out because their rights were violated by police and correctional officers.

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget office says a pledge by the Trudeau Liberals to plant two billion trees could cost almost double what the government says.

WASHINGTON — Canada's Liberal government cheered Thursday as President Joe Biden reversed a U.S. policy that denies federal funding to international aid organizations that support abortion.