National News

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Charges were dropped against a prominent northern Alberta First Nations chief Wednesday as it was revealed that one of the officers involved in his violent arrest had been charged in an off-duty assault seven months earlier.

OTTAWA — The federal government is investing $5 million to create a national wildfire research network, two years after the Canadian Forest Service warned that Canada's expertise and research on forest fires was not keeping up with the dramatic shift

OTTAWA — Asylum seekers continue to cross the Canada-U.S. border despite the widespread closure that remains in effect to all but non-essential travel. New statistics show 21 people were apprehended by the RCMP crossing into Canada from the U.S.

MONTREAL — Members of Montreal's Irish community aren't giving up their opposition to the city's decision to name a new light-rail station after a controversial former premier, one of their representatives said Wednesday.

WINNIPEG — Manitoba RCMP say they've been called for a second time this month because an airline passengers was not wearing a mask while flying.

HALIFAX — The four Atlantic provinces have announced plans to ease interprovincial travel restrictions, creating a so-called "bubble" as the region has reported relatively few new COVID-19 infections in recent weeks.

VANCOUVER — A study by University of British Columbia researchers underscores the immediate, harmful health effects of wildfire smoke and says there are concerning implications during the COVID-19 pandemic.

KELOWNA, B.C. — The RCMP say two investigations are underway into the actions of one of its officers after a video was released in a court case that alleges a woman was injured during a health check in Kelowna, B.C. Insp.

TORONTO — Authorities in some provinces ramped up often arbitrary law enforcement to help curtail the COVID-19 pandemic rather than rely on a purely public health approach, according to a report out Wednesday.

MONTREAL — Another push is underway to rename a southwestern Montreal metro station in honour of Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson, but city officials say they aren't ready to go that route.