National News

OTTAWA — The federal government is preparing to spend more than $3 billion in infrastructure money on projects to make facilities more pandemic-resistant and encourage outdoor activities in the age of COVID-19, Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKen

HALIFAX — A former neighbour of the gunman behind last month's mass shooting in Nova Scotia says she reported his domestic violence and cache of firearms to the RCMP years ago and ended up leaving the community herself due to fears of his violence.

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams' online rant that blames the spread of COVID-19 on Chinese meat markets exacerbates harmful stereotypes and disinformation, says an expert on racism in the time of epidemics and pandemics.

TORONTO — Canada's death toll from COVID-19 passed the 5,000-mark on Tuesday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the pandemic had exposed serious cracks in Canada's hard hit long-term care that governments will have to fix.

Physical distancing measures in correctional institutions during COVID-19 have been "grossly inadequate" putting the health and safety of prisoners at risk, alleges a lawsuit against the federal government.

OTTAWA — A human rights coalition is calling on Canada to appoint a front-line contact for people and groups who are enduring harassment and intimidation as a result of their advocacy and activism on China.

CALGARY — The Calgary Zoo will be returning two giant pandas on loan from China because a scarcity of flights due to COVID-19 has caused problems with getting enough bamboo to feed them.

VANCOUVER — The Better Business Bureau says puppy scams are the latest way fraudsters are taking advantage of lonely, isolated people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you must launder your money, do it carefully, advises the Bank of Canada. The bank says it has tested the notes for durability against common household products.

OTTAWA — Canada will put $790 million toward vaccinating the world's more vulnerable populations and distributing a COVID-19 vaccine around the world, if an effective one is discovered, International Development Minister Karina Gould announced Tuesda