Canada & World

Jars full of empty COVID-19 vaccine vials are shown at the Junction Chemist pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. A large study that chronicles the trajectory of COVID-19 over the first 2-1/2 years of the pandemic shows most British Columbia children and adults under age 60 developed antibodies to slash the risk of severe illness either through vaccination, infection or both. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Most B.C. residents under 60 have been infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated: study

Proportion of those with COVID-19 antibodies rose to 95 per cent this summer from 5 at start of 2021

A woman shops for produce at the Granville Island Market in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Food prices in Canada will continue to escalate in the new year, with grocery costs forecasted to rise up to seven per cent in 2023, new research predicts.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Canadian families will pay $1,065 more for groceries in 2023, report says

For a family of four, the total annual grocery bill is expected to be $16,288 next year

A woman walks her dog outside the fenced off perimeter of the Montreal Convention Centre ahead of the COP15 UN conference on biodiversity on Dec. 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

‘Paris moment:’ COP15 conference in Montreal seeks hard targets on biodiversity

North America has lost about one-third of its birds in the last 50 years

Protesters march in Beijing, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. China’s tough zero-COVID lockdowns have been linked to a rare wave of protests across the country in recent weeks — but immigration industry experts say the pandemic rules are also fuelling a surge in immigration to Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ng Han Guan

Chinese immigration to Canada record high from 2015, as some flee zero-COVID strategy

COVID restrictions have been a new motivator for potential Chinese immigrants, one expert suggests

Protesters march in Beijing, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. China’s tough zero-COVID lockdowns have been linked to a rare wave of protests across the country in recent weeks — but immigration industry experts say the pandemic rules are also fuelling a surge in immigration to Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ng Han Guan
CF-18 Hornets perform a flypast at the National War Memorial during the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Veterans’ cases raise fresh concerns about expanding assisted dying law

Criteria for MAID is set to expand in March to include those living with mental-health conditions

CF-18 Hornets perform a flypast at the National War Memorial during the National Remembrance Day Ceremony in Ottawa, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. A review of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response says despite being unprepared for the pandemic, the province showed “resilience, balance, and nimbleness” during the emergency.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. COVID response praised for ‘nimbleness,’ despite lack of public trust: review

Authors say online survey on lack of trust was not representative of the population as a whole

B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth speaks during a news conference, in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, April 11, 2022. A review of British Columbia’s COVID-19 response says despite being unprepared for the pandemic, the province showed “resilience, balance, and nimbleness” during the emergency.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Parkland Corp. says it is doubling the size of its previously announced electric vehicle charging network in western Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

B.C. to benefit as Parkland doubles western Canada EV charging network

50 ultra-fast charging stations coming to highways and destinations from Vancouver Island to Calgary

An electric vehicle is charged in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Parkland Corp. says it is doubling the size of its previously announced electric vehicle charging network in western Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Commissioner Paul Rouleau listens to counsel question a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Lawyers for “Freedom Convoy” organizers won their bid to gain access to unredacted versions of 20 documents at the Public Order Emergency Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Emergencies Act hearings end with final words on transparency, accountability

After 300 hours of testimony, 9,000 exhibits and a few major revelations,…

Commissioner Paul Rouleau listens to counsel question a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. Lawyers for “Freedom Convoy” organizers won their bid to gain access to unredacted versions of 20 documents at the Public Order Emergency Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with B.C. Premier David Eby before an announcement at the Richmond Jewish Day School, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, December 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau, Eby talk housing , child care, overdose crisis and more during first meeting

Safe consumption forefront of countering the overdose crisis, prime minister says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with B.C. Premier David Eby before an announcement at the Richmond Jewish Day School, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, December 2, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)

B.C. children’s representative urges immediate help for children with special needs

Thousands of children with special needs receive little or no support: Charlesworth

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)
Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, reads a statement outside B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a New York judge to dismiss the remaining indictment against the Chinese tech executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Four years after Meng Wanzhou’s arrest, U.S. moves to drop remaining indictment

Move is part of deal that saw Meng released in 2021, ending three-year international standoff

Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, reads a statement outside B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a New York judge to dismiss the remaining indictment against the Chinese tech executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People walk along Willow’s beach in Victoria, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Residents of coastal British Columbia are facing another day of winter-like conditions and frigid temperatures as the latest weather system brushes across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Arctic chill over much of B.C., snowy wallop for Vancouver Island: Environment Canada

Outflow warnings for the north and central coasts, Fraser Valley and Whistler

People walk along Willow’s beach in Victoria, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Residents of coastal British Columbia are facing another day of winter-like conditions and frigid temperatures as the latest weather system brushes across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)

B.C. boy needing heart surgery waits, and waits some more

Insufficient staffing, skyrocketing respiratory illness have caused mass B.C. surgery cancellations

Resources being diverted to emergency care is disrupting scheduled surgeries across B.C. (Pixabay photo)
National Security Advisor Jody Thomas appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Ottawa. The national security adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that senior officials are planning ahead for the possibility of another “Freedom Convoy” protest in early 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

National security officials planning for 2023 ‘Freedom Convoy’ reboot: adviser to PM

‘Different action would be taken ahead of time to prevent the settling in to the extent that we saw’

National Security Advisor Jody Thomas appears as a witness at the Public Order Emergency Commission, Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Ottawa. The national security adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that senior officials are planning ahead for the possibility of another “Freedom Convoy” protest in early 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada says important, unresolved issues exist in the pending expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental disorder. (The Canadian Press)

Canada should pause MAID for people with mental disorders: psychiatrists

Clear standards, public education are unresolved issues: national association

The Association of Chairs of Psychiatry in Canada says important, unresolved issues exist in the pending expansion of medical assistance in dying for people with a mental disorder. (The Canadian Press)
This 2009 photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a North Pacific right whale as it surfaces during the Priest Survey in the waters off Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brenda Rone-NOAA Fisheries via AP

Progress being made in fight to save North Atlantic right whale from extinction

Analysts say about 340 North Atlantic right whales survive as of last year

This 2009 photo provided by NOAA Fisheries shows a North Pacific right whale as it surfaces during the Priest Survey in the waters off Alaska. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Brenda Rone-NOAA Fisheries via AP
A hiker passes through along a trail amidst a grove of poplar trees at the Rouge Urban National Park, in Toronto, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The federal environment minister is warning that Ottawa will not provide disaster compensation where a province deliberately allows housing to be built in areas prone to flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini

Feds won’t help provinces for disaster compensation if housing built in flood areas

Environment minister’s comments come after Ontario reveals plans to build in ‘Greenbelt’

A hiker passes through along a trail amidst a grove of poplar trees at the Rouge Urban National Park, in Toronto, Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The federal environment minister is warning that Ottawa will not provide disaster compensation where a province deliberately allows housing to be built in areas prone to flooding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Giordano Ciampini
Elders for Ancient Trees performs at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria to advocate for old-growth protections. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Old growth B.C. flash mob: ‘Stop in the name of love, before you cut those trees’

Shoppers surprised at three malls by flash mob dancers, singers advocating old-growth protection

Elders for Ancient Trees performs at the Bay Centre in downtown Victoria to advocate for old-growth protections. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, centre, speaks to the sergeant-at-arms Véronique Michel, who prevented the three PQ elected members to enter the Blue Room at the legislature in Quebec City, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. The three PQ members refused to swear an oath to the King. St-Pierre Plamondon is flanked by Pascal Berubé, left, and Joël Arseneau. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Parti Québécois barred from Quebec legislature after refusing to take oath to King

PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, two others, blocked from entering

Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, centre, speaks to the sergeant-at-arms Véronique Michel, who prevented the three PQ elected members to enter the Blue Room at the legislature in Quebec City, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. The three PQ members refused to swear an oath to the King. St-Pierre Plamondon is flanked by Pascal Berubé, left, and Joël Arseneau. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Origins Natural Learning Childcare Center in Quispamsis, N.B. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Families across Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care under a Canada-wide plan.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Nunavut reaches $10-a-day average for child care, years ahead of Canada-wide goal

Federal child-care agreements aim for same with every province and territory by 2026

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Origins Natural Learning Childcare Center in Quispamsis, N.B. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Families across Nunavut are now paying an average of $10 a day for child care under a Canada-wide plan.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan