National News

HALIFAX — Former federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough, a political trailblazer who paved the way for women in politics, died Saturday in Halifax at the age of 77. Her family confirmed McDonough's death after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

A doctor and a psychologist say Health Canada’s move to allow physicians to request restricted psychedelic drugs for patients as part of their psychotherapy is a positive step toward transforming mental-health care.

Alexa McDonough, the trail-blazing politician who paved the way for women in the field, has died. She was 77.

MONTREAL — The abrupt departure of Quebec’s public health director last week was further evidence of the rocky road being navigated by the country's chief medical officers as the Omicron wave pushes the pandemic fight toward a third year.

OTTAWA — A YouTuber who gives investment tips helped fund the escape of 170 Afghans from the Taliban to Canada.

OTTAWA — Canada's foreign affairs minister is heading to Ukraine amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion. Melanie Joly is to depart Sunday for Kyiv on a weeklong trip that will include stops in Paris and Brussels.

TORONTO — No winning ticket was sold for the $17 million jackpot in Friday's Lotto Max draw. The jackpot for the next draw on Jan. 18 will be an estimated $22 million. The Canadian Press

IQALUIT, Nunavut — Iqaluit resident Kinguatsiaq Kinguatsiaq says he smelled fuel in his water a couple of days ago but assumed it must be something else. "I figured I was wrong because I thought the situation had been resolved," he said.

A look at the latest COVID-19 news in Canada: — Some Ontario school boards say classes could be cancelled with very little notice if they don't have enough teachers available due to high rates of COVID-19.

Montreal police say a 17-year-old boy is dead following a shooting Thursday evening in the city's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.