National News

Holiday spirit shines through as COVID dashes plans for gatherings and celebrations

Fewer Canadians gathered around twinkling Christmas trees to tear open presents with friends and family Saturday as COVID-19 put a damper on festivities for a second straight year, but the holiday spirit still managed to shine through for many.

Dec 25, 2021 3:59 PM Read more >

Canadian scientists involved in James Webb space telescope say it's a dream come true

MONTREAL — As the world tuned in on Christmas morning to see NASA's James Webb Space Telescope lift off, Canadian scientists who played a crucial part in its creation were emotional.

Dec 25, 2021 3:14 PM Read more >

B.C. pushes for black market cannabis to go legal, faces criticism from craft growers

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has convinced many illegal cannabis growers to begin selling legally in an effort to squeeze out illicit marijuana from the marketplace, but the efforts have faced criticism from the craft growing industry.

Dec 25, 2021 6:00 AM Read more >

No winning ticket for Friday's $23 million Lotto Max jackpot

TORONTO — No winning ticket was sold for the $23 million jackpot in Friday's Lotto Max draw. However, the $250,000 runner up prize went to a lottery player in Quebec. The jackpot for the next Lotto Max draw on Dec.

Dec 25, 2021 3:34 AM Read more >

COVID-19 has been a lesson in Greek letters, one variant at a time

VANCOUVER — The Greek alphabet arrived on the global stage and into everyday lexicon riding on waves of the novel coronavirus as the World Health Organization began naming variants in the Glagolitic script.

Dec 24, 2021 9:42 PM Read more >

Charges no longer proceeding against journalists arrested at B.C. pipeline protest

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Charges are no longer being pursued against two journalists who were arrested last month while reporting on the RCMP's enforcement of an injunction at a pipeline construction site in northern British Columbia.

Dec 24, 2021 6:52 PM Read more >

B.C. health officer asks residents to change holiday plans if feeling unwell

VICTORIA — British Columbia has hit its COVID-19 testing capacity as the provincial health officer asked residents Friday to not get tested unless they have symptoms. Dr.

Dec 24, 2021 5:40 PM Read more >

COVID highs in Quebec, Ontario and other provinces as Nunavut orders lockdown

Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia reported record high COVID-19 case counts on Christmas Eve as Nunavut ordered a full lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.

Dec 24, 2021 2:29 PM Read more >

Feds still plan to act on credit card fees as merchants worry over pandemic delays

OTTAWA — The Finance Department said the federal government hasn't abandoned a Liberal pledge to lower the fees merchants pay every time a shopper pays with a credit card.

Dec 24, 2021 2:20 PM Read more >

Polls suggest decline in mental health, but point to clues on how to address it

OTTAWA — A review of polling data is giving a new sense of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the mental health of Canadians, but may also offers clues for how to address it during the holiday season.

Dec 24, 2021 1:53 PM Read more >