National News

OTTAWA — The voice of Canadian municipalities says communities across the country are facing a financial crisis due to COVID-19 that puts people at further risk.

TORONTO — Measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country's prisons violate their human rights even if authorities are acting in the context of a public health emergency, Canada's prison ombudsman said on Friday.

OTTAWA — Pregnant women will receive help from a key COVID-19 emergency-aid program and will be given a way to access federal maternity benefits even if they aren't working due to the pandemic, says Canada's employment minister.

OTTAWA — Quality problems with medical supplies bought from other countries should not be a surprise given the global surge in demand, says Procurement Minister Anita Anand.

VANCOUVER — Gangs and organized crime groups in B.C. are changing how they operate and run their illegal business due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, police forces say.

WASHINGTON — The mutual understanding, diplomatic ties and personal relationships that were forged in the fires of the North American trade talks of 2018 have been essential to the success of a shared bilateral effort to manage the COVID-19 crisis, s

OTTAWA — The federal government is providing rent relief to businesses that can't afford to pay their landlords at a time when their operations are seriously curtailed or shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

LLOYDMINSTER, Alta. — Gerald Aalbers lives and works in Alberta, but he can see Saskatchewan from his office window. As the mayor of Lloydminster, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary, he's dealt with some unique situations.

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of April 24 ... --- COVID-19 in Canada ...

Canada's farmers markets, traditionally reliant on bustling crowds paying cash for locally produced food, seem particularly ill-suited to the age of physical distancing.