National News

OTTAWA — Non-profit groups that wanted to use the Canada Student Service Grant to hire volunteers say they have not heard a peep from the federal government since WE Charity walked away from running the $912-million program almost two weeks ago.

MONTREAL — The global protests spurred by George Floyd's death at the hands of police in Minneapolis took a colourful form in Montreal Wednesday, where some 20 artists painted a giant "Black Lives Matter" message down a city street.

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — A commercial fisherman knew he was staring at a fish out of place when a barracuda landed in his net on Vancouver Island, far from its typical habitat in southern California.

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada will keep its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent until the national economic picture improves, which governor Tiff Macklem said Wednesday will take "a long time.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Nearly two weeks after a loosened travel agreement between their provinces came into effect, Atlantic Canadian premiers are not rushing to set a date to welcome visitors from the rest of the country.

MONTREAL — The leader of the Bloc Quebecois is categorically denying allegations that were made against him Tuesday night in an anonymous Facebook post. Yves-Francois Blanchet reacted today through his spokeswoman, Carolane Landry.

IQALUIT, Nunavut — Nunavut is reporting two presumptive cases of COVID-19 at an iron mine on the northern tip of Baffin Island. The territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a confirmed case of the infection.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada and the country's police chiefs have agreed to help collect and report data about Indigenous and ethnocultural groups when compiling information on victims and accused people.

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 July 15 ... What we are watching in Canada ... ST-APOLLINAIRE, Que.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador will have a new premier in August as a Liberal leadership race disrupted by COVID-19 barrels ahead amid heightened scrutiny.