Canada's police chiefs are calling for decriminalization of personal possession of illicit drugs as the best way to battle substance abuse and addiction. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is proposing increased access to health care, treatment and social services to divert people away from the criminal justice system. This would apply to people possessing a small amount of illicit drugs for personal consumption. Chief Const. Adam Palmer of Vancouver, the association president, says Canada continues to grapple with the fentanyl crisis and a poisoned drug supply that has devastated

Canada is joining an international group of nearly two dozen other countries working to protect the world's oceans.The Global Ocean Alliance, founded by Great Britain last year, seeks to protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. Its 22 members include European countries such as Italy, Germany and Sweden, as well as island states such as Fiji and the Seychelles.Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan made the announcement in Ottawa this morning.Canada has announced a conservation target of 25 per cent of its marine and coastal areas by 2025, and has already protected 14 per cen

A new report from a committee of senators says the country is ill-prepared to handle a second wave of COVID-19. The Senate's social affairs committee says the federal government needs to pay urgent attention to seniors in long-term care homes where outbreaks and deaths in the pandemic have been concentrated. There are also concerns in the report about the vulnerability of low-income seniors should there be a second wave of the novel coronavirus later this year. The document made public this morning is the committee's first set of observations on the government's response to the pandemic, with

There are 106,434 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 56,079 confirmed (including 5,603 deaths, 25,534 resolved) Ontario: 36,178 confirmed (including 2,700 deaths, 31,805 resolved) Alberta: 8,482 confirmed (including 158 deaths, 7,716 resolved) British Columbia: 3,008 confirmed (including 186 deaths, 2,645 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,066 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 998 resolved) Saskatchewan: 808 confirmed (including 15 deaths, 746 resolved) Manitoba: 314 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 312 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 258 resolved) Ne

A hospital in Edmonton is no longer admitting patients due to a full outbreak of COVID-19. An outbreak at the Misericordia Community Hospital was first declared by Alberta's chief medical health officer two weeks ago, and restrictions were tightened as case numbers increased. Alberta Health Services says that 20 patients and 15 staff have tested positive. Three patients have died from the infection. The hospital, which is run by Catholic health provider Covenant Health, is not allowing visitors except in end of life situations and is postponing day procedures. The health agency says people wh

The Liberals are projecting the deficit will soar to $343.2 billion in 2020-2021 due to pandemic relief programs.That is a historic level and 43-billion-dollars beyond even the highest private sector predictions.Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government expects nearly two-million Canadians will remain out of work this year as the COVID-19 pandemic drags down the economy.In the event of a second wave of infections, the government is forecasting a deeper and longer-lasting negative impact on the economy. The COVID-19 fiscal snapshot: By the numbersEstimated federal deficit for 2020-21:

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Rideau Hall intruder had been a person of colour the outcome would have been different. Military reservist and Manitoba businessman Corey Hurren is in an Ottawa jail facing 22 charges for allegedly carrying weapons and making a threat against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Police say they arrested Hurren early on July 2, about 200 metres from Trudeau's front door, after he allegedly rammed his pickup truck through gates at Rideau Hall and then ran with a loaded gun through the grounds towards Trudeau's residence. Singh says systemic racism is at play when H

There are 106,167 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 55,997 confirmed (including 5,590 deaths, 25,458 resolved) Ontario: 36,060 confirmed (including 2,691 deaths, 31,603 resolved) Alberta: 8,436 confirmed (including 157 deaths, 7,659 resolved) British Columbia: 2,990 confirmed (including 183 deaths, 2,645 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,065 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 998 resolved) Saskatchewan: 806 confirmed (including 15 deaths, 737 resolved) Manitoba: 314 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 307 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 258 resolved) Ne

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer was spotted Tuesday in a Toronto airport lounge not wearing a mandatory mask.Two separate photos of the bare-faced party leader sitting comfortably in a waiting area circulated online but his office says he was wearing a mask for his trip.A spokesperson said the photos must have been taken after he doffed the covering to take a call but before he put it back on.Toronto's Pearson airport currently has a policy that masks must be worn at all times to curb the spread of COVID-19, with limited exceptions that include being at a food or beverage service location.Th