National News

OTTAWA — Opposition parties panned a plea Friday from the minority Liberal government to speed up passage of a bill aimed at ensuring a federal election could be held safely if need be during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FERNIE, B.C. — A Canadian coal-mining company faces the largest fine imposed under the Fisheries Act after pleading guilty to contaminating waterways in southeastern British Columbia.

OTTAWA — A leading gun-control group is urging MPs to vote against the Liberal government's new firearms bill, saying it is too weak to salvage.

Federal officials are "anxious" over new modelling showing an increase in daily COVID-19 cases, which they say comes at a bad time with several religious holidays nearing, and people wanting to gather with families.

HALIFAX — Another chapter in Sable Island's long history of providing rescue services for struggling seafarers may be about to begin.

OTTAWA — Beginning Monday, travellers could be fined up to $2,000 for trying to slip cannabis into Canada.

OTTAWA — The federal government says it ran a budgetary deficit of $268.2 billion through 10 months of its fiscal year as the treasury pumped out more pandemic aid. The deficit from April to January compares to a deficit of $10.

MONTREAL — A man accused of the attempted murder of a Montreal police officer in January appeared before a judge today.

OTTAWA — The federal government has a new agreement with the provinces that gives upgrades to a program that protects farmers against large declines in income.

MONTREAL — The Crown has laid a second-degree murder charge against a Montreal man whose girlfriend died following an alleged assault last weekend.