Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
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TOP HEADLINES:
Liberals seek to delay assisted dying expansion
Ministers try to get biodiversity talks on track
Alberta to handle firearms prosecutions: minister
Search of Winnipeg landfill challenging: expert
Stress tests unchanged despite housing slowdown
Ex-CannTrust execs acquitted of all charges
Canada part of NASA mission to study Earth’s water
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TOP NEWS STORIES SINCE LAST ADVISORY:
Liberals seek to delay assisted dying expansion
Assisted-Dying
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — The Liberal government announced Thursday it will seek to delay the expansion of Canada’s assisted-dying regime to include people whose sole underlying conditions are mental disorders. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Trudeau asks for questions, gets wide variety
Trudeau-Twitter
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may not have started the day thinking about whether mermaids reproduce like fish or like humans, but that’s what one person is asking him to consider. By Marie-Danielle Smith. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Alberta to handle firearms prosecutions: minister
Alta-Firearms
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, , — Alberta’s justice minister says provincial prosecutors are to take over the handling of charges under the federal Firearms Act starting in the new year. By Dean Bennett. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Union critical of fed’s salmon licences plans
Salmon-Licence-Retirement
Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada — The union representing British Columbia fishermen says a plan by the federal government to buy back commercial salmon fishing licences is underfunded, lacks transparency and doesn’t address the investments made by harvesters. Wire: Prairies/BC.
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Search of Winnipeg landfill challenging: expert
Mba-Remains
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada — In 2002, investigators started a massive search of Robert Pickton’s pig farm in British Columbia and eventually found the remains of several women. By Steve Lambert. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Escapee sentenced to life for murder of B.C. man
Inmate-Murder-Trial
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — Friends and relatives of murder victim Martin Payne say they are haunted by the actions of “two selfish, reckless” people who chose their victim because his home was near the prison where the men escaped. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Federal workers to return to office part-time
Public-Service
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Treasury Board President Mona Fortier has announced that federal public servants will have to return to in-person office work two to three days per week. By Cindy Tran. Wire: Ontario/Quebec, National. Photos: 1
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Rachel Notley pitches stability to business crowd
Alta-Notley-Chamber
Calgary, Alberta, Canada — Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says she would lead a “stable, no surprises government” focused on growing the Alberta economy and providing strong public health care and education if elected next year. Wire: Prairies/BC.
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Ontario’s flu season may have peaked: Moore
Ont-Health-Care
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — The flu season may have peaked in Ontario, and that should relieve some pressure on children’s hospitals in the near future, the province’s top doctor said Thursday. By Liam Casey. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Virtual walk-ins may strain health system: OMA
Ont-Virtual-Care
Virtual-care clinics may be adding pressure to the overwhelmed health-care system, the Ontario Medical Association said Thursday, even as some patients and doctors say they are vital alternative to an otherwise necessary visit to an emergency room. By Tyler Griffin. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Ontario to open bivalent bookings for kids 5 to 11
Ont-Pediatric-Vaccines
Toronto, , — The Ontario government is expanding eligibility for the COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine to children aged five to 11. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Number of respiratory illnesses surge in Nunavut
Nunavut-Respiratory-Illness
Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada — Nunavut health officials say there has been a surge of respiratory illnesses across the territory this year. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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$400B to axe natural gas generation: report
Ont-Natural-Gas
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Ontario can fully eliminate natural gas generation in its electricity system by 2050, starting with a moratorium in 2027, but it will require about $400 billion in capital spending and new, large-scale nuclear plants, a report said Thursday. By Allison Jones. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Ontario man charged in U.S. probe of ISIS support
Ont-ISIS-FBI-Charge
An Ontario man has been charged after an FBI investigation uncovered an alleged scheme to use online campaigns disguised as humanitarian efforts to raise money for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Wire: Ontario/Quebec.
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Vancouver police issue porch pirate warning
Porch-Pirates
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — Vancouver police say they’ve recovered everything from Nike runners to golf clubs in a months-long investigation into so-called porch pirates. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Senate rises for the winter holiday break
Parliament
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — The Senate wrapped up its fall sitting today and has adjourned for a holiday break, a day after the House of Commons did the same. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Ontario won’t make staycation tax credit permanent
Ont-Staycation
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — Ontario’s tourism minister says the province won’t be extending the staycation tax credit for another year, despite the hard-hit industry recommending the move as a way to help it recover from the pandemic. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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It’s snow fun at COP15 in Montreal this weekend
Cda-Biodiversity-Snow
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — If the weather outside is frightful, bring some extra socks and build a snowman. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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‘Something to Talk About’ songwriter dies at 67
MUSIC-OBIT-Shirley-Eikhard
TORONTO, , — Canadian singer-songwriter Shirley Eikhard, whose flirty track “Something to Talk About” gave Bonnie Raitt her biggest hit and a Grammy Award win, has died after a battle with cancer. By David Friend. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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TOP NEWS STORIES:
Ministers try to get biodiversity talks on track
Cda-Biodiversity
Montreal, Quebec, Canada — A successful biodiversity framework to halt the devastation of global ecosystems and wildlife will require compromise from the world’s wealthy and developing nations both, Canada’s environment minister said Thursday. Wire: National.
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Stress tests unchanged despite housing slowdown
OSFI-Qualifying-Rate
Mortgage stress test levels were left unchanged Thursday as the federal banking regulator and Department of Finance favoured a cautious approach over calls to relax tests to help a slowing housing market. By Ian Bickis. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Ex-CannTrust execs acquitted of all charges
CannTrust-Court
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — An Ontario court has acquitted three former cannabis leaders charged with offences linked to unlicensed growing at a Niagara-area greenhouse. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Canada part of NASA mission to study Earth’s water
Cda-SWOT-Radar
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada — A piece of Canadian radar technology will play a key role in a satellite mission scheduled to launch Friday that aims to study almost all of the Earth’s water surfaces. By Sidhartha Banerjee. Wire: National.
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Canada losing ground on Africa trade: senators
Ng-Senate
Ottawa, , — Senators are warning Trade Minister Mary Ng that Ottawa may be falling behind its peers in establishing deeper trade ties with Africa. By Dylan Robertson. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Report says climate plan underfunded, unclear
Climate-Change-Report
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — A report says Canada’s climate adaptation strategy is underfunded and does not clearly align its goals with the country’s top climate change risks. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Facebook intimidating Canadians: heritage minister
Cda-Facebook-C18
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Federal Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez accused Facebook on Thursday of trying to intimidate Canadians with threats of pulling news content from its platform, following the adoption of Bill C-18 in the House of Commons. By Michel Saba. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Prey-switching behind fatal coyote mauling: study
NS-Coyote-Attack-Theory
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — A new and unusual theory has emerged about the coyotes that killed a young Toronto woman on a Nova Scotia hiking trail 13 years ago. By Michael MacDonald. Wire: Atlantic, National. Photos: 1
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CP rail not liable for Lac-Mégantic crash: court
Lac-Megantic-Judgement
Montreal, Quebec, Canada — A Quebec Superior Court judge says Canadian Pacific Railway is not liable in the 2013 Lac-Mégantic, Que., railway disaster that killed 47 people. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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CREA reports home sales down in November
Cda-Home-Sales
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — The Canadian Real Estate Association says seasonally adjusted home sales were down 3.3 per cent on a month-over-month basis in November. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Blue Jays agree to terms with Kiermaier
BBA-Blue-Jays-Kiermaier
Toronto, , — The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to terms with outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on a US$9-million, one-year contract. Wire: Sports. Photos: 1
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N.S. adds hundreds more beds to hospital project
NS-Hospital-Project
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada — The Nova Scotia government says it is adding 423 more beds and extra operating rooms to a major hospital complex redevelopment project in Halifax. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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Vaccine delay would have cost billions: study
COVID-Vaccinations-Study
A study from the C.D. Howe Institute estimates Canada would have lost $156 billion in economic activity in 2021 had COVID-19 vaccines been rolled out six months later than they were. By Kelly Geraldine Malone. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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N.B. introduces new French immersion program
NB-New French-Program
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada — New Brunswick has proposed a new French immersion program for the next academic year with the goal of ensuring all students graduate with at least a conversational level of the language. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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How to host a holiday dinner on a budget
Money-Monitor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — When Canadians soon gather with loved ones for holiday meals, there will be an unwelcome guest at the dinner table: decades-high inflation. By Tara Deschamps. Wire: Business, Lifestyle. Photos: 1
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Financial intel agency eyes domestic terrorism
Terror-Financing
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada — Efforts by Canada’s financial intelligence agency over the last three years uncovered activity related to homegrown terrorism, the bankrolling of international terrorist groups and attempts by Canadians to take part in extremism abroad. By Jim Bronskill. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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High ticket prices narrow Transat losses
Transat-Rslts
Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Travel company Transat A.T. Inc. closed a challenging year on a high as it set sights on a continued recovery for air travel next year with high prices and even higher demand. By Caitlin Yardley. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Empire selling gas stations in Western Canada
Empire-Rslts
Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Canada — Empire Co. Ltd. is selling 56 gas stations in Western Canada to a subsidiary of Shell Canada for about $100 million in cash. Wire: Business. Photos: 1
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Paralympic curler says club accessibility lacking
CUR-In-The-Rings
Entering a curling club isn’t something Mark Ideson takes for granted. By Donna Spencer. Wire: Sports. Photos: 1
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Pickle vodka recalled over high copper levels
Vodka-Recall
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for Taynton Bay Spirits pickle vodka due to high levels of copper. Wire: National.
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LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE STORIES:
The LJI is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is delivered on the CP wire in the “Y” or spare news category, or you can register to access it at https://lji-ijl.ca. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited by The Canadian Press. Please credit stories to the reporter, their media outlet and the Local Journalism Initiative. Questions should be directed to LJI supervising editor Amy Logan at amy.logan@thecanadianpress.com. Below is a sample of the dozens of stories moved daily:
New Indigenous housing coalition determined to eliminate homelessness
LJI-BC-coalition-eliminate-homelessness
The National Urban, Rural, Northern Indigenous Housing Coalition is a new group formed to provide “for Indigenous by Indigenous” housing solutions to the national Indigenous housing crisis. The coalition is sending a coordinated message to the federal government that ending homelessness should be a priority. 800 words. Odette Auger/Windspeaker.com
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N.B. unions say changes to strike rules ‘unnecessary, unprovoked’
LJI-NB-LABOUR-FOLLO
The New Brunswick government’s proposed changes to the Public Service Relations Act came after “zero consultation” with the public sector, union leaders say. 550 words. Marlo Glass/Telegraph-Journal
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Police dog bites student during class visit
LJI-MAN-POLICE DOG BITE
A Winnipeg student is recovering after being bitten by a police dog during a visit to an elementary classroom. 350 words. Maggie Macintosh/Winnipeg Free Press
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Riding Mountain National Park occupation ends after three years
LJI-MAN-LAKE-AUDY-OCCUPATION
A man who has been living in the Lake Audy area in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba since 2019 has been seemingly arrested by park wardens and had his belongings removed from the area. Wesley Bone took up residence in a kitchen structure within the park in December, 2019, and erected a teepee, signage and steel cattle gates at the Lake Audy entrance, located 123 kilometres north of Brandon. 800 words. PHOTO. Miranda Leybourne/Brandon Sun
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