National News

A push from the Bloc Québécois for the House of Commons to confirm the right to an abortion failed Tuesday, as Conservative MPs were warned against commenting on the U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that has thrown the issue back into the domestic spotlight.

Canadian leaders are among the millions reacting to the news first reported Monday by Politico of a leaked draft opinion by the U.S. top court, suggesting it could overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion countrywide.

The Conservative party says six leadership candidates have cleared the final hurdles to getting their names on the ballot, while three others who did not make the cut are pushing back.

Pierre Poilievre, the bombastic Tory finance critic whose rallies have at times drawn thousands, and Jean Charest, the former Quebec premier who is appealing to more centrist Conservatives, are both candidates in the race to replace former leader Erin O'Toole.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says it looking into reports of severe acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, among young children in Canada.

The federal agency says the cases are being investigated to determine if they are related to those in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

A spokesperson did not share any further details, such as the number of cases, age of the children or their health condition.

Holocaust survivors across the world have united to deliver a message on the dangers of unchecked hate and the importance of remembrance at a time of rising global antisemitism.

In a video released Thursday to mark Yom HaShoah -- Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day -- 100 Holocaust survivors asked people to stand with them and remember the Nazi genocide to avoid repeating the horrors of the past.

The federal Liberals are moving ahead on a special all-party, security-cleared committee to review documents related to the firing of two scientists from the national microbiology laboratory — even if the Conservatives continue to rebuff the plan.

Government House leader Mark Holland said Wednesday the NDP has agreed to the idea, and he hopes the Tories and Bloc Québécois will also participate.

The latest census data from 2021 shows Canada’s seniors over the age of 85 are among the fastest growing age groups in the country, marking another milestone on the slow march to what experts warn will be a crisis in care for the country’s elders.

Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people aged 85 and older grew by 12 per cent — more than twice as high as the overall growth of the Canadian population at 5.2 per cent. 

The number of people over 85 more than doubled since the 2001 census, and is expected to triple by 2046.

The search for a five-year-old Saskatchewan boy, missing in the province's north for more than a week, is still being treated as a rescue mission.

Chief Fabian Head of the Red Earth Cree Nation, 300 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, says the search will not stop until Frank Young is found.

"We won't give up hope," Head said at a news conference Tuesday. 

In recent days, the search has become more complex as annual spring runoff has made the Carrot River rise several metres, stalling search efforts by boat, he said.

Police have laid charges in relation to a stabbing at Pigeon Lake Regional School.

On Monday (Apr. 25) at 10:55 a.m., RCMP received a complaint of a stabbing at the school. 

Upon arrival, RCMP reportedly found a 16-year-old victim with injuries — the victim was taken by ambulance to hospital and remains in stable condition.

RCMP have charged a 16-year-old male youth with attempted murder and aggravated assault.

The teenager has been released from custody on conditions with his next court appearance set for June 1.

Federal ministers defended the government's use of the Emergencies Act Monday as they announced an independent public inquiry to investigate the use of the act to end blockades at Canadian border crossings and in Ottawa earlier this year.

The Liberal government declared an emergency under the act for the first time in history on Feb. 14, granting extraordinary temporary powers to police to clear people out and to banks to freeze the accounts of some of those involved.

Federal ministers defended the government's use of the Emergencies Act Monday as they announced an independent public inquiry to investigate the use of the act to end blockades at Canadian border crossings and in Ottawa earlier this year.

The Liberal government declared an emergency under the act for the first time in history on Feb. 14, granting extraordinary temporary powers to police to clear people out and to banks to freeze the accounts of some of those involved.