National News

Different levels of government involved in trying to bring an end to the mass demonstrations in Ottawa and several border crossings last winter were not always on the same page, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Wednesday.

But he says the important thing is that, in the end, there was unity between the city, the province and the federal government, including over the decision to invoke the federal Emergencies Act in mid-February to bring an end to the weeks-long events.

A British Columbia community has declared a state of local emergency as a drought drags on and the area risks running out of drinking water. 

The Sunshine Coast Regional District, the District of Sechelt and the shíshálh Nation issued the declaration Monday, saying the first order affects non-essential commercial uses of water, including for swimming pools, breweries and concrete, asphalt and gravel businesses. 

The inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act will hear first-hand testimony Monday from top City of Ottawa officials about February's "Freedom Convoy" protest, including the mayor. 

Outgoing mayor Jim Watson, his chief of staff and the city’s manager are expected to detail for the commission the efforts they took to peacefully end protests in Ottawa. 

The commander of the Canadian Armed Forces is calling on the country to rally behind its military as it faces an unprecedented personnel crisis that he says is threatening its ability to protect and defend Canada.

“We’re here to defend our way of life, now and into the future,” chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre said. “So we need a whole-of-society effort to help us bring the Armed Forces back to where it needs to be for the dangerous world ahead.”

The inquiry into the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act is expected to hear first-hand testimony about the impact February's "Freedom Convoy" protest had on the people and businesses in downtown Ottawa. 

The first six witnesses are expected to give their testimony Friday. 

- Ottawa lawyer Victoria De La Ronde is the first witness on the list. 

-- Zexi Li is the 21-year-old public servant who filed a class-action lawsuit against Freedom Convoy organizers and participants on behalf of her fellow downtown Ottawa residents.

An officer who worked with outreach and mental health teams and a veteran constable who was a trained crisis negotiator were identified Wednesday as the two police officers who died after a shooting in Innisfil, Ont. – an event that left residents of the quiet community in shock. 

The South Simcoe Police Service said the officers had responded to a disturbance at a home in the town north of Toronto around 8 p.m. Tuesday when the shooting took place. 

The public inquiry investigating the federal government's unprecedented use of the Emergencies Act in February begins today in downtown Ottawa.

Parties to the inquiry including "Freedom Convoy" organizers, the prime minister, seven federal ministers, police forces and officials from all levels of government are expected to appear in the coming weeks.

Commissioner Paul Rouleau and his staff are expected to spend the first day presenting documents and evidence ahead of witness testimony starting Friday.

In an effort to send a message of unity, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has welcomed two former leadership rivals to serve as critics in Parliament — but he has also left out two of the party's more prominent names.

Ontario members of Parliament Scott Aitchison and Leslyn Lewis are among the group of 51 Tory MPs chosen to go head-to-head with Liberal government ministers on certain files, according to a list Poilievre's office released Wednesday. 

But well-known caucus members Ed Fast and Michelle Rempel Garner are off the list.

Danielle Smith, sworn in Tuesday as Alberta's new premier, said she will shake up the top tier of the health system within three months and amend provincial human rights law to protect those who choose not to get vaccinated.

“(The unvaccinated) have been the most discriminated-against group that I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime,” Smith told reporters at the legislature.

Police north of Toronto say two officers are dead after they were shot while responding to a disturbance call on Tuesday night. 

South Simcoe Police Service say the shooting happened at a home in the town of Innisfil, Ont., just before 8 p.m.

Police say both officers were taken to a nearby hospital, where one officer died. 

They say the second officer later died after he was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre in critical condition.

Ontario's police watchdog agency, the Special Investigations Unit, has been called in to investigate.