National News

Communities in southeastern Manitoba continue to trend above the national average when it comes to making charitable donations. 

Statistics Canada released data this week from the 2021 tax year. It shows that the median donation per tax filer in Canada that year was $360 and for Manitoba was $550. Both those averages were up slightly from 2020.  The median amount represents the middle point: half of the donors gave more than the median and the other half gave less. 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say they will be gifting King Charles with a new horse, Noble, ahead of the monarch's upcoming coronation in May.

The RCMP says the King will be presented with the horse, which is also being given in recognition of the federal service's 150th anniversary, at a ceremony.

It says the King personally requested a horse from the musical ride to eventually be his new charger when his current steed, George, retires.

The musical ride is a troop of police horse riders who perform intricate formations and drills set to music.

Daylight Saving Time begins on March 12. It is a yearly routine that results in adjustments not only to our watches but also to our internal clocks.

What is the impact of time change? How does it affect our sleeping patterns and how significantly do these changes in sleep affect our health?

Justice Minister David Lametti says the federal government will move forward quickly on "targeted reforms" to the Criminal Code that would update Canada's bail system.

Lametti says the reforms will address challenges posed by repeat violent offenders and those facing firearms and other weapons charges. 

He made the commitment this afternoon following what he called a good and productive meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts.

Canada's intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections.

A newly released report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service urges policy-makers and the technology industry to consider steps that can be taken to address and ease the emerging security threat before "smart city" platforms are widely adopted.

People who have been convicted of a number of indecency and anti-abortion offences that are no longer on the books can now have those convictions expunged.

The list of "historically unjust offences" is being expanded to include a raft of charges that date back to 1892 and were largely directed at the LGBTQ community and women.

The government says police historically used certain indecency charges to target and raid bathhouses, LGBTQ nightclubs and swingers clubs.

The Canadian lunar rover could soon help reveal the moon's dark side. 

The country’s first moon rover is set to put the Canadian Space Agency at the forefront of space exploration, helping in the global search for frozen water on the celestial body.

Tidally locked to the Earth, the moon doesn’t spin on its axis but only orbits the planet, leaving the far side permanently dark, cold and unexplored.

The United Nations is bracing for a further increase in the number of refugees this year, as last month's earthquake in Turkey and Syria adds to a series of crises that has the world looking to Canada for more help.

"The need around the world is enormous," said Kelly Clements, the UN's deputy high commissioner for refugees, on a visit to Canada this week.

"It's the beginning of what we anticipate will be another very difficult year."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Manitoba will achieve an average of $10-a-day child care by April 2, which is three years ahead of schedule. 

Trudeau says it is a great reminder of what can be done when governments work together.

Manitoba signed onto the Liberal government's national child-care plan in 2021, which saw Ottawa commit $1.2 billion to the province over five years. 

Premier Heather Stefanson says hitting the milestone early is important for the future of Manitoba families. 

The RCMP is not investigating any allegations of foreign interference concerning the last general election, the federal deputy minister of public safety told a parliamentary committee Wednesday.

Shawn Tupper was appearing at the committee on procedure and House affairs, which is looking into accusations of Chinese meddling in the 2019 and 2021 elections.

The Liberal government has come under pressure in recent weeks to explain what Canada is doing about accusations of Chinese interference in the elections following leaks to the media from unnamed security sources.