National News

Alberta's education minister says she will take advice from the province's new chief medical health officer on whether to allow school boards to bring in mask mandates in schools with respiratory illness outbreaks.

The Edmonton public school board has asked Alberta Health and Alberta Education whether it can require masks as schools deal with a wave of viral illnesses that is sending thousands of students home sick and straining hospitals.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has complained to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about alleged media leaks, and accused him of harming diplomatic relations.

The two had a discussion Wednesday at an event during the G20 summit in Indonesia and media were able to record the brief conversation.

"Everything we discuss has been leaked to the paper; that's not appropriate," Xi told Trudeau through an interpreter.

"That's not how, the way the conversation was conducted. If there is sincerity on your part --" Xi said, at which point Trudeau interrupted.

The federal government has formally banned the top echelons of the Iranian regime from Canada, with a new, rarely used designation now in place that allows border agents to deny foreigners access to the country.

Federal cabinet ministers confirmed during a virtual press conference on Monday that the measure brought in through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act promised more than a month ago has now come into effect.

It also allows Canadian authorities to investigate any Iranian officials who are already in Canada, the ministers confirmed. 

A foreign supply of children's pain and fever medication should land on Canadian retail shelves in the coming weeks, Health Canada said Monday.

The agency, which had previously announced it was importing acetaminophen and ibuprofen to be distributed to hospitals, said the new retail supply should help families struggling to treat their sick children. 

The move follows a months-long shortage of Tylenol, Advil and alternative brands that has sent many parents and caregivers scouring bare shelves and swapping tips on drug sightings. 

The "Freedom Convoy" protests that took over downtown Ottawa last winter and inspired several border blockades caused serious concerns about Canada's international reputation and its economic security, senior Canadian officials say. 

Their testimony Monday evening at the Public Order Emergency Commission, along with new documentary evidence, suggests diplomats were getting anxious questions and forceful pleas from United States officials worried about the halt of trade by protesters blocking key border crossings.

Liberal cabinet ministers deemed last winter's "Freedom Convoy" protests a threat to national security, despite warnings from the federal intelligence agency that threshold was not met, an inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act learned Monday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Feb. 14, arguing its temporary and extraordinary powers were needed to end blockades in Ottawa and at border crossings.

Firefighters in Regina are combing through the splintered remains of a multi-unit house checking for survivors after an explosion Sunday that was so loud, people in other parts of the city reported hearing it.

"We believe that everybody right now that lived in the property has been accounted for but ... we're searching the property completely with heavy equipment right now, pulling it apart piece by piece just to make sure nobody else was in the property," deputy fire chief Gord Hewitt said by phone Sunday evening. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Bali, Indonesia on Monday for a gathering of leaders from the G-20 countries. 

The world's largest 20 economies meet each year in an attempt to collectively mitigate risks to the global economic system and find progress on issues ranging from climate change to nuclear safety.

As the summit host, Indonesia has asked leaders to focus on shoring up health systems and boosting food and energy security.

Indonesia has stressed the importance of focusing on consensus instead of division, a view at odds with Ottawa.

Emergency supplies of pain and fever medication are expected to arrive soon at hospitals overwhelmed by respiratory illnesses but observers say more can be done to guard against future drug shortages.

Health Canada says special imports of ibuprofen from the United States are awaiting distribution, while acetaminophen imports from Australia are imminent.

The agency did not disclose how much was expected or how stock will be split among hospitals, but promised “fair distribution of supply across Canada.”

Ukrainian police officers and TV and radio services returned Saturday to the southern city of Kherson following the withdrawal of Russian troops, part of fast but cautious efforts to make the only regional capital captured by Moscow's forces livable after more than eight months under occupation.