Trial to begin for men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at Coutts blockade

A jury is to start hearing evidence today in the trial of two men charged with conspiracy to commit murder during the border protest at Coutts, Alta.

Anthony Olienick and Chris Carbert were arrested after RCMP found a cache of guns and ammunition in trailers in the tiny border community in February 2022.

The two accused, who have been in custody since they were arrested, are also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

They are to officially enter pleas before the Crown gives an opening statement.

Freeland says committee finding that some MPs aided foreign interference 'concerning'

Canada's deputy prime minister says the finding that some Canadian members of Parliament were "wittingly" helping foreign state actors is "concerning," but she trusts that law enforcement will do its job. 

Chrystia Freeland's comments come after a committee of MPs and senators released a report Monday that said intelligence shows foreign actors worked to foster relationships with parliamentarians. 

B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead after prison assault in Quebec

Robert Pickton, one of Canada's most notorious serial killers, died on Friday, 12 days after he was assaulted in prison.

Pickton, an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution in Quebec, was 74.

For some, the death brings closure. But it also leaves open questions about the botched police investigation into Pickton, who was convicted in 2007 of six counts of second-degree murder but was suspected of killing dozens more women at his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Trudeau to attend G7 summit in Italy, Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to attend the G7 leaders' summit next month in Italy, followed by the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. 

In a news release today, the Prime Minister's Office says Trudeau's focus at the G7 summit will be on highlighting the importance of democracy, promoting fair economic growth and combating foreign interference.

Trudeau's office says he will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and discuss the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars.

RCMP adds ribbon skirt to uniform in effort to build bridges with Indigenous people

The RCMP has added a traditional Indigenous ribbon skirt to its uniform.

Commissioner Mike Duheme has announced on social media that officers can now wear the ribbon skirts when donning the red serge.

He says the addition demonstrates the RCMP's commitment to reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion.

The RCMP did not immediately provide more details.

Officers have also been allowed to incorporate eagle feathers and the Métis sash into their uniforms.

Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, 18% are boycotting Loblaw: poll

Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.

A new Leger survey found that almost 30 per cent of Canadians believe food inflation has been primarily caused by grocery stores trying to increase profit margins. Another 26 per cent think it’s mostly due to global economic factors, while one in five blame the federal government

Inflation on groceries was 1.4 per cent in April and helped drive overall inflation lower to 2.7 per cent, Statistics Canada said.

London Drugs says it's unwilling to pay ransom demanded by hackers

Retailer London Drugs says it is "unwilling and unable" to pay a multimillion-dollar ransom to cybercriminals who claim to have stolen data in a hacking attack that recently shut down its stores for more than a week.

The company says in a statement that the criminals could leak stolen corporate files containing employee information on the dark web, calling the situation "deeply distressing."

It says it notified all employees and is providing them with two years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services.

Wildfire forces out thousands of residents in parts of Fort McMurray, Alta.

Thousands of residents in four neighbourhoods in the southern end of Fort McMurray were ordered out Tuesday as a wildfire threatened the Alberta city, bringing back memories of a devastating fire eight years earlier. 

The Rural Municipality of Wood Buffalo directed residents in Beacon Hill, Abasand, Prairie Creek and Grayling Terrace needed to leave by late afternoon.

Dozens of London Drugs stores reopen after cybersecurity shutdown

London Drugs is gradually reopening its stores across Western Canada more than a week after a cybersecurity breach forced the retailer to close.

The company says it is working with independent cybersecurity experts to securely bring its systems back online after it was discovered April 28.

The Richmond, B.C.-based pharmacy and retailer operates about 80 London Drugs locations across Western Canada.

The retailer says on its website more than two dozen stores are back in operation in B.C., while six are open in Alberta, three in Saskatchewan and one in Manitoba.

London Drugs phone lines working, stores still closed after cybersecurity incident

London Drugs says its phone lines are working again after being taken offline in response to a cybersecurity incident

A statement from the Richmond, B.C.-based pharmacy and retail chain says Canada Post offices inside London Drugs stores are also up and running again.

The company closed all of its stores across Western Canada until further notice after the incident was discovered on Sunday.