National News

Pharmacare negotiations between the Liberals and NDP are on a knife's edge, and the main point of contention is the number of drugs they plan to start with.

If the parties reach a deal, they plan to begin by launching with a select few drug categories while they continue to formulate a more robust national drug plan, two sources with knowledge of the talks said.

The parties have already agreed to cover birth control through a single-payer program in the first go around, and they are also in talks to include diabetes drugs in the program.

A Manitoba man who was switched at birth and raised without being aware of his Indigenous heritage for more than 60 years says he feels a sense of belonging after receiving his Métis citizenship.

"My identity is something I lost a long time ago," Edward Ambrose said in a news release. 

"I’m 68 now, so being welcomed into the Red River Métis family really touches my heart."

Ambrose received his Manitoba Métis Federation citizenship card in Winnipeg on Tuesday. 

He was accompanied by his daughter, Eileen, and his biological sister Leona.

The man accused of killing five family members, including his three young children, was warned by a judge to get his methamphetamine addiction under control or risk losing everything.

Ryan Howard Manoakeesick faces five counts of first−degree murder in the deaths of his 30−year−old common−law partner, six−year−old daughter, four−year−old son and two−month−old baby girl, as well as his partner’s 17−year−old niece.

A judge had warned Manoakeesick years earlier that he needed help with his addiction before things "completely spiral out of control."

A mother, her three young children, including a two−month−old daughter, and a teenage family member killed in Manitoba are being remembered as beautiful souls.

An obituary has identified the victims as Amanda Clearwater, her children, Bethany, Jayven, and Isabella Manoakeesick, and niece Myah−Lee Gratton.

Family and friends have also been sharing stories of the family on social media, calling their deaths tragic, unimaginable and a horrible nightmare.

Their bodies were found Sunday at multiple crime scenes in and around the town of Carman, southwest of Winnipeg.

RCMP say a woman, her three young children and a teen relative were found dead Sunday at different locations in southern Manitoba. The woman's partner, 29-year-old Ryan Howard Manoakeesick of Carman, has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder.

Here is a timeline of the police response to the killings. All times are local:

7:30 a.m.

Officers are called to a report of a hit and run on Highway 3, south of Carman, where they find the body of a 30-year-old woman in a ditch.

10 a.m.

Disregarded policies and a failure of management led to the development of the inordinately costly and much-maligned ArriveCan app, an investigation by Canada's auditor general has found. 

The federal government launched the app in April 2020 as a way to track health and contact information for people entering Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to digitize customs and immigration declarations.

The auditor found the government's reliance on sole-sourced external contractors drove up the price of the app, and those costs weren't properly tracked.

Ottawa says it is aware of reports that another Canadian citizen has gone missing in the Gaza Strip.

Global Affairs Canada says it is providing consular assistance to the family but can't share more because of privacy considerations. 

The Associated Press reports that Israeli forces detained two young adult American brothers and their Canadian father in Gaza in an overnight raid.

Relatives of the men say they were taken from their home.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is putting nearly $200 million in new money toward supporting low-income renters and shelters.

Ottawa is pouring an additional $99 million into the Canada Housing Benefit, which offers financial support for low-income renters in partnership with provinces and territories.

Freeland says another $100 million will go toward emergency winter funding to help shelters to create more spaces for people without housing.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is wishing King Charles a speedy recovery after Buckingham Palace revealed the monarch has been diagnosed with cancer. 

Trudeau says after hearing the news, he's thinking about the King, just like countless others across Canada and around the world. 

The palace did not release additional details, except to say the cancer is not related to the King's recent treatment for a benign prostate condition. 

Canada's famous prognosticating rodents appeared to reach a consensus on Groundhog Day, as furry forecasters spanning three provinces predicted an early spring.

Ontario's Wiarton Willie, Nova Scotia's Shubenacadie Sam and Quebec's Fred la Marmotte all reportedly did not see their shadows on Friday morning. According to centuries-old folklore, that's good news for Canadians tired of wintry weather.