The Canadian Press

The City of Merritt in British Columbia's Interior is launching a four-day work week pilot program in the hope of attracting, recruiting and retaining municipal workers.

The one-year trial, approved by council on Tuesday, will see city hall closed on Mondays, with operational hours extended Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., an extra hour and 45 minutes each day.

Sean Smith, Merritt’s chief administrative officer, said wages won't change but the city is hoping the compressed work week will allow it to compete with other jurisdictions for staff.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to let a cabinet order enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the Canadian border expire at the end of this month.

The news was confirmed by two senior government sources, who spoke to The Canadian Press on the condition they not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The federal government is still deciding whether to maintain the requirement for passengers to wear face masks on trains and airplanes.

An Inuk man who alleges he was sexually abused by a former Oblate priest in Nunavut when he was 13 years old says meeting the man face to face after nearly three decades was a relief. 

Steve Mapsalak was part of a delegation led by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., a group representing Nunavut Inuit, that travelled to France last week to seek the extradition of Johannes Rivoire to Canada. The group met with French and Oblate officials, as well as with Rivoire himself.

An Amber Alert has been cancelled for the child who authorities say was taken from BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver on Monday.

A statement from Vancouver police says the three-year-old and his mother were found near Calgary early Tuesday.

Police say the boy is now receiving care and his mother has been arrested.

The Amber Alert was first issued shortly after 11 p.m. Monday.

Investigators said the child had been in treatment at BC Children's Hospital when he was abducted about 11 hours earlier.

Russia’s foreign ministry summoned Canada’s ambassador on Monday, saying an unidentified person threw a Molotov cocktail at the country’s embassy in Ottawa. 

Moscow claims Ottawa police have turned a blind eye to “aggressive demonstrators” blocking public access to the embassy’s consular section.

In a Russian-language statement Monday afternoon, the ministry says authorities aren’t doing enough to prevent or detain those committing “hostile actions” against Russia’s diplomatic staff.

08:50 Sep 19th, 2022
Queen-Cda
Mourners look on as Queen Elizabeth's funeral procession makes way through streets
By: Morgan Lowrie
Location: London
Source: The Canadian Press

Mourners lining the streets of London stood by in respectful silence on Monday as a procession made up of military members and Queen Elizabeth's family carried her coffin past city landmarks at the end of her official state funeral. 

The toll of bells, crescendo of bagpipes and echo of drums abruptly gave way to sombre silence early Monday morning as state funeral proceedings for Queen Elizabeth got underway at historic Westminster Abbey.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, led the Canadian delegation that was ushered into the church in the hours leading up to the service.

They were seated a few rows behind Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her husband, the Canadian delegation members sitting closest to King Charles III and other senior royals.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared Sept. 19 a federal holiday to mourn Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her state funeral in London. Some provinces are closing schools and select workplaces, while others are not recognizing the holiday. Here's what it means:

What did the federal government announce? 

The prime minister announced on Tuesday that Sept. 19 will be a federal holiday. 

All federal government employees will have the day off, but the same does not automatically apply to workers in federally regulated industries such as banks and airlines. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his British counterpart Sunday as world leaders converged on London for Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Trudeau was at 10 Downing Street early in the afternoon, where he was scheduled to meet with Liz Truss. 

He was seen arriving shortly after 1 p.m. and leaving after about 40 minutes.

Earlier, Trudeau met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a London hotel.

Trudeau said they were meeting at a time of "reflection and condolences" but that the two leaders also had important matters to discuss.

The Manitoba government is planning to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for a second year while discussions continue about making it an official statutory holiday. 

The province says in a news release that non-essential government services and offices are to close on Sept. 30, also known as Orange Shirt Day. 

Schools in the province will also be closed for the day.

The government is encouraging all licensed early learning and childcare facilities to remain open as essential services supporting families.