Here are the latest Top News stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops.
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TOP HEADLINES:
Trudeau says convoy will not intimidate him
Ottawa protest sparks questions about policing
PM Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19
Ontario businesses welcome customers back
COVID outcomes worse for people with disabilities
Suicidal behaviour rises among Quebec teen girls
Canada close to soccer World Cup qualification
Quebec's Gilles Vigneault pulls music from Spotify
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NEW STORIES SINCE THE LAST TOP NEWS ADVISORY:
Freeland hints budget focus on economic growth
Freeland-Economy
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says making homes more affordable to buy and boosting the country's economic potential will be key considerations in this year's federal budget. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Terry Fox 'above politics,' says hometown mayor
Truckers-Protest-Fox-Statue
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada -- A British Columbia mayor says the defacing of a statue of Terry Fox near Parliament Hill has ignited disbelief among residents in the national hero's hometown, and he's calling on them to channel their frustration into doing something positive. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Federal election cost an estimated $630 million
Election-Report
Ottawa, , -- Last year’s federal election cost an estimated $630 million — more than the estimated $502-million bill for the 2019 poll — partly because of extra costs associated with the pandemic, according to Elections Canada. By Marie Woolf. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Feds introduce bill to buy and provide rapid tests
Rapid-Testing-Bill
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- The federal government introduced legislation on Monday to continue providing as many rapid tests as possible to the provinces and territories. By Erika Ibrahim. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Quebec's Gilles Vigneault pulls music from Spotify
MUSIC-Spotify-Vigneault
Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- Quebec's Gilles Vigneault is the latest musician to pull his catalogue from Spotify, supporting fellow Canadian artists Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in their fight against COVID-19 misinformation on the audio streaming platform. Wire: Entertainment. Photos: 1
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CONVOY PROTESTS:
Trudeau says convoy will not intimidate him
Trucker-Protest
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will neither meet with nor be intimidated by the convoy of Canadians he says spent the last few days harassing local businesses, waving Nazi flags and stealing food from the homeless. By Mia Rabson, Mike Blanchfield and Stephanie Taylor. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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City defends Ottawa police protest response
Trucker-Protest-Police
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Ottawa's mayor and police chief are defending the non-confrontational response to a days-long protest against COVID-19 measures that has paralyzed the national capital's downtown. By Jim Bronskill. Wire: National.
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Alberta mayor angry over border blockade
Trucker-Protest-Border
Coutts, Alberta, Canada -- The mayor of a village in southern Alberta says there will be no mail and some students have not gone to school because of a truck convoy that has blockaded a highway at a busy U.S. border crossing as part of a protest against vaccine mandates. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Caucus colleagues at odds over truck protest
Trucker-Protest-Hunter
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada, , -- Alberta cabinet minister Doug Schweitzer says he wants answers from a fellow caucus member who attended a truckers protest that is snarling traffic at the United States border. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Feds, industry look to solve supply-chain woes
Supply-Chain-Summit
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- The federal transport minister says the government plans to create a suite of policy responses to help ease pandemic-strained supply chains and prevent future flare-ups. Wire: National, Business. Photos: 1
COVID-19 and OMICRON:
Provinces relax restrictions as Trudeau gets COVID
COVID-Cda
Ontario and Quebec began lifting COVID-19 restrictions amid slight decreases in reported hospitalizations Monday while Saskatchewan's premier defended plans to end vaccine requirements there, hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed he tested positive for the virus. By Melissa Couto Zuber. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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PM Justin Trudeau tests positive for COVID-19
COVID-Trudeau
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is feeling well and has no symptoms after testing positive today for COVID-19. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Ontario businesses welcome customers back
COVID-Ont
Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- Ontario restaurants, gyms, and theatres welcomed patrons back as restrictions from the latest pandemic-related shutdown eased on Monday, with customers happy to return and businesses hopeful they'd put widespread COVID-19 closures behind them. By Noushin Ziafati and Holly McKenzie-Sutter. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Quebec gradually reopens from COVID restrictions
COVID-Que
Montreal, , -- Quebec is taking its first steps today toward reopening the province after partially shutting down over the holidays due to record-high hospitalizations. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Back to class for students in N.B. and P.E.I.
COVID-Atlantic
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada -- It was back to class today for students in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island as a result of eased COVID-19 restrictions. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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COVID outcomes worse for people with disabilities
COVID-Disabilities-Study
Sandi Bell knows how difficult it can be for someone with a disability to book a vaccine appointment through an online portal, or feel confident they'll have a ride home from the clinic afterwards. By Melissa Couto Zuber. Wire: Lifestyle. Photos: 1
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OTHER TOP NEWS
Suicidal behaviour rises among Quebec teen girls
Que-Suicides
Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- Quebec's public health institute says the number of girls 15 to 19 who arrived at hospital emergency rooms after attempting to take their own lives rose by 23 per cent from 2020 to 2021. Wire: Ontario/Quebec. Photos: 1
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Petition launched against 'O'Toole carbon tax'
Conservatives-OToole
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- A Conservative riding association has launched a petition against leader Erin O'Toole's decision to introduce a "carbon tax." By Stephanie Taylor. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Minister pledges 2022 fix to immigration backlog
Immigration-Backlog
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government will get back on track by the end of the year after COVID-19 caused a major backlog in the processing of immigration applications and long waits for people seeking status in Canada. By Laura Osman. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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PBO puts estimate on feds' foreign homeowner tax
PBO-Housing
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada -- The parliamentary budget officer is estimating that a new federal tax on vacant, foreign-owned properties may not bring in as much as the Liberals hope. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Trial to begin in Calgary police officer's death
Calgary-Cop-Killed
Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- A trial for the 19-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the hit-and-run death of a Calgary police officer just over a year ago is scheduled to begin today. Wire: National. Photos: 1
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Labrador town to stop use of officer body cameras
NL-Body-Cameras
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada -- A Labrador town has officially ended the use of body cameras for its municipal enforcement officer after the province's privacy commissioner said the program lacked safeguards. Wire: Atlantic.
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N.S. shooting inquiry explains hearings delay
Mass-Shooting-Inquiry
Halifax, , -- The commissioners of the mass shooting inquiry in Nova Scotia say they've sought to balance the desire of victims' families to keep public hearings on schedule and requests of unspecified "other participants" for more time to prepare. By Michael Tutton. Wire: Atlantic. Photos: 1
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No end to transit strike in Sea-to-Sky corridor
Transit-Strike-Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada -- Residents living in several areas along British Columbia's Sea-to-Sky corridor remain without public transit as a labour dispute continues between Unifor and contractors representing BC Transit. Wire: Prairies/BC. Photos: 1
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Canada close to World Cup qualification
SOC-Canada-Men
UNDATED — John Herdman playfully put his fingers in his ears when a reporter suggested World Cup qualification was essentially a fait accompli for his unbeaten team. But the numbers bode well for Canada. 800 words. Wire: Sports By Neil Davidson. PHOTO. Expected by 5 p.m.
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LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE STORIES:
The LJI is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is delivered on the CP wire in the "Y" or spare news category, or you can register to access it at https://lji-ijl.ca. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited by The Canadian Press. Please credit stories to the reporter, their media outlet and the Local Journalism Initiative. Questions should be directed to LJI supervising editor Amy Logan at amy.logan@thecanadianpress.com. Below is a sample of the dozens of stories moved daily:
New program launched in Manitoba to help farmers reach out, seek aid for mental health
LJI-Man-Farmers-Mental-Health
Gerry Friesen knows from his own experiences that the stress and the anxiety that often come along with farming can have real and serious effects on farmers’ mental health. Now, he and others are hoping a new program will help Manitoba farmers to feel comfortable to reach out and seek help when they are struggling. 650 words. Dave Baxter/Winnipeg Sun
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Failing to flower: B.C.’s promise as a craft-cannabis hot spot still stunted
LJI-BC-CraftCannabis-policy
British Columbia has been a mecca for cannabis enthusiasts and growers long before the product became legal in Canada in 2018. But the underground pillar of the province’s economy hasn’t flourished despite the hard-fought battle for legitimacy, industry advocates say. 900 words. Rochelle Baker/Canada's National Observer
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Pandemic highlights gaps in First Nation health care
LJI-MB-COVID-FN
The latest wave of COVID-19 is highlighting the gaps First Nations face in health care, pushing forward a conversation advocates have been having for decades. 750 words. Chelsea Kemp/Brandon Sun
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FROM AP:
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TOP STORIES
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UNITED NATIONS-US-RUSSIA-UKRAINE — Russia accused the West of “whipping up tensions” over Ukraine as the U.N. Security Council held a stormy and bellicose debate on Moscow’s troop buildup near its southern neighbor. The U.S. ambassador shot back that Russia’s growing military force of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders was “the largest mobilization” in Europe in decades. The harsh exchanges came after Moscow lost an attempt to block the meeting — the first open session where all protagonists in the Ukraine crisis spoke publicly. With: UKRAINE-TENSIONS-THINGS-TO-KNOW (sent) and UKRAINE-SECURITY-CHIEF-INTERVIEW (sent). Developing.
BRITAIN-POLITICS — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized for lockdown-flouting parties at 10 Downing St. But Johnson insisted that he and his government can be trusted. Johnson told lawmakers in the House of Commons on Monday that he would make changes to the way the government is run in the wake of the “partygate” scandal. By Jill Lawless. SENT: 920 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK — Omicron’s race across the globe has amped up concerns about long COVID, which some estimates suggest affects a third of COVID-19 survivors. Long COVID symptoms can include pain, fatigue and brain fog weeks or months after the initial infection. As coronavirus infections soar worldwide, scientists are racing to pinpoint the cause of the baffling condition and find new treatments before a potential explosion of cases. By AP Medical Writers By Laura Ungar and Lindsey Tanner. SENT: 1,440 words, photos.
AHMAUD-ARBERY-HATE CRIMES — The parents of Ahmaud Arbery are speaking out against a proposed plea deal with their son’s killers. They want a federal judge to reject it and proceed with a hate crimes trial for Travis and Greg McMichael. There was no mention of a plea deal for William “Roddie” Bryan, who joined the chase and recorded cellphone video of Travis McMichael fatally shooting Arbery. All three were sentenced to life for murder in state court. By Russ Bynum. SENT: 480 words, photos. Developing.
CALIFORNIA-DEATH ROW — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is moving to dismantle the nation’s largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons. The plan comes nearly three years after Newsom, a Democrat, imposed a moratorium on executions so long as he is governor. By Don Thompson. SENT: 760 words, photos.
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OLYMPICS
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OLY--CLIMATE CHANGE & WINTER SPORTS — Olympic athletes in Alpine skiing and other outdoor sports dependent on snow are worried as they see winters disappearing. Ski racers who will compete entirely on artificial snow during the Beijing Games in February know that global warming is threatening the future of their sport. The present is not terrific, either. By Pat Graham and Howard Fendrich. SENT: 1,500 words, photos, video.
OLY--SKI-WEATHER OR NOT — Winter Olympians in outdoor sports such as Alpine skiing or snowboarding say the weather can be a key factor in success or failure. The wind, the light, the temperature and whether or not there is any precipitation can affect all sorts of things during competition, creating another source of stress at a one-day-every-four-years spectacle already filled with them. By Howard Fendrich and Pat Graham. SENT: 850 words, photos by 4 a.m. ET.
OLY-OLYMPIC-QUIZ — Which team did the U.S. beat to win gold in curling? What year was luge introduced at the Olympics? Which Soviet hockey players from 1980 are now in the Hall of Fame? As the Beijing Games draw closer, test your knowledge of the Winter Olympics with this 20-question quiz. Better study hard — and be ready to grade on a curve! By Noah Trister. SENT: 580 words, photo.
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TRENDING NEWS
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PEOPLE-RIHANNA — Rihanna and A$AP Rocky took an epic stroll over the weekend in snowy New York to reveal she’s pregnant with her first child. SENT: 300 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-CANADA — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has tested positive for COVID-19, but is ``feeling fine″ and will continue working remotely. SENT: 160 words
ITALY-DOLCE&GABANA-FUR FREE — Dolce&Gabbana says it will drop the use of animal fur in all its collections starting this year, and transition to eco-friendly faux fur. SENT: 140 words, photo.
SYNAGOGUES-VANDALISM — Officials say a synagogue and an affiliated Jewish school in Chicago were vandalized over the weekend with swastika images and antisemitic graffiti. SENT: 130 words.
BOMB THREATS-BLACK UNIVERSITIES — At least six historically Black universities in five states and the District of Columbia were responding to bomb threats Monday, with many of them locking down their campuses for a time. SENT: 410 words.
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MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK
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MED-MODERNA-VACCINE — U.S. health regulators have given full approval to Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine after reviewing additional data on its safety and effectiveness. The decision Monday by the Food and Drug Administration comes after many tens of millions of Americans have already received the shot under its original emergency authorization. SENT: 410 words, photo.
SCHOOLS-CYBER ATTACK — Cybersecurity experts say that ransomware attacks on K-12 schools have increased during the pandemic. Cyberattacks have crippled schools in recent weeks as teachers become more reliant on computers to take attendance and deliver lessons. Before the pandemic, cyber hacks of schools rarely led to canceled classes. Snow days are less frequent because children can learn from home when there’s bad weather. SENT: 1,230 words, photos.
MED—WHO-TURMOIL IN ASIA — The head of the World Health Organization said there is an investigation underway into alleged reports the U.N. health agency’s top official in the Western Pacific engaged in racist, unethical and abusive behavior. That follows a report last week by The Associated Press. SENT: 500 words, photo.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-LUNAR NEW YEAR — People across Asia prepared Monday for muted Lunar New Year celebrations amid concerns over the coronavirus and virulent omicron variant, but were looking ahead with hope that the region’s high vaccination rates might bring life closer to normal in the coming year. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN — Tokyo has launched a mass inoculation drive for COVID-19 booster shots at a temporary center operated by the military as Japan tries to speed up delayed third jabs to counter surging infections. SENT: 500 words, photos.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-RUSSIA — The Russian capital has started offering a domestically developed coronavirus vaccine to children in the 12-17 age group amid the country’s biggest infection surge yet due to the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant. SENT: 580 words, photo.
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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BIDEN-INFRASTRUCTURE — President Joe Biden is urging U.S. governors to ramp up their construction plans as his administration rolls out a guidebook for accessing the nearly $1 trillion made available by the bipartisan infrastructure deal. Biden welcomed governors to the White House on Monday as part of the winter meeting of the National Governors Association. SENT: 520 words, photos.
GEORGIA-ELECTION-INVESTIGATION — The prosecutor who’s investigating whether Donald Trump and others broke the law by trying to pressure Georgia officials to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election victory is asking the FBI for security help. The request comes after the former president railed against prosecutors investigating him. SENT: 680 words, photos.
UNITED STATES-QATAR — President Joe Biden is preparing to host the ruling leader of Qatar at the White House as the West faces the prospect of a European energy crunch if Russia invades Ukraine. Qatar is one of the world’s biggest natural gas suppliers, but it might only be able to offer limited assistance if Russia disrupts the flow of energy supplies to Europe. SENT: 1,100 words, photo. Developing from meeting at 2 p.m.
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NATIONAL
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GEORGE FLOYD-OFFICERS-CIVIL RIGHTS — The former head of training for the Minneapolis Police Department is back on the witness stand in the trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights. Katie Blackwell testified last week that the three officers did not follow department policy when Floyd was killed. Prosecutors say Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao deprived Floyd of his rights when they failed to give him medical aid as Officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck. SENT: 510 words, photos.
REL-VIRTUAL-REALITY FAITH — Many Americans — some traditionally religious, some religiously unaffiliated — are finding a sense of community through virtual reality, a rising trend as the pandemic has accelerated a shift to online worship services. Gatherings range from traditional Christian services that sometimes include virtual sacraments to spiritual meditations in fantasy worlds. SENT: 1,160 words, photos.
LOUISIANA-POLICE-DEATH-FEDERAL PROBE — Louisiana’s top GOP lawmaker is weighing taking legislative action against Gov. John Bel Edwards for “gross misconduct and the highest level of deceit” in his response to the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene. SENT: 550 words, photos.
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INTERNATIONAL
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KOREAS TENSIONS — North Korea has confirmed it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam in its most significant launch in almost five years. SENT: 980 words, photos.
PERSIAN GULF-TENSIONS — The United Arab Emirates says it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels as the Israeli president is visiting the country. The rebels have been launching their longest-range attacks yet as Emirati-backed forces press on the Houthis. Sent: 1,040 words, photos.
EUROPE-STORMS — The Dutch coast guard says rescue helicopters have evacuated all 18 crew members from a ship that was left drifting rudderless in a wind turbine park off the Dutch North Sea coast after colliding with another ship during a powerful storm. The collision happened Monday as Storm Corrie lashed parts of the northern Europe. SENT: 400 words.
CYPRUS RAPE CASE — The Supreme Court in Cyprus has overturned a British woman’s conviction for making up claims she was gang-raped by as many as a dozen Israelis. The woman was 19 at the time of her trial. SENT: 540 words, photos.
GERMANY POLICE SHOT — Police in Germany say two officers have been shot dead while on a routine patrol in the western part of the country. Two suspects were detained hours later. SENT: 320 words, photos.
MYANMAR-PROTEST — Security forces in Myanmar have arrested dozens of people in a preemptive move to suppress plans for a nationwide strike on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the army’s seizure of power. SENT: 4120 words, photo.
HONG KONG-NEW YEAR FEAST-PHOTO GALLERY — Tighter COVID-19 restrictions, including a ban on dining in restaurants after 6 p.m., mean many Hong Kong families are eating their reunion dinner on Lunar New Year’s eve at home this year. SENT: 390 words, photos.
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BUSINESS
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FINANCIAL MARKETS — Stocks are rising Monday, trimming some of their worst monthly loss since the early days of the pandemic, as Wall Street closes a tumultuous January wracked by worries that imminent interest-rate hikes will make everything in markets more challenging. SENT: 840 words, photo.
INSIDER Q&A-BATTERY-RECYCLING — Among the biggest challenges to transforming automobiles from combustion engines to electricity to fight climate change is the shortage of metals needed to make batteries. SENT: 880 words, photos.
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SPORTS
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SUPERBOWL LOOKAHEAD — The Cincinnati Bengals were the NFL’s worst team two years ago. Now they’re headed to the Super Bowl to play the Los Angeles Rams in the Rams’ home stadium. Matching the biggest comeback in an AFC championship game, the Bengals rallied from an 18-point hole to stun Kansas City 27-24 in overtime Sunday for their first trip to the big game since the 1988 season. SENT: 640 words, photos.
SOC-ENGLAND TRANSFERS — Christian Eriksen is set for a remarkable playing comeback after signing for Premier League club Brentford, almost eight months after having a cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field at the European Championship. On the final day of the January transfer window, Manchester City also signed Argentina striker Julian Alvarez to help its title defense. SENT: 850 words, photos.
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ENTERTAINMENT
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OBIT-SAM-LAY — Sam Lay, a Chicago blues drummer and vocalist who played with Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, has died. He was 86. SENT: 200 words.
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The Canadian Press
