National News

REGINA — Students across the country will face different learning environments following Easter break as communities that are hot spots for COVID-19 variants make tough decisions about whether to keep kids home.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6:10 p.m. British Columbia is reporting 832 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C.

OTTAWA — The RCMP watchdog has waited more than two years for the national police force to respond to its interim report that found, perhaps fittingly, the Mounties were too slow in reviewing the watchdog's findings in an earlier matter.

WASHINGTON — The largest industrial union in North America came to Canada's defence Thursday, vowing to protect businesses and workers north of the border from the growing peril of protectionism in the United States.

TORONTO — An Ontario-wide "shutdown" will be put in place to combat an "alarming" surge in COVID-19 infections, Premier Doug Ford said Thursday as intensive care admissions related to the virus surpassed those of the second wave of the pandemic.

HALIFAX — Canadian officials are challenging American allegations that fishing gear from Canada is to blame for the entanglement of a North Atlantic right whale found dead off South Carolina.

Ontario is going into a provincewide "shutdown" starting Saturday, with stricter measures imposed for at least four weeks.

OTTAWA — The Trudeau Liberals are asking the public for views on reforming the key federal transparency law, which the government acknowledges is sorely outdated.

TORONTO — The latest COVID-19 modelling in Ontario shows a stay-at-home order is necessary to control the third wave of the pandemic, which is being driven by the more deadly and contagious variants of concern.

OTTAWA — The commission overseeing leaders' debates during federal elections says Indigenous media outlet APTN will be one of the broadcast partners producing the next event.