National News

WINNIPEG — Canada's premiers kicked off their annual three-day conference Monday by meeting with Indigenous leaders on issues including housing, child welfare and reconciliation.

VANCOUVER — All campfires across British Columbia were banned Monday, except on the North Coast island of Haida Gwaii, after thousands of lightning strikes and worsening drought conditions resulted in more than 100 new wildfires over the weekend.

MONTREAL — Officials have ordered the evacuation of 220 homes in Ste-Brigitte-de-Laval, Que., near Quebec City, amid fears that rising water levels will lead to flooding.

OTTAWA — A spokesman for Pierre Poilievre said Mondaythe federal Conservative leader does not agree with the message of "straight pride," after he was photographed with a man wearing a T-shirt bearing those words.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will continue to strongly advocate that cluster bombs "should not be used," after the United States announced it is sending the munitions to help Ukraine's war effort against Russian aggressors.

HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is facing accusations from a former judge who says misinformation and ignorance were behind the attorney general's decision last week to dismiss him as the commissioner leading a high-profile inquiry.

RIGA, Latvia — It will take another three years for Canada to make good on its commitment to grow a multinational NATO battle group in Latvia to a combat-ready brigade, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed Monday.

YELLOWKNIFE — The Northwest Territories government says it plans to increase the minimum wage by almost 5.6 per cent to reflect an increase in the consumer price index. The territory says its minimum hourly wage will increase from $15.20 to $16.

TORONTO — A shooting in downtown Toronto that sent two people to hospital with serious injuries Monday morning could be the result of road rage following street racing, police said as they worked to identify those responsible.

MONTREAL — For the first time since the end of May Quebec's forest fire prevention agency says there are no out-of-control wildfires in the province.