National News

OTTAWA — The commander of the Royal Canadian Navy has released a new video warning the force is in a "critical state," with ships that are beyond their life cycle and a severe shortage of sailors to operate them.

Quebec's legislature has unanimously adopted a motion in defence of Christmas.

The federal government has paused and plans to reworka $2-million contract with an international group hired to provide advice on identifying and locating the unmarked graves of children who attended residential schools.

MONTREAL — A Quebec coroner is asking provincial and federal ski bodies to review their training and safety practices after a six-year-old girl died when she was dragged by a T-bar lift during a ski lesson in January.

OTTAWA — The Bank of Canada’s public consultations on the creation of a digital Canadian dollar reveal most respondents are opposed to it.

SAGUENAY, Que. — Quebec's police watchdog says it is investigating after police in Saguenay, Que., shot and killed a man who was allegedly armed with a knife.

LAVAL, Que. — The preliminary hearing for a man accused of killing two children in February when he allegedly drove a city bus into a Laval, Que., daycare is set to begin on March 25.

El Niño is associated with warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean to the west of South America, which affects the global jet stream pattern.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents said the volume of newcomers is also adding pressure to the country's education systems.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today...