National News

OTTAWA — Newly minted Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Wednesday there is nothing 'really new" in the political rhetoric between Alberta and Ottawa around climate change this week, and shrugged off any suggestion his appointment will make

MONTREAL — A legal challenge to Quebec's vaccination mandate for health-care workers was before Quebec Superior Court on Wednesday, with the judge assuring he will proceed even if the province decides to further delay a deadline set for next month.

VICTORIA — The number of containers that fell into the ocean from a cargo ship off Victoria is up to 109 from the original estimate of 40, the coast guard said Wednesday.

IQALUIT — Nunavut's capital city says it expects tests on its drinking water to show undetectable levels of fuel. Iqaluit is under a state of emergency and its roughly 8,000 residents haven't been able to consume tap water since Oct.

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's health minister said Wednesday there are serious questions about whether reports of a mysterious brain disease that has alarmed residents and stumped the province's medical community are substantiated.

OTTAWA — Canada and its international partners need to do more to strengthen Afghanistan's neighbours if they want to help vulnerable people flee the Taliban-controlled country, says a top United Nations official.

Indigenous leaders say Pope Francis must be ready to deliver an apology for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools if he visits Canada. "An apology is the beginning," said Cowessess First Nation Chief Cadmus Delorme.

OTTAWA — Jagmeet Singh says Canada should consider having a permanent hybrid Parliament to attract more women and parents with young children to federal politics.

MONTREAL — Facing a deluge of criticism from transgender-rights advocates in the province, Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette says he is open to seeking better solutions over proposed changes to the province's family law tabled last week.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced today it plans to change the name of Red Indian Lake to Beothuk Lake following a series of public consultations aimed at supporting reconciliation.