National News

OTTAWA — The Department of National Defence says military police have launched an investigation following allegations former defence chief Jonathan Vance engaged in inappropriate conduct.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 5:45 p.m. Alberta is reporting 582 new cases of COVID-19 and 13 additional deaths due to the virus.

MONTREAL — Politicians and civil rights groups said Thursday an independent investigation is needed to determine how a Montreal man ended up in jail for almost a week before allegations that he tried to kill a police officer were suddenly dropped.

OTTAWA — The union representing front-line RCMP officers is asking federal and provincial officials to consider Mounties for priority access to COVID-19 vaccination.

VICTORIA — British Columbia's education minister said safety protocols must evolve alongside the COVID-19 pandemic as she announced an expansion of mask requirements in schools.

OTTAWA — The high uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in Indigenous communities might show a level of trust in the government but it remains "thin," Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Thursday as he outlined next steps to tackling racism in health

The federal government says a ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters will stay in place for one more year. The ban until Feb.

OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives called Thursday for a special House of Commons committee to study Canada-U.S. relations, a move that appeared to win tacit support from the Liberal foreign affairs minister.

OTTAWA — Canada's pay equity commissioner says the first raises under soon-to-be-enacted legislation should happen by 2024.

MONTREAL — While the prospect of mass vaccination has raised hopes of the COVID-19 crisis soon waning, oncologists and cancer researchers say one of its grim legacies may be a lingering increase in cancer mortality rates.