Coronavirus

A person walks among trucks as Wellington Street is lined with trucks during a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

‘Leave the area now,’ police warn downtown Ottawa demonstrators

Officials say anyone coming to Ottawa to join the ongoing demonstration is breaking the law

A person walks among trucks as Wellington Street is lined with trucks during a protest against COVID-19 measures that has grown into a broader anti-government protest, in Ottawa, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions in the B.C. legislature, Feb. 14, 2022. (Hansard TV)

Health, not honking reduces B.C. COVID-19 rules, Horgan says

Weddings, night clubs, theatres return to full capacity Thursday

B.C. Premier John Horgan takes questions in the B.C. legislature, Feb. 14, 2022. (Hansard TV)
FILE – A nearly empty Granville Street entertainment district is seen just before 10 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Dancing back, gatherings uncapped: B.C. keeps masks, vaccine cards in COVID restriction update

Majority of COVID-19 restrictions will lift as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday

FILE – A nearly empty Granville Street entertainment district is seen just before 10 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Vancouver, on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A traveler drops off their baggage at Toronto Pearson International Airport, on Thursday, December 16, 2021. The federal government is warning Canadians against non-essential travel internationally due to the risk of the Omicron variant that causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin

Vaccinated Canadians can take antigen test instead of PCR for pre-arrival COVID testing: feds

Canada lowering travel advisory level, no longer urging against non-essential travel

A traveler drops off their baggage at Toronto Pearson International Airport, on Thursday, December 16, 2021. The federal government is warning Canadians against non-essential travel internationally due to the risk of the Omicron variant that causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

16 people arrested at Pacific Highway border crossing in South Surrey

Border re-opened to vehicle, pedestrian traffic

The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
As B.C. nears two years since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, Health Minister Adrian Dix in Vancouver and Dr. Bonnie Henry in Victoria update pandemic conditions, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. health officials expected to announce plan for easing some COVID-19 restrictions

Current provincial health orders scheduled to expire Wednesday

As B.C. nears two years since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, Health Minister Adrian Dix in Vancouver and Dr. Bonnie Henry in Victoria update pandemic conditions, Jan. 14, 2022. (B.C. government photo)
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos responds to a question during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada expected to announce changes to COVID-19 border restrictions today

Country now advises against all non-essential international travel because of the Omicron variant

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos responds to a question during a news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney removes his mask as he gives a COVID-19 update in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Court denies challenge of government decision to lift mask mandate in Alberta schools

Judge rejects Alberta Federation of Labour appeal, citing ‘no evidence of irreparable harm’

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney removes his mask as he gives a COVID-19 update in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Anti-vaccine mandate trucker protest drew hundreds of people to the Pacific Highway border crossing in South Surrey on Saturday. (DriveBC photo)

Pacific Highway border crossing opens, Surrey RCMP diverting traffic

Protest has reduced in size significantly since Saturday

Anti-vaccine mandate trucker protest drew hundreds of people to the Pacific Highway border crossing in South Surrey on Saturday. (DriveBC photo)
Antigovernment blockades continue to paralyze Ottawa and shutter multiple border crossings. (Canadian Press)

UPDATE: Trudeau invokes Emergencies Act as ‘illegal blockades’ drag on

PM expected to announce move today after phone call with provincial and territorial premiers

Antigovernment blockades continue to paralyze Ottawa and shutter multiple border crossings. (Canadian Press)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford puts his mask back on after speaking during a news conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Public health responses to protect against the Omicron variant vary across Canada, even as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country’s two most populous provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Ontario to lift most COVID-19 restrictions by March 1 but will keep masks

Some capacity rules will begin to lift as soon as Feb. 17

Ontario Premier Doug Ford puts his mask back on after speaking during a news conference at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Public health responses to protect against the Omicron variant vary across Canada, even as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country’s two most populous provinces. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Traffic flows over the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., Monday, February 14, 2022 after protesters blocked the major border crossing for nearly a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne

Ambassador Bridge border crossing reopens, CBSA says

Traffic flowing normally across bridge between Windsor and Detroit for first time in nearly a week

Traffic flows over the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., Monday, February 14, 2022 after protesters blocked the major border crossing for nearly a week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nicole Osborne
A resident holds a sign calling for a convoy participant to remove their Canadian flag as they negotiate to release vehicles from a counter protest that blocked Riverside Drive for hours, in Ottawa, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The protest, which began as a cross country convoy against COVID-19 measures but has manifested into a broader anti-government protest, has been marked by the sound of truck horns and the waving of the Canadian flag, sometimes upside down, which residents argued was a co-opting of the flag. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Ottawa mayor pushes to shrink convoy footprint, as feds eye action

Ottawa’s mayor has set a deadline of noon today for truckers encamped…

A resident holds a sign calling for a convoy participant to remove their Canadian flag as they negotiate to release vehicles from a counter protest that blocked Riverside Drive for hours, in Ottawa, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. The protest, which began as a cross country convoy against COVID-19 measures but has manifested into a broader anti-government protest, has been marked by the sound of truck horns and the waving of the Canadian flag, sometimes upside down, which residents argued was a co-opting of the flag. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Sooke School District 62 said provincial guidelines don’t require them to upgrade the ventilation systems to MERV 13, despite claims made by the Sooke Teacher’s Association last week. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sooke School District addresses teachers’ substandard ventilation claim

Given choice, SD62 opted to improve air change in schools rather than install finer filters

The Sooke School District 62 said provincial guidelines don’t require them to upgrade the ventilation systems to MERV 13, despite claims made by the Sooke Teacher’s Association last week. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Protesters gather on Parliament hill as trucks continue to block the downtown core in protest of COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Emergencies Act could freeze protest trucks out of area around Parliament Hill

Act could lead to forced towing and regulation or prohibition of public assembly

Protesters gather on Parliament hill as trucks continue to block the downtown core in protest of COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa, Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
People gather for an anti-mandate protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, February 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

City of Ottawa strikes deal with organizers of anti-mandate protests, mayor says

Organizers agree to leave residential areas, gather only around Parliament Hill

People gather for an anti-mandate protest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, February 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Arrests underway at Pacific Highway border crossing anti-mandate protest in South Surrey

Some protesters still remain from yesterday’s anti-vaccine mandate event

The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
A protester is arrested by as police remove truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after blocking the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in Windsor, Ont., on Sunday, February 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Windsor, Ont. mayor says protest over at Canada-U.S. border crossing

Windsor police said about 12 people arrested, mostly charged with mischief, and a few vehicles towed

A protester is arrested by as police remove truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after blocking the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in Windsor, Ont., on Sunday, February 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Police walk the line to remove all truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after protesters blocked the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, in Windsor, Ont., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Police in Windsor, Ont. step up effort to end protest at Canada-U.S. border crossing

Police say they’re towing vehicles that are refusing to leave

Police walk the line to remove all truckers and supporters after a court injunction gave police the power to enforce the law after protesters blocked the access leading from the Ambassador Bridge, linking Detroit and Windsor, as truckers and their supporters continue to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions, in Windsor, Ont., Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

Protesters break through RCMP barricade, block Surrey border crossing

The convoy took off from Chilliwack earlier on Saturday (Feb. 12) for the third week of protest

The “3rd Lower Mainland Freedom Convoy” arrived in South Surrey Saturday (Feb. 12) after starting in Chilliwack earlier in the morning. (Photo: Lauren Collins)