National News

OTTAWA — With a growing sentiment that Julie Payette's abrupt departure from Rideau Hall provides an opportunity for Canada to have its first Indigenous governor general, Perry Bellegarde laughs when asked if he's been taking French lessons.

VANCOUVER — A government-commissioned panel has rejected the idea of introducing a basic income for all in British Columbia, saying the billions of dollars would be better spent patching holes in the social safety net.

OTTAWA — The federal government intends to make Jan. 29 a day to honour victims of the deadly 2017 attack on a Quebec City mosque.

VANCOUVER — Two men found guilty of British Columbia's most notorious gang killings will be allowed to argue the case should be thrown out because their rights were violated by police and correctional officers.

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget office says a pledge by the Trudeau Liberals to plant two billion trees could cost almost double what the government says.

WASHINGTON — Canada's Liberal government cheered Thursday as President Joe Biden reversed a U.S. policy that denies federal funding to international aid organizations that support abortion.

MONTREAL — Former Parti Quebecois leader Andre Boisclair will return court in mid-April to face charges related to two separate sexual assault cases. Boisclair was not in court today when the judge fixed the date for April 16.

OTTAWA — The co-founder of the Quebec City mosque where six people were killed and many others injured four years ago this week laments the lack of federal progress on handgun control in a new letter to the prime minister.

MONTREAL — Concordia University says it has modified information provided to students in an art history course after one student said he was surprised to discover the professor delivering the video lectures had died in 2019.

TORONTO — The controversial head of the council responsible for handling complaints against federal judges has retired.