National News

OTTAWA — Just over a year ago, Bill Blair took the reins of a new federal ministry — border security and organized crime reduction — hived off from veteran minister Ralph Goodale's sprawling public safety and emergency preparedness portfolio.

OTTAWA — The Pentagon's top watchdog is painting a gloomy picture about the five-year-old fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, warning that recent actions in Syria have allowed ISIL extremists to regroup, strengthening their abilit

LAVAL, Que. — Police in Laval, Que., are fighting impaired driving by teaming up with 24 bars in the city to offer free non-alcoholic drinks to designated drivers.

EDMONTON — An environmental law firm is asking a court to strike down Alberta's inquiry into the role that foreign money has in financing the activities of charities that oppose the oilsands.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will be bringing a collaborative message to a meeting Friday with Justin Trudeau, despite the frequent attacks the prime minister launched against him during the federal election campaign.

VANCOUVER — When Ravi Jain heard about the experience of an actor in Victoria who alleges she was denied an opportunity to audition for a role in "Les Belles-soeurs" (The Sisters-in-Law) because she is black, it was a familiar story.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — A 911 call from a woman who was running for a train has prompted police in southern Ontario to remind people that the number is meant for emergencies only.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is working on learning French and thinks it will be "pretty easy" to pick up. He told Radio-Canada during the Progressive Conservative leadership race last year that he would be willing to learn it.

HALIFAX — As she was fitted for a crisp new uniform in 2017, Amanda Assoun thought her lifelong dream of becoming a Halifax police officer was coming true.

John Mann, whose voice rang through countless Canadian celebrations as the lead singer of Celtic-inflected Spirit of the West, has died after a battle with early onset Alzheimer's. He was 57.