New U.S. guidelines say people fully inoculated against COVID-19 can drop some precautions when gathering with others, but at least two provincial health ministers say existing public health advice holds for now. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday that Americans who have waited two weeks since their second required shot can spend…

EDMONTON—Alberta is lifting more COVID-19 public-health restrictions, including permitting more shoppers in retail stores and malls. Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the retail limit is increasing to 25 percent capacity from 15 percent. Banquet halls, community halls and conference centres can also open for meetings, while weddings of up to 10 people and funeral services…

The constitutional rights and freedoms of Canadians are front and centre in a flurry of legal challenges to pandemic measures, as civil liberties groups take on multiple cases they say represent unconstitutional measures implemented by authorities. The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) has court actions underway or pending, as of Feb. 25, against five provinces…

VANCOUVER—A legal advocacy group challenging British Columbia’s COVID-19 restrictions on worship services and public protests is scheduled to be in court today to argue its case. A petition filed by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms also asks the B.C. Supreme Court to dismiss tickets of up to $2,300 each for alleged violations of the…

OTTAWA—Canada is poised to receive a record number of COVID-19 vaccine doses this week thanks to scheduled deliveries from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, as the country looks to speed up its vaccination efforts. The Public Health Agency of Canada says it expects more than 640,000 shots from the pharmaceutical giants this week, which would represent the…

OTTAWA—The vast majority of Canadians blame Ottawa rather than provincial governments for delays in COVID-19 vaccine delivery, a new poll suggests. Sixty-nine percent of respondents believe Canada is behind on deliveries due to federal challenges obtaining doses on the global market, according to an online survey by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies. Only…

OTTAWA—Frustrations with government efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic has led major businesses in this country to decide to take some matters into their own hands to avoid further lockdowns. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is unveiling this morning an advisory group of 20 chief and senior executives to help businesses large and small manage…

OTTAWA—Adults from racialized communities disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic should be prioritized for shots in the second stage of the vaccination campaign, says new guidance from Canada’s national advisory committee on immunization. The advice also would see all essential workers who can’t do their jobs from home moved into the second stage, instead of…

OTTAWA—Kelly Ernst recalls standing on sidewalks, waving to needy families in Calgary’s northeast as they opened their doors to pick up food hampers. Ernst, vice-president for vulnerable populations at Calgary’s Centre for Newcomers, said the memory speaks to how COVID-19 hurt the community, socially and economically. Ernst said the Skyview Ranch neighbourhood is one of…

OTTAWA—The federal government’s handling of COVID-19 vaccination campaign is set to dominate the agenda when Parliament resumes today. Members of Parliament are expected to work together to again allow virtual attendance in the House of Commons as many provinces remain in lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic. They are also set to adopt…