National News

WINNIPEG — The president of the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives defended the vote that saw Premier Heather Stefanson become leader of the party during a court challenge by her rival.

OTTAWA — MPs have been advised to wear parliamentary attire, which means a jacket and tie for men, in the new hybrid Parliament that begins in earnest this week.

OTTAWA — The federal government tabled a new, tougher bill Monday to ban conversion therapy in Canada, comparing the practice to "torture.

MONTREAL — Rising international demand for maple syrup and a drop in production last year have created a global shortage — but Quebec's strategic reserve is ready to hold the line.

OTTAWA — An expert on substance use policy says there should be clearer standards for publicly funded residential addiction treatment programs in Canada.

WHITEHORSE — Yukon's Coroner's Service says the territory's opioid overdose rate per capita is now the highest in Canada with a reported 48.4 deaths per 100,000 people.

OTTAWA — The United States is pressing Canada to commit medical units and drones to United Nations missions at a peacekeeping summit in South Korea next week, and to come up with a 200-strong force first promised four years ago.

OTTAWA — A date has been set for the government to deliver its promised apology to victims of military sexual misconduct. The Department of National Defence announced Monday that the apology will be delivered on Dec. 13 and come in the three parts.

PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S.

MONTREAL — Quebec confirmed its first case of the Omicron novel coronavirus variant on Monday, and officials said 115 travellers who recently returned to the province from affected countries, primarily in southern Africa, have been told to take a PCR