U.S. House Republicans flailed through a long second day of fruitless balloting Wednesday before adjourning for the night, unable to either elect their leader Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker or come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority. Yet McCarthy not only wasn’t giving up, even after the fourth, fifth and sixth ballots produced no better outcome and he was left trying to call off a night-time session. Even that was controversial, as the House voted — amid shouting —Read more

An Ontario cabinet minister called Russia a “terrorist state” this week, saying more than 39,000 Ukrainians displaced by the Russian war with Ukraine have come to Ontario to settle. Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s minister responsible for Ukraine, made the comment in an email to CBC Toronto on Monday that outlined the support that the provincial government is providing to Ukrainians in Ontario who have fled the conflict. McNaughton is also Ontario’s minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. In April, the provincial government said it was spending $300 million toRead more

Some drivers slow down when they see the sign, others keep speed and let the metal bars ring out. And sometimes, superstitious passengers lift their legs and touch the roof of the car with the tips of their fingers, kind of like you would do to cross a railroad track. Cattle guards are everywhere in the Prairies. They’re even found in national and provincial parks. In Alberta, they are known as Texas gates. That’s how they appear on road signs, in some municipal legislation and provincial Hansard references. But ask a Texan,Read more

Thomas Milic is the only player on Canada’s roster passed over at the NHL draft. An incredible performance Wednesday has his country one step from its 20th gold medal at the world junior hockey championship. Milic was outstanding in making 43 saves as the tournament hosts fought back from an early 2-0 semifinal deficit in Halifax to defeat the United States 6-2 in another emotional matchup between the bitter international rivals. “Definitely the best moment of my hockey career and maybe my life,” said the 19-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C. “Pretty special.”Read more

Outside the Scarlet Ibis, a sign states it’s the most remote pub on the island Tim Sangha and some friends were on a motorcycle trip through northern Vancouver Island in July 2020 when they came upon a pub on a gravel road in the remote hamlet of Holberg, about 540 kilometres northwest of Victoria. It was Sunday and the place was closed, but the owner, Pat Gwynne, agreed to serve them beer and chicken wings as they sat on the pub’s deck overlooking Holberg Inlet. “About an hour into our [visit] there,Read more

Rail travel used to be like taking a ‘flying palace,’ but now it’s hard to get where you want to go The train used to be a romantic and luxurious mode of transportation, with companies competing for passengers. But in the last century, cars and airplanes have edged out an option that — with the right investment and infrastructure — could be a cheaper and greener alternative in Canada. Cuts to Via Rail routes over the years, however, mean that the investment would have to be significant, says Anthony Perl,Read more

Man, 29, was arrested in connection with investigation The New Brunswick RCMP’s major crime unit is investigating the death of a longtime French-language journalist Réjean Hébert outside a home in Saint-Simon on Thursday as a homicide. Cpl. Dan Sharpe told CBC News on Friday that Caraquet RCMP responded to a call for a well-being check at around 2 a.m. on Thursday. When they arrived, they found a man dead outside the house, said Sharpe. Radio-Canada identified the man who was found dead outside a house on Thursday as longtime journalist Réjean Hébert. (Courtesy of CKRO Radio Péninsule/Radio-Canada) LaterRead more

Cabinet, natural resources minister have far-reaching discretion over fate of parks Nadine Hunt’s love for nature started early. As a child, she and her mother would often go to the beach near their home in Mabou, Cape Breton. “She taught me to respect the beach. If there was any litter or garbage around, we were picking it up,” she said. Hunt said the area’s unique natural environment and peaceful atmosphere are what makes it so special. “It’s not just the beautiful beach and the warm water that we experience hereRead more

Police have not yet identified Buffalo Woman, one of 4 women believed to have been killed by Jeremy Skibicki A grassroots team set out at nine o’clock sharp on New Year’s Day, walking southbound on Main Street, with about 300 posters in hand: “Help us identify Buffalo Woman,” is written in red capital letters. “Who is Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe?” Darryl Contois and George Robinson led the initiative Sunday, taping posters to poles and speaking to people on the street and in encampments. They are gathering tips from the community in the hope that thisRead more

‘It makes me feel insignificant,’ says woman awaiting surgery for scoliosis A woman in northeastern Alberta has been waiting in pain for almost two-and-a-half years to get a surgery that would correct a severe curvature of her spine. “It’s been getting progressively worse over the years,” said Sarah MacPhail, a therapist and clinical social worker in Cold Lake, Alta., 300 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. MacPhail was a teenager when she was diagnosed with scoliosis, where the spine is curved from side to side. In cases with substantial curvature — an S-or C-shapeRead more