National News

VICTORIA — British Columbia's premier, a "Star Trek" fan and self-professed member of the New Democrats' "Geek Caucus," has received well wishes from a Starfleet captain ahead of undergoing biopsy surgery when tests revealed a growth in his throat.

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs had harsh words for the province's largest union Friday as thousands of public sector workers started a legal strike that forced the closure of all schools with little warning.

HALIFAX — The plan to build North America's first wild refuge for whales retired from marine parks took a big step forward Friday in a remote corner of northeastern Nova Scotia.

TORONTO — Fly-in communities will be exempt from a federal requirement that air passengers be vaccinated against COVID-19, Canada's transport minister said Friday, a day before the mandate comes into effect.

OTTAWA — The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has expanded eligibility guidelines for booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands threw its support behind a new NATO centre of excellence to study the security threats posed by climate change during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's official visit to Holland.

VICTORIA — A fire that burned for nearly a week on the container ship anchored off Victoria's waterfront has been put out. A statement from Danaos Shipping Co.

TORONTO — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard made a brief video appearance Friday in a Toronto court, where he faces sexual assault charges. Nygard appeared remotely from custody in a virtual hearing. His next hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 12.

OTTAWA — Friday is the deadline for employees in the core federal public service to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status, but unions say there are still many questions about how requests for accommodations will be handled.

OTTAWA — Former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance's obstruction of justice case will go to trial in May 2023.