National News

OTTAWA — Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says he cannot yet commit to a date — or COVID-19 vaccination rate benchmarks — for when so-called vaccine passports will allow Canada to ease travel restrictions.

OTTAWA — Canada's vaccination effort against COVID-19 has pulled even with the United States in one of the key markers in the race to herd immunity and is closing in fast on a status as one of the top 10 most vaccinated countries in the world.

HALIFAX — The spectre of pandemic-fuelled social chaos and widespread looting appeared to haunt the Nova Scotia mass shooter a month before he carried out his killing rampage of April 18-19, 2020.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is reminding people to fill out this year's census to avoid getting a visit at their door during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HALIFAX — The number of suicides recorded in Nova Scotia in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic was the lowest since 2014.

MONTREAL — A community activist and former CFL player is entering the race to become mayor of Montreal. Balarama Holness announced today he'll compete for the city's top job under the banner of his new political party, Movement Montreal.

MONTREAL — A new report by researchers at the Université de Montréal's HEC business school is calling for the end of federal transfers payments to the provinces.

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what's on the radar of our editors for the morning of May 20 ... What we are watching in Canada ...

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 20, 2021. There are 1,342,388 confirmed cases in Canada. Canada: 1,342,388 confirmed cases (61,608 active, 1,255,714 resolved, 25,066 deaths).

The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 4:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 20, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 355,652 new vaccinations administered for a total of 19,444,304 doses given. Nationwide, 1,485,830 people or 3.