National News

OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier's defamation lawsuit against controversial political strategist and columnist Warren Kinsella has been tossed out of court.

MONTREAL — Representatives from three Quebec City theatres said Wednesday a recent court ruling that upheld fines they received for allowing actors to smoke onstage will reduce creative choices and take some of the magic out of live performances.

OTTAWA — Health Canada is funding special schooling for service-dog trainers to teach the animals to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

CALGARY — Coal mining on environmentally sensitive slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains wouldn't be an overall benefit to the province, a wide-ranging analysis from the University of Calgary has concluded.

OTTAWA — Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is well positioned to help resolve mismatches between the skills of jobseekers and what employers are looking for in hiring plans.

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is promising to hire more staff to tackle a backlog of requests for assistance and shortage of case managers that is leaving many disabled veterans without the help they need.

WHITEHORSE — Yukon Premier Sandy Silver says leading Canada in COVID-19 vaccination rates didn't protect the territory from an "inevitable" recent surge in cases, prompting the return to tighter restrictions.

MONTREAL — The former owner of a zoo in central Quebec has pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences, but will avoid criminal charges.

ST. JOHN'S, N.L.

OTTAWA — Canada is among 19 countries promising to eliminate greenhouse-gas emissions from some international shipping routes at the COP26 climate talks in Scotland today.