Around Canada

Business·Updated Retail sales have risen for seven months in a row and are now more than five per cent higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Statistics Canada said Friday. While many retailers have been hit hard, overall retail sales are now five per cent higher in Canada …

Calgary Tinkerbell is a lot like a shadow — wherever her family goes, the little goat follows. But the Nigerian dwarf and Lamancha cross has gone missing now for the third time — and it's been two weeks, the longest Tink has ever been away from her family. Tinkerbell, a …

Politics A lawsuit launched against the Trudeau government by the former ambassador to Israel has reached a settlement — but neither party is willing to divulge any details. Katie Telford, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was named in the lawsuit along with the federal government. (Sean Kilpatrick/The …

Nova Scotia After living under an overpass and in a stand of trees with a plastic bag or a tent for shelter, Paul now has a roof over his head thanks to some volunteers. Neighbours, concerned about property values, want the city to demolish the rudimentary shed that sits on …

New Brunswick Thirteen North Atlantic whale calves have been spotted off the coast of the southern United States — more than the number born in a single winter since 2016. The North Atlantic right whale population was estimated at only 356 in the fall of 2020. (Florida Fish and Wildlife …

Ottawa As Canadians begin preparing their 2020 taxes, two Ottawa accountants share their tips for people working from home — and dispel notions of a great windfall this spring. Most employees working from home are eligible to claim limited expenses, but certain purchases, such as new office furniture, can’t be …

Health·New Cases of COVID-19 are declining in many parts of Canada, but experts say those early positive signs are dependent on widespread restrictions that the public might find difficult to sustain — and suggest further tools and support is needed. A woman walks down a sidewalk in Vancouver on Monday. …

Politics·Analysis Julie Payette might still want to debate the details of what exactly occurred inside Rideau Hall over the last three and a half years. But she apparently couldn't escape an increasingly obvious conclusion — that for her to continue as governor general would risk inflicting serious damage on the …

Health·Analysis As countries such as Canada and the United States continue vaccinating millions of citizens, global health experts warn the pandemic could keep raging if lower-income nations don’t get their share of much-needed doses. Medical personnel readying for their turn to work inside a COVID-19 treatment centre in Lilongwe, Malawi, …

World·Analysis In announcing Friday’s phone call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the White House’s intended message was very clear: Traditional allies are back in favour while despots and dictators are on the outs. Reality is a bit more complicated. The scrapping of Keystone XL is an early example of that. …