Port Alberni ferry company offers rides by donation this December

The Frances Barkley ferry is pictured. (CTV News)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Why wasn't the suspected Chinese spy balloon shot down over Canada?

Critics say the U.S. and Canada had ample time to shoot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon as it drifted across North America. The alleged surveillance device initially approached North America near Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Jan 28. According to officials, it crossed into Canadian airspace on Jan. 30, travelling above the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Saskatchewan before re-entering the U.S. on Jan 31.

In this photo provided by Chad Fish, the remnants of a large balloon drift above the Atlantic Ocean, just off the coast of South Carolina, with a fighter jet and its contrail seen below it, Feb. 4, 2023. (Chad Fish via AP, File)

Thieves cut huge hole in Ottawa restaurant wall to get at jewelry store next door

An Ottawa restaurateur says he was shocked to find his restaurant broken into and even more surprised to discover a giant hole in the wall that led to the neighbouring jewelry store.

Rescuers scramble in Turkiye, Syria after quake kills 4,000

Rescue workers and civilians passed chunks of concrete and household goods across mountains of rubble Monday, moving tons of wreckage by hand in a desperate search for survivors trapped by a devastating earthquake.

New details emerge ahead of Trudeau-premiers' health-care meeting

As preparations are underway for the anticipated health-care 'working meeting' between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers on Tuesday, new details are emerging about how the much-anticipated federal-provincial gathering will unfold.

Quebec minister 'surprised' asylum seekers given free bus tickets from New York City

Quebec's immigration minister says she was 'surprised' to learn the City of New York is helping to provide free bus tickets to migrants heading north to claim asylum in Canada.

The world's deadliest earthquakes since 2000

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Turkiye and Syria on Monday, killing thousands of people. Here is a list of some of the world's deadliest earthquakes since 2000.

Mendicino: foreign-agent registry would need equity lens, could be part of 'tool box'

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says a registry to track foreign agents operating in Canada can only be implemented in lockstep with diverse communities.

Vaccine intake higher among people who knew someone who died of COVID-19: U.S. survey

A U.S. survey found that people who had a personal connection to someone who became ill or died of COVID-19 were more likely to have received at least one shot of the vaccine compared to those who didn’t have any loved ones who had been impacted by the disease.

opinion

opinion | Don Martin: Alarms going off over health-care privatization? Such an out-of-touch waste of hot political air

The chances Trudeau's health-care summit with the premiers will end with the blueprint to realistic long-term improvements are only marginally better than believing China’s balloon was simply collecting atmospheric temperatures, Don Martin writes in an exclusive column for CTVNews.ca, 'But it’s clearly time the 50-year-old dream of medicare as a Canadian birthright stopped being such a nightmare for so many patients.'

Vancouver

'A largely absent resource': Those who call on Vancouver's police-based mental health team hope funding boost will improve service

There’s so much demand for Vancouver’s mental health emergency teams that people can be left waiting days, and sometimes teams never make it to requests for service at all. It’s hoped a funding boost to hire more staff will increase capacity of the service.
Dog named Kujo likely to 'kill or injure,' B.C. court rules in euthanasia decision

A dog named Kujo will be euthanized after a B.C. judge determined the animal is "likely to kill or injure" if released from the pound.
B.C. premier keeping an 'open mind' on eve of historic health summit in Ottawa

For more than two years, Canada’s premiers have been asking for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss a new healthcare funding model – and on Tuesday the group will finally get two hours of face time in Ottawa.

Edmonton

Comedian chomps chili pepper at Edmonton public hearing while arguing climate change is 'not a huge issue'

A local comedian stirred up laughter, confusion and condemnation Monday morning when he ate a spicy prop at a public hearing in Edmonton City Hall as he ranted about how climate change is "not the end of the world."
Smith was on vacation as questions swirled about her office reportedly interfering in prosecutions

Alberta's premier was on a week-and-half-long holiday while the province erupted over reports that a member of her staff sent emails to Crown prosecutors in an attempt to interfere in COVID-19 blockade cases.
N.W.T to complete curriculum transition by 2028, a 'sad commentary' for Alberta

After using Alberta's education curriculum since the 1950s, the Northwest Territories has outlined the timeline it will use to pivot toward British Columbia's program of studies.

Toronto

European family moves to Toronto in long-term Airbnb. A 'loophole' got them an eviction notice midway

For a Switzerland professor contracted to work in Ontario for a year, Airbnb looked like the right option for a family of five.
Netflix begins password sharing crackdown in Canada. What you need to know

Netflix users who have been sharing their passwords with friends and family members who live hundreds – or even thousands – of kilometres away won’t be able to do so for much longer, as the streaming service announced its plans to end password sharing.
'Unacceptable conditions:' Protesters rally for more shelter supports ahead of Toronto council meeting

The high noon sun bounced off City Hall’s two towers, but the ground below was still iced over and cold. Nonetheless, dozens of Torontonians laid down on the frozen square Monday, dramatizing sleeping on the street.

Calgary

Smith joins premiers in Ottawa to talk to Trudeau about health care, just transition

Canada's premiers are in Ottawa to meet with the prime minister over access to more health care funding. But that's not all Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has on her mind.
'Buildings are broken': Calgary man in Turkiye describes disaster scene post-earthquake

Calgarians at home and abroad are reeling in the wake of a massive earthquake that struck a war-torn region near the border of Turkiye and Syria.
Alexis Lafreniere scores in OT to lift New York Rangers over Calgary Flames 5-4

Alexis Lafreniere scored 1:37 into overtime and Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves as the New York Rangers beat the Calgary Flames 5-4 on Monday night.

Montreal

'I feel so bad': Montrealers reeling, sending help after deadly earthquake rocks Turkiye

As the search continues for survivors, people in Quebec's Turkish community are doing what they can to help.
Quebec minister 'surprised' asylum seekers given free bus tickets from New York City

Quebec's immigration minister says she was 'surprised' to learn the City of New York is helping to provide free bus tickets to migrants heading north to claim asylum in Canada.
Quebec launching new office to accelerate creation of daycare spaces

With thousands of children on a waiting list for child care, Quebec is setting up a new government office to deal with the backlog.

Atlantic

'Bloody money and drugs': Former Halifax med student testifies at his murder trial

A former medical student accused of fatally shooting another student during a drug deal says he fired his gun in self-defence after a struggle in his Halifax apartment, saying he didn't call police because he was terrified he would face charges.
Arctic air breaks decades-old low temperature records in the Maritimes

While relatively short-lived, the blast of Arctic air in the Maritimes was enough to break some long-standing low temperature records for all three Maritime provinces for both Friday and Saturday.
Frustration with Nova Scotia Power surges after rate increases, weekend outages

A Cape Breton councillor feels with a 14 per cent increase now granted to Nova Scotia Power and millions of dollars in profits annually, residents shouldn't be paying out hundreds of dollars to operate a generator to keep the lights on.

Winnipeg

Link alleged between two Winnipeg homicides: police

The Winnipeg Police Service said it has linked two recent homicides in the city, with officers alleging the incidents were not random.
New Indigenous-led justice centre opens in Kenora

An Indigenous-led centre has opened in Kenora, connecting people to social services with an Indigenous approach.
'A step in the right direction': Manitoba premier optimistic heading into Trudeau health-care meeting

As Canada's 13 premiers get ready to sit down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday to discuss a new health-care funding deal, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said she is hopeful a deal can be made.

Kitchener

Pedestrian seriously injured in Cambridge crash

A pedestrian has been rushed to hospital with what police say are serious injuries after a crash in Cambridge.
Man arrested for death threats against Kitchener, Ont. Liberal MP

A 44-year-old Woolwich, Ont., man has been arrested for allegedly making death threats against a member of parliament.
Google layoffs appear to have occurred at office in Waterloo Region

Google says on Monday notifications were sent to employees affected by the recently announced job cuts.

Regina

Public auction of Sask. liquor store licenses begins

A public auction of Saskatchewan liquor store licenses began on Monday. The government is closing its 34 remaining SLGA locations with licenses going to the highest bidder.
Regina baby who died in 2017 had bruising on head, expert testifies

Emotions ran high on the first day of trial for a man who allegedly caused the death of his infant son.
Sask. MLA Mark Docherty stepping down to 'pursue other opportunities'

Mark Docherty, the Sask. Party MLA for Regina-Coronation Park, has announced his resignation.

Barrie

Female Barrie officer stabbed in face during crisis call

A 20-year-old female has been arrested for attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a Barrie police officer late Sunday night.
What we know about Collingwood man accused of murder in his wife's death

Community shaken after Collingwood man charged with second-degree murder in his wife's death.
Muskoka paramedic services looking to hire more staff for the summer

Muskoka Paramedic Services is now hiring permanent part-time Primary Care Paramedic before the summer months begin.

Saskatoon

Syphilis cases up over 600 per cent in Sask. First Nations communities, says public health doc

Indigenous Services Canada’s top public health physician in Saskatchewan is sounding the alarm over growing rates of syphilis in First Nations communities in the province.
'A step backwards': Saskatoon greenhouse closure could harm green infrastructure strategy

The former director of planning with the city is mourning the loss of the city-operated greenhouse and what its absence could mean moving forward.
Connor Bedard is big business for the Western Hockey League

Connor Bedard has been taking the hockey world by storm, selling out multiple games on the Regina Pats Alberta road trip, but has the Western Hockey League (WHL) reckoned with his impact?

Northern Ontario

Northern Ont. woman turns heads at Grammy Awards

A 78-year-old woman from Sudbury, Ont., -- a Harry Styles superfan -- has become internet famous after announcing the 2023 Grammy Award for Album of the Year on Sunday night.
Two arrested in Kapuskasing accused of threatening pedestrian with a gun

Two men in their 30s from Kapuskasing have been arrested and face several firearms-related charges after allegedly threatening a pedestrian Sunday evening, police say.
Victim in Moosonee, Ont., injured in blow torch attack

A 33-year-old woman from Moosonee has been charged after someone was attacked with a blow torch Feb. 3.