National News

TORONTO — Several Canadian universities are maintaining COVID-19 precautions such as vaccine mandates and masking for in-person classes even as governments roll back pandemic restrictions.

HALIFAX — The commissioners leading the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia began their first day of hearings on the defensive Tuesday after Premier Tim Houston accused them of disrespecting the victims' families.

HALIFAX — The federal-provincial inquiry investigating the 2020 mass murder in Nova Scotia heard Tuesday from experts who talked about the tragedy's impact on the mental health of Nova Scotians and lingering feelings of loss, anger and frustration.

Ottawa police cleared the return of shoppers and staff to Ottawa's largest mall after the building was evacuated Tuesday, just hours after it was able to reopen following a three-week long occupation of the city's downtown core.

OTTAWA — The latest developments on ongoing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, in Ottawa and various locations across Canada, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. All times eastern: 2:45 p.m.

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard says he will table a provincial budget on March 22.

MONTREAL — Four Conservative members of Parliament say they want former Quebec premier Jean Charest to enter the race for the party's leadership.

HALIFAX — The victims in the worst mass shooting in modern Canadian history included an RCMP officer, a teacher, health-care workers, retirees, neighbours of the shooter and two correctional officers killed in their home.

ST-PIERRE-JOLYS, Man. — A lawyer for People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier says Bernier will plead not guilty to charges of violating COVID-19 restrictions.

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 Feb. 22 ... What we are watching in Canada ...