National News

OTTAWA — Julie Payette's resignation as governor general was prompted by a scathing review of the work environment she presided over at Rideau Hall, described by dozens of people as hostile, toxic, or poisoned.

VICTORIA — A carved stone pillar found at low tide on a beach in Victoria last summer is an Indigenous cultural treasure, the Royal B.C. Museum has confirmed.

Amid concerns about the emergence of variant strains, new COVID-19 infections maintained a downward trend in Canada's two most populous provinces on Wednesday, although authorities reported more than 100 new deaths from the disease.

WHITEHORSE — A Vancouver couple accused of flying to a remote Yukon community to get the COVID-19 vaccine will have to answer for their alleged actions in a courtroom. Former Great Canadian Gaming Corp.

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. There are 761,226 confirmed cases in Canada. _ Canada: 761,226 confirmed cases (57,740 active, 683,953 resolved, 19,533 deaths).

OTTAWA — Pfizer and BioNTech will cut back on how many vials of COVID-19 vaccine they send Canada this year if the federal health regulator agrees to change the vaccine label to say every vial contains six doses instead of five.

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says he's encouraged by the federal health minister's commitment to work with the city after it asked that possession of small amounts of illicit drugs be decriminalized.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times eastern): 6:20 p.m. There are several new COVID-19 "hot spots" in British Columbia and health officials say it shows how easily the virus can spread.

Concern over the Alberta government's decision to drop a coal policy that has protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains for decades is growing among area communities.

IQALUIT — The national organization representing Inuit women in Canada has signed an agreement with the RCMP to work to reduce violence against Inuit women, children and gender diverse people.