National News

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia Teachers' Federation is asking the Labour Relations Board to address its concerns about health and safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called two byelections less than a day after the Liberals named their candidates in each of the Toronto ridings.

Ottawa's freeze on federal student loan payments and interest is weeks away from its end date, but students and graduates say extending the measure would offer relief from the lasting financial pressures of the pandemic.

OTTAWA — Canada's first national pay-equity commissioner is having her term extended amid delays getting new pay-equity legislation into action.

WETASKIWIN, Alta. — A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the gas-and-dash death of an Alberta gas station owner has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

MONTREAL — The town of Asbestos, Que., is hitting the pause button on its search for a new name after citizens voiced displeasure about the four contenders on the short list.

OTTAWA — Halfway through their 14-day quarantine period, Diala Charab and Yehya Al-Ayoubi are excited to start working as health-care aides after arriving Sunday from Lebanon.

OTTAWA — The federal minister overseeing key aid programs for workers during the pandemic says there could still be changes to a proposed package of income-support benefits as the country faces renewed pressure from COVID-19.

OTTAWA — The partial closure of Canada's border with the United States is being extended another month, to Oct. 21, both countries announced Friday.

TORONTO — Lockdowns and other tough measures implemented to fight the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a dramatic decline in other infectious illnesses such as influenza and sexually transmitted infections, public health data suggest.