National News

OTTAWA — Canada's central bank cut another half-point off its key interest rate in an emergency move that comes ahead of what the federal Liberals say will be a "significant" stimulus plan to cushion the economic blow from COVID-19.

Quebec is closing all schools, junior colleges, universities and daycare centres in the province for two weeks beginning Monday to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

OTTAWA — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Embassy in Canada says Michael Kovrig has been allowed to have a telephone conversation with his father, who is very ill.

Eliano Rexho spent years planning for a semester abroad in Italy, but watched helplessly as a global pandemic wiped out his efforts in days.

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government says it is closing schools for three weeks because of COVID-19. Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says classes will be suspended starting March 23.

Residents of East Bench in the Osoyoos Irrigation District were left with little to no water on Wednesday afternoon and most of the day Thursday after a planned power outage this week.

Archery wasn’t Brianna Stelkia’s first choice of sports when she was a kid, but the promising young Osoyoos Indian Band archer loves it none the less.

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's minority Progressive Conservative government has survived a confidence vote on its provincial budget as members of the legislature set aside partisan differences to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.

TORONTO — From school closures to travel restrictions to limits on large gatherings, Canada entered a new stage in combating the spread of COVID-19 this week with measures that various experts say will almost certainly have unintended consequences.

TORONTO — Mosques across the country have cancelled or altered their Friday prayer programs, after two Islamic associations called for the practice to be suspended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.