National News

Ottawa gave $12 million on Friday to help a company extract magnesium from the waste of closed asbestos mines — despite warnings from Quebec's public health officers that the province's workplace protections are still lacking.

OTTAWA — The Defence Department says Canadian fighter jets in Romania have intercepted a Russian military aircraft that was approaching NATO airspace over the Black Sea.

OTTAWA — The red ink on the federal government's budget showed no signs of fading as the annual financial report card revealed a $19-billion deficit for the second straight fiscal year.

MONTREAL — New research based on U.S. hospital statistics suggests that recreational cannabis users are increasingly at risk of stroke.

GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — The mother of a Canadian who was arrested in northern Thailand on charges of spraying paint on an ancient wall says her daughter made a drunken mistake. Tara Schneider, who lives in Grande Prairie, Alta.

Talks to reform subsidies intended to eliminate the $10 carton of milk face by northern families remain stalled over concerns from Inuit that they don't have enough control over changes to Nutrition North.

OTTAWA — The federal government is consulting experts and community leaders ahead of a new national anti-racism strategy, but in a series of secretive meetings to avoid them turning into public shouting matches.

QUEBEC — The judge deciding the fate of Quebec City's mosque shooter says he needs additional information from the Crown and defence and more time before pronouncing a sentence.

FREDERICTON — The New Brunswick Liberals say there will be a candidate for Speaker when the legislature sits on Tuesday, an apparent break in the deadlock that makes it no clearer whether Premier Brian Gallant can cling to power.

REGINA — Saskatchewan will have to wait until the spring for the province's Appeal Court to hear the government's constitutional challenge of Ottawa's carbon tax.