National News

OTTAWA — It's one down and two to go with only a week left for the federal Liberal government to win parliamentary approval of priority legislation before an extended Christmas break.

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. — The living room at Zoheir and Nadia Darrouba's home is a hive of activity in the late afternoon – their older children, just back from school, are taking turns carrying around their baby brother as their parents look on.

VANCOUVER — The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates the insured damage caused by flooding in British Columbia last month at $450 million, calling it the "most costly severe weather event in the province's history.

OTTAWA — The federal government plans to reintroduce a bill in the House of Commons identical to one already passed unanimously by the Senate to legally recognize the evolution of the upper house into a more independent, non-partisan chamber.

WHITEHORSE — Yukon's former health minister has been ordered to pay more than $8,000 after a judge sided with her successor in an effort to have the election result overturned.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his Liberal government remains committed to ending all long-term drinking water advisories that exist on First Nations, despite not setting a new date to do so.

OTTAWA — Two former judges who led consultations on the creation of an independent commission to review possible wrongful convictions say the new body must be proactive and not simply react to applications from people who want to clear their name.

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Que. — A Granby, Que., woman was found guilty Thursday of second-degree murder in the death of her seven-year-old stepdaughter. A jury rendered its verdict at the courthouse in Trois-Rivières, Que., just after 3:30 p.m.

OTTAWA — The Conservatives have lost their bid to resurrect a House of Commons order demanding the release of secret documents related to the firing of two scientists at Canada's highest security laboratory.

MONTREAL — An elementary school teacher in western Quebec has been reassigned from her classroom because her hijab contravenes the province's law forbidding teachers from wearing religious symbols.