National News

VANCOUVER — Known for rain and mild winters, British Columbia's west coast received an unexpected white Christmas as much of Western Canada shivered through extreme cold warnings and some parts of Ontario suffered through freezing drizzle.

Fewer Canadians gathered around twinkling Christmas trees to tear open presents with friends and family Saturday as COVID-19 put a damper on festivities for a second straight year, but the holiday spirit still managed to shine through for many.

MONTREAL — As the world tuned in on Christmas morning to see NASA's James Webb Space Telescope lift off, Canadian scientists who played a crucial part in its creation were emotional.

VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government has convinced many illegal cannabis growers to begin selling legally in an effort to squeeze out illicit marijuana from the marketplace, but the efforts have faced criticism from the craft growing industry.

TORONTO — No winning ticket was sold for the $23 million jackpot in Friday's Lotto Max draw. However, the $250,000 runner up prize went to a lottery player in Quebec. The jackpot for the next Lotto Max draw on Dec.

VANCOUVER — The Greek alphabet arrived on the global stage and into everyday lexicon riding on waves of the novel coronavirus as the World Health Organization began naming variants in the Glagolitic script.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — Charges are no longer being pursued against two journalists who were arrested last month while reporting on the RCMP's enforcement of an injunction at a pipeline construction site in northern British Columbia.

VICTORIA — British Columbia has hit its COVID-19 testing capacity as the provincial health officer asked residents Friday to not get tested unless they have symptoms. Dr.

Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia reported record high COVID-19 case counts on Christmas Eve as Nunavut ordered a full lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.

OTTAWA — The Finance Department said the federal government hasn't abandoned a Liberal pledge to lower the fees merchants pay every time a shopper pays with a credit card.