Politics

Quebec's auditor general says half of the province's 31,000 kilometres of roads are in bad shape, including about two-thirds of the road network in three regions.

EDMONTON — The Alberta government aims to stop photo radar from being used as a cash cow, beginning with banning its use on ring roads next month and negotiating with smaller municipalities to remove what it deems "fishing holes" to nab speeders.

OTTAWA — Liberals and New Democrats appear to be inching closer to an agreement on proposed pharmacare legislation, but a national drug plan may be farther out of reach than ever after this week's federal fiscal update.

QUEBEC — For the first time since Quebec's public sector unions began strike action earlier this month, Quebec Premier François Legault said clearly on Thursday he is willing to increase his government's offer.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Public Works Minister Kim Masland says the federal government must maintain full ferry service between Digby, N.S., and Saint John, N.B., next year because it is crucial to the region.

VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver mayors say they need billions of dollars over the next few years and a more reliable funding model from the federal government in order to improve transit.

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s premier says his government won’t provide financial help for customers out of pocket after a company they prepaid for furnace oil filed for bankruptcy last week.

MONTREAL — With one of his sons in a Gaza hospital, Toronto resident Nahed El-Khalidy said the recently announced ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is good news, though it came too late to save his daughter's life.

Ontario is putting nearly $6 million toward nine projects aimed at making use of hydrogen to power the province's electricity grid.

OTTAWA — Canadian aid groups say Ottawa hasn't cleared roadblocks that bar them from getting aid into Afghanistan, despite Parliament passing legislation this spring and allies issuing carve-outs to their own terrorism laws nearly two years ago.