National

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6:20 p.m. British Columbia is reporting 717 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 93,969.

VICTORIA — More than 1,400 tourism and hospitality workers who have been laid off or are struggling with reduced hours are set to provide non-clinical help with the COVID-19 immunization rollout in British Columbia.

OTTAWA — A new “playbook” being developed to help Canada’s top military commander deal with allegations of misconduct involving senior officers appears to provide little in the way of new direction for how to handle such high-profile cases.

EDMONTON — Alberta’s justice minister has given the scandal-scarred Lethbridge Police Service until April 16 to serve up an action plan to fix its problems or face being disbanded.

OTTAWA — It's make-it-or-break-it time for the federal government's national price on pollution.

MONTREAL — Advocates for asylum seekers who worked in health care during the pandemic's first wave are calling on Quebec to speed up the processing of immigration applications from workers dubbed "guardian angels" by the premier.

EDMONTON — Road-building approvals for coal exploration already exceed legal limits in some parts of Alberta's Rocky Mountains and foothills, suggest documents from the province's energy regulator.

OTTAWA — Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne sees a future for Canada as a leader in biomanufacturing, including vaccines — but not soon.

CALGARY — Alberta relaxed more environmental rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic than any other government in Canada, says a study from the University of Calgary.

PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S.