In our top story: Canada has a new finance minister with Chrystia Freeland taking on the role after Bill Morneau resigned, becoming the first woman to occupy the powerful position in Canadian history. David Akin reports on the choice of Freeland as finance minister.
Morneau’s departure set off a series of fast-moving events in Ottawa from the cabinet change-up to the proroguing of government until September 23. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government wants to lay out a long-term pandemic recovery plan and will do that from a Speech from the Throne. Mercedes Stephenson takes a look at the move to prorogue parliament, what the prime minister is planning with the Throne Speech to keep his minority government in power and what the pause means for the ongoing investigation into the WE Charity controversy.
This is not the first time Trudeau has lost a key cabinet minister, nor is the WE Charity controversy his first run-in with the ethics commissioner. Eric Sorensen looks at where all of this leaves the prime minister and his minority government.
The changes in Ottawa were taking place amid the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the curve veering upward again, in large part due to infections among younger people ages 20-39. Health officials in Alberta and B.C. are stepping up their efforts to inform that age group that the risk to them and others are real. Jennifer Palma reports.
A Canadian researcher is providing advice on whether kids should head back to the classroom in the fall. Dr. Steven Friedman has been studying the impact of COVID-19 on kids around the world and plans to send his own children to school next month. As Heather Yourex-West reports, he says to weigh the decision carefully and keep medical evidence in mind.
The recovery in Beirut after the explosion could take years, and in many cases, life in Lebanon may never get back to normal after so many died during the blast two weeks ago that killed more than 150 people and injured thousands. Crystal Goomansingh reports Canadian aid organizations are doing all they can to help and provide hope.
