National News

VANCOUVER — Lynne Smith's daily visits to a long-term care home ended abruptly after a COVID-19 outbreak three weeks ago but she jumped at the chance to work at the facility that is hiring family members so she can see her husband.

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. There are 435,330 confirmed cases in Canada. _ Canada: 435,330 confirmed cases (72,336 active, 350,011 resolved, 12,983 deaths).

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — A COVID-19 outbreak at a British Columbia mink farm likely spread from eight workers to some of the animals, says the province's chief veterinarian.

OTTAWA — Health Canada approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech Wednesday, paving the way for vaccinations to begin countrywide as early as next Tuesday.

OTTAWA — Justice Minister David Lametti is questioning the sincerity of Conservatives who contend they're holding up a bill on assisted dying because it doesn't do enough to protect vulnerable people with disabilities.

The federal government says the largest mass immunization effort in Canadian history could begin as early as next week.

VANCOUVER — A senior manager with the Canada Border Services Agency says she was instructed not to take notes after the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou — an arrest that will be under court scrutiny next year.

The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 7:19 p.m. As B.C.

OTTAWA — Premiers aren't expecting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to agree immediately to their demand for at least $28 billion more each year for health care.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States opened a new chapter Wednesday in the book of trade tensions with Canada, formally complaining that U.S. dairy producers are being unfairly shut out of markets north of the border.