Discover Narcity
Get the latest and greatest stories every day in your inbox.
Feds confirm funding for rare disease research as other questions unanswered
Feds confirm funding for rare disease research
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The federal government confirmed at a meeting of Canadian health ministers that it is extending a funding deal on rare disease research, while wider questions on health-care funding remain unanswered.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel told her provincial and territorial counterparts that the $500 million in annual funding for the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases that was set to expire next year will now be funded on an ongoing basis.
The minister said she also reached an agreement on next steps in talks to deal with other funding issues, including minimum increases for the Canada Health Transfer and the long-term fate of other bilateral agreements.
Michel confirmed late Wednesday that the federal government would extend by one year $1.2 billion in annual funding for mental health, addictions and home care.
She said Friday that the one-year extension on funding that was set to expire in March was to help bridge provinces to the new fall budget schedule.
Michel says she and her regional counterparts agreed they would have another meeting before the end of this year to talk about longer-term funding plans.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
By Ian Bickis | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less
Toronto 18 ringleader no longer shows signs of extremism, granted full parole: board
Toronto 18 ringleader granted full parole
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
One of the ringleaders of the thwarted Toronto 18 terror plot has been granted full parole after the Parole Board of Canada found he no longer showed "any signs of holding onto extremist beliefs or radical ideologies."
Zakaria Amara, who helped recruit members for a group that aimed to storm Parliament Hill and bomb several locations around Toronto, has been on day parole with multiple conditions for four years, and the board upgraded his release after reviewing his case last week.
In a written decision issued Friday, the two-member panel says Amara, 41, undertook a process to deradicalize while incarcerated and has used his day parole "for its intended rehabilitative purpose," demonstrating "positive change, both in attitude and in behaviour."
It says he was closely supervised while on day parole and his internet use, friendships and relationships were monitored, with no reported safety concerns or breaches.
The decision, which includes several redactions, says Amara now plans to live in his own home and continue to structure his time around his full-time job, attending a mosque, seeing his family and "appropriate leisure activities."
He is barred from communicating with anyone involved in criminal activity, including any of the others arrested in the June 2006 anti-terrorist raids, or come into contact with anyone with extremist ideologies, except in his work as a consultant with a specialized program.
He must also continue to participate in counselling and be subject to financial monitoring as well as restrictions on his phone and internet use.
The board's decision comes two decades after the dismantling of the homegrown plot that shocked the country and shifted public discourse around terrorism.
Amara and an accomplice recruited people for a group based on jihadist ideologies, planning to carry out terrorist acts to demand the withdrawal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan.
The group eventually splintered in two, with Amara taking the helm of a plot focused on building truck bombs targeting the Canadian Security Intelligence Services headquarters, the Toronto Stock Exchange building, and a military base.
He was arrested on the day bomb-making materials were delivered to a warehouse.
Amara pleaded guilty to participating in a terror group with the intention of causing an explosion or explosions that were likely to cause serious bodily harm or death, and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years. He challenged the sentence but it was upheld on appeal.
The parole board document said his "problematic and extremist ideologies and attitudes" remained during his first few years behind bars, which also included several incidents of misconduct.
His ideology "began to shift" in 2014 and he was eventually transferred to a medium-security institution in 2019, where correctional officers reported he was "respectful, polite and quiet," the board said.
Amara was granted day parole for three months in 2022 and it was extended several times.
"During the latter part of your federal custody and for the past four years in the community, you have undertaken a process to distance yourself from extremist ideologies and others who share the same views," the board wrote.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
By Paola Loriggio | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less
Trades college, union building in Edmonton on lockdown after parking lot shooting
Edmonton trades college in lockdown after shooting
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A union representing pipefitters in Edmonton says its buildings, including a trade college, are on lockdown following a shooting in a parking lot.
The United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 488 says police have responded and are investigating.
The buildings are located in northwest Edmonton and include the Alberta Pipe Trades College.
The union says it's co-operating with police and asking people to avoid sharing unverified information.
It says the safety of staff, instructors, members and students are of the highest priority.
The union says it plans to share further updates when more information becomes available.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less
Éloïse d'OD reçoit des dizaines de faux avis positifs sur son salon et ça fait réagir
Suite au message d'Éloïse concernant les gens qui s'en prenaient à son entreprise, les fans d'OD ont partagé des dizaines de faux avis concernant son salon de beauté, ce qui fait réagir.
Le 11 décembre, Éloïse dénonçait en story Instagram les faux commentaires négatifs qu'elle recevait sur la page Google de sa compagnie, DAVÉLO Institut beauté, depuis sa sortie d'Occupation Double.
La sélection de l'éditeur : 15 ados ont fait un party près de Québec et la police a dû intervenir
À la fin de son intervention, elle a suggéré à ses clientes habituelles d'aller partager une note plus positive. Mais certains fans ont plutôt encouragé les autres à donner des notes parfaites au salon, malgré le fait qu'ils n'y ont jamais mis les pieds.
Sur sa page Facebook, ce sont 44 commentaires positifs qui ont été ajoutés contre trois avis négatifs depuis le 11 décembre dernier.
En ce qui concerne sa page Google, les critiques ne sont plus visibles au moment d'écrire ces lignes, mais Éloïse a la note de 4,6/5, soit 92 %.
À travers les réseaux sociaux, plusieurs internautes sont divisés face aux nombreuses reviews rédigés par les fans.
Bien qu'un bon nombre de personnes croient inacceptable que de faux avis soient partagés afin de nuire à son entreprise, certains affirment que les fausses notes positives posent aussi problème.
Ils soulèvent que ce n'est pas représentatif de la qualité des services offerts au salon puisque les personnes ayant embarqué dans le mouvement ne sont pas nécessairement clients.
Quelques commentaires lui conseillent de retirer les critiques publiques, qui sont maintenant biaisées.