National News

OTTAWA — Canada's justice minister said he hopes to avoid accusations that the Liberal government is trying to regulate or curb speech with its planned bill to protect people from online harms.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today...

OTTAWA — "Merry Christmas, everybody! Merry Christmas.

Norm Allard knows he may never see the full impacts of his efforts to restore wetlands and floodplains in southeastern British Columbia, but he takes a"generational view"of the work that exemplifies a key part of climate resiliency.

MONTREAL — Overcrowding in Quebec hospitals is "out of control" and putting the lives of patients at risk, says a group representing chief doctors in the province's emergency departments.

OTTAWA — Israel should do more to stop "extremist settler" violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, said a recent statement of "grave concern" issued by 14 countries, including Canada.

OTTAWA — Canadian auto companies sold more electric vehicles this year than ever before, but would still need to nearly double that number within three years to meet a new national mandate.

MONTREAL — A Quebec woman was acquitted Monday in the 2009 deaths of her young daughters after a third trial on the same murder charges, leaving unanswered the question of who killed the girls.

QUEBEC — Heavy rain across Quebec has officials monitoring rising water levels in the provincial capital region and ordering evacuations in some areas.

OTTAWA — An Ottawa youth facing terrorism charges for an alleged plot against the Jewish community is now also accused of having explosives in his possession.