National News

OTTAWA — The Parliamentary Budget Officer estimates the promised federal dental insurance plan will cost $2.9 billion less than the government budgeted, assuming provincial governments don't drop their coverage.

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country welcomed more than 145,000 immigrants during the first three months of the year. That's the highest number for a single quarter on record, since comparable data became available in 1972.

OTTAWA — Canadians' hearts may be brimming with pride as Canada Day approaches, but a new poll suggests their minds aren't full of the knowledge needed to pass a citizenship test.

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 — A federal program that helps community institutions make safety-related improvements is being expanded to shelters for victims of gender-based violence.

MONTREAL — Tobias Gurl thinks his five-year-old collie, Winston, is a pretty ideal roommate: she's quiet, well-trained and indispensable to her owner's well-being.

An Amber Alert issued by Montreal police for six-year-old twin sisters has been lifted after the girls were found safe. Police say the girls were found in the Saint-Alexis-des-Monts area, about 140 kilometres north of Montreal.

WHISTLER, B.C. — Premiers from Western Canada said Tuesday they are "extremely disappointed" in the federal government for not passing reforms to the bail system to target repeat offenders before Parliament rose last week for the summer.

VICTORIA — British Columbia has agreed to give Canada's border agency more time to come up with an alternative to holding immigration detainees in the province's correctional centres, almost a year after the decision to end the practice.

British Columbia will provide up to 8,000 free portable air-conditioning units to keep vulnerable people cool and protected during extreme hot weather events, Health Minister Adrian Dix said.