Lee Berthiaume
Reporter for The Canadian Press
About Lee Berthiaume
Defence Department accused of using pandemic to withhold info
The Department of National Defence stands accused of trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to withhold information from Parliament and Canadians.
Liberals, NDP call for improvements for paid sick leave as Parliament debates sittings
How Parliament should function in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis remained unresolved on Monday, May 25, 2020, as the Conservatives dug in on their demand that the House of Commons resume normal operations with a reduced number of MPs in the chamber.
Canadian Latvia mission continues despite COVID-19
On a recent day in Latvia, a group of Canadian soldiers left a military base near the capital city of Riga. The column drove about 30 kilometres where they set up and, at one point over the next couple of days, fought back a simulated attack before packing up and returning home.
Forces begins investigation into 'worst nightmare' Snowbirds crash
A team of military investigators arrived in British Columbia on Monday, May 18, 2020, to begin searching for answers into Sunday's deadly Snowbird crash, which the aerobatic team's commander described as a confluence of "worst-case scenarios, and it became our absolute worst nightmare."
Canadian military postpones overseas missions due to COVID-19
The Canadian Armed Forces is postponing the deployment of a warship and surveillance aircraft to help enforce United Nations' sanctions against North Korea because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trudeau planning legislation on municipal handgun bans
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday, May 3, 2020, and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament.
Trudeau not discounting digital tracking to limit spread of COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is leaving the door open to using digital technology to try to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus through tracking down contacts of people who have it, but says it needs to be done in a way that protects the privacy of Canadians.
Canadians divided over making COVID-19 vaccine mandatory
While researchers across the planet race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, a new poll suggests Canadians are divided over whether getting it should be mandatory or voluntary — setting up a potentially prickly public health debate if a vaccine becomes available.
Feds protect Cdn companies from foreign takeovers due to COVID-19
The federal government has moved to protect Canadian businesses battered by the COVID-19 pandemic or producing medical supplies from being gobbled up by outside interests by tightening the rules around foreign investments and takeovers.
Military fight against COVID-19 will be anything but easy
When 40 Canadian Rangers swung into action in northern Quebec this week to set up heated tents for COVID-19 screening and conduct other tasks in their local communities due to the pandemic, they formed the most visible military response to the crisis to date.