IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Animal rights advocates are criticizing a new policy by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that will ban the import of dogs from more than 100 countries.
The agency announced it will prohibit the entry of commercial dogs from countries it considers at high-risk for canine rabies beginning on Sept. 28, which is World Rabies Day. The agency says the ban is necessary to reduce the risk of dog rabies entering Canada, and defines "commercial dogs" as dogs for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition, research and other purposes.
"Canada does not currently have any active cases of dog rabies, a strain that is different than the rabies typically found in wildlife...However in 2021, dogs were imported into Canada with this disease," the agency explained in a notice published on June 28. "The importation of even one rabid dog could result in transmission to humans, pets and wildlife."
Countries named by CFIA as high-risk include Ukraine and Afghanistan, which have been heavily impacted by wars; and Philippines and China, where dogs are at risk of being sold into the meat trade.
Animal Justice, a Canadian animal protection group, argues the ban will prevent the rescue of vulnerable dogs in these countries by organizations and individuals in Canada.
“Many Canadians are eager to adopt dogs, but this blanket ban will condemn thousands of dogs to languish in the streets, or be killed in overcrowded shelters instead of finding loving homes in Canada,” said Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, in a media release.
The group has launched a petition calling on CFIA to create an exemption for animal rescues and humanitarian efforts that would allow adoptable animals into Canada. The United States Centers for Disease Control added a similar exemption to its own dog importation policy in June, and now welcomes dogs from high-risk countries as long as they meet certain vaccination and quarantine criteria.
In its petition, Animal Justice alleges CFIA did not consult with Canadian dog rescue agencies before announcing the ban, and says some of these groups are at risk of shutting down if they can no longer facilitate international rescues.
One such group, Save a Friend, works with an organization in Colombia to fund medical care and find homes for dogs saved from the streets and high-kill shelters there. It relies on adoption fees and donations to operate.
“It’s shocking that the CFIA didn’t consult with the dog rescue community before implementing this sweeping ban, which may force many organizations to shut down,” Roxanne Yanofsky, the organization's director, said in a media release. “The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already dire situation in Colombia for animals, and if this policy isn’t changed, dogs will suffer and die in even greater numbers.”
CTV News contacted CFIA for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Biden wants the 2024 election to be a referendum on Trump's record and plans, but he also wants voters to look favourably on his own policies and actions
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
The stakes have been set for a bet between Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors on who will win Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
A P.E.I. lighthouse and a New Brunswick river are being honoured in a Canada Post series.