CBC Ottawa

Last Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009 | 7:38 PM ET

Lesbian U.S. deserter's case must be reviewed: court
: The Federal Court says the refugee board must reassess the case of a lesbian soldier who deserted from the U.S. army and fled to Canada, saying the board made mistakes in rejecting her bid to seek refugee status. more »; Related: Lesbian U.S. deserter appeals for refugee status; Related: 1-year prison term for U.S. deserter who fled to Canada

City of Ottawa faces budget squeeze: Ottawa city councillors must come up with ways to pay a multimillion-dollar settlement for the city's failed light rail plan while limiting program cuts and tax increases. Meanwhile, the city's reserves have been wiped out. more »
Ottawa adds extra weekend H1N1 vaccine clinics: Ottawa Public Health will open two additional H1N1 vaccination clinics this weekend to provide the public with more opportunities to get the swine flu vaccine. more »

Sponsorship scandal nets man 2 years in prison: Gilles-Andre Gosselin, a key player in the federal sponsorship scandal, pleaded guilty Friday to several fraud charges. more »
Billy Bragg gives free picket-line concert: British musician Billy Bragg belted out labour songs on a cold, rainy picket line outside the Canadian Museum of Civilization Friday, bringing some cheer to workers who have been on strike for nearly two months. more »
Government defends arming of border guards: The federal government said it stands behind its decision to arm border guards despite a report warning of the potential for violence at a crossing on Mohawk land near Cornwall, Ont. more »
Residential school story wins $25K kids' book award: Shin-chi's Canoe, a picture book about a little boy leaving home for a residential school, has won the $25,000 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. more »
Language debate, daycares don't mix: workers: The Parti Québécois' desire to amend Quebec's language law and restrict access to English daycares is "ridiculous" and "concerning," say early childhood educators and parents. more »
More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come: Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases. more »
4.8 million doses of H1N1 vaccine on way: A total of 4.8 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be delivered to the provinces by Sunday, CBC News has learned. more »

Ottawa Features»

Flooding forces Vancouver Island evacuations: Flood waters on the Cowichan River and Koksilah River have forced the evacuation of about 300 to 400 homes in the Cowichan Valley and Duncan area of southeast Vancouver Island, officials have confirmed.
Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Auto parts strike would affect thousands: Employees at Johnson Controls, an automotive parts plant east of Windsor, Ont., could walk off the job if they don't reach a deal by midnight Friday. A strike would affect thousands at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant, which uses the components.

UN human rights committee votes to censure Iran: A United Nations committee has approved a Canadian-led resolution urging Iran to stop harassing political opponents in the wake of its disputed presidential elections.
Hundreds rescued from U.K. flooding: Raging floods engulfed northern England's picturesque Lake District on Friday following the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Britain. A police officer died and hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
Suicide bomb kills 16 people in Afghanistan: A suicide bomber on motorcycle has killed 16 people and wounded 23 others in a crowded square in the city of Farah in western Afghanistan.

More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come: Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases.
Trade show pitches surgical passages to India: Exhibitors at a Toronto trade fair are hoping to add surgery to the list of reasons Canadians travel, but a medical ethicist questions the lack of oversight.
Weight gain in pregnancy guides updated: Health Canada is formally replacing its guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy to match new U.S. recommendations.

Oprah describes tough decision to end show: An emotional Oprah Winfrey pledged to fans that she would "knock your socks off" with the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, set to end in 2011.
King Tut casts magic in Toronto: King Tutankhamun has returned to Toronto. A new exhibit of artifacts related to the Egyptian boy king went on display Friday at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Tom Thomson winter scene set for auction: A striking, snow-covered forest scene by Tom Thomson bearing intriguing inscriptions on the back of the canvas is set for sale in Toronto on Tuesday as Canada's fall auction season gets underway.

Bell quietly drops system access fee: The cellphone system access fee is all but extinct. Bell Canada has quietly axed the charge, joining rivals Rogers and Telus.
Beam sent around Large Hadron Collider: The operators of the Large Hadron Collider have successfully sent a beam of particles around the ring of the world's largest particle collider in Switzerland.
Asian carp close to Great Lakes: U.S. officials say the despised Asian carp may have breached an electronic barrier designed to prevent it from invading the Great Lakes.

Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Canada Post struggles to innovate: Canada's postal service is reinventing itself as it struggles to make up for dwindling demand in the face of a devastating global economic slowdown.
The 10-billion-barrel battle: Henry Lyatsky wants B.C.'s coast opened to oil drilling but environmentalists stand opposed.

Bullying is a public health issue: researcher: Bullying should be considered a public health problem and governments should adopt national strategies against it, says a Canadian professor who led a study of bullying in 40 countries.
Early Canadian stamps auction nets $3.2M US: A New York stamp collector auctioned parts of his collection in New York on Thursday, including a Canadian-issued stamp that is one of the world's rarest.
Susan Boyle album racks up record pre-orders online: Susan Boyle's transformation from dowdy church volunteer to TV singing sensation has hit a new high, with Amazon.com announcing that Boyle's forthcoming album has become its biggest global pre-order in history.

Anderson, Avs seek vengeance in Vancouver: Craig Anderson and the Colorado Avalanche look to avenge their worst defeat of this charmed season when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (10 p.m. ET).
Rochette holds Skate Canada lead: Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette achieved a personal best in the short program on Friday to take the lead at the HomeSense Skate Canada International in Kitchener, Ont.
Flames lose top scorer Bourque: Rene Bourque, who leads the Calgary Flames with 21 points in 20 games, will miss at least two contests with an undisclosed injury, coach Brent Sutter said Friday.