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VANCOUVER — A legal advocacy group that challenged COVID-19 rules in British Columbia says its argument that the restrictions unjustifiably infringed on religious freedoms has been dismissed by a judge.

OTTAWA — Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé rolled up his sleeve for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine Thursday, a display of confidence in the injection that has recently been the focus of concerns over blood clots.

The latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Canada as of 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 18, 2021. In Canada, the provinces are reporting 155,623 new vaccinations administered for a total of 3,565,023 doses given. Nationwide, 615,679 people or 1.

OTTAWA — The Conservatives have yet to fulfil a promise to repay the federal wage subsidy, but the party said Thursday it is in solid financial shape and urged its members to rally together for the next federal election.

WASHINGTON — China's foreign ministry denied any wrongdoing Thursday in their handling of detained Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, attributing the timing of their trials to little more than coincidence.

WILLIAMS LAKE, СÀ¶ÊÓƵ — A British Columbia First Nation that won a landmark case establishing rights and title to its territory says ongoing colonialism and systemic racism have hindered its COVID-19 response.

Canada's procurement minister says a deal is close to receive Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the U.S., while the military commander in charge of the rollout here says all adults who wish could be able to get their first shot by July 1.

The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 18, 2021. There are 922,848 confirmed cases in Canada. <b>_ Canada: 922,848 confirmed cases (29,280 active, 870,978 resolved, 22,590 deaths).

WINNIPEG — Prosecutors say a Canadian fashion leader facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in the United States could use former employees to contact victims if he is released from jail.

VICTORIA — Police officers, grocery workers, teachers and child-care staff are among more than 300,000 front-line workers being prioritized for COVID-19 vaccinations in the coming weeks, the British Columbia government announced Thursday.