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OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh vowed Thursday to force a spring election at the end of March, when Parliament is scheduled to return.

OTTAWA — Nova Scotia Liberal MP Jaime Battiste says he is dropping out of the Liberal party leadership race and backing former central banker Mark Carney.

OTTAWA — Health Minister Mark Holland is calling on the federal NDP to give the Liberal government more time in power to sign bilateral deals on pharmacare. "I would put it back to (NDP Leader) Jagmeet Singh ...

TORONTO — Imperial Tobacco is rejecting what it says are major changes to a landmark $32.5-billion settlement that would see it and two other tobacco companies compensate provinces, territories and ex-smokers in Canada.

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer. ESPN and the New York Post say the free agent and Toronto have agreed to a one-year deal worth US$15.5 million.

OTTAWA — The federal government has appointed a long-time advocate for victims' rights to help lead Canada's efforts to tackle human trafficking.

Canada Soccer has named its women's under-17 squad for next month's U-17 Costa Calida MIMA Cup in Spain.

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose 1.3 per cent Thursday in a broad-based rally with strong gains in technology and base metal stocks, while U.S. stocks saw a more muted rise. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 334.95 points at 25,808.

TORONTO — A running list of election promises announced by the Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens in Ontario since the official start of the province's snap election campaign. The vote is set for Feb. 27.

OTTAWA — A federal lawyer denies government responsibility for Abousfian Abdelrazik's detention in Sudan, saying his lawsuit against Canada is an elaborate theory crafted from snippets of evidence.