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REGINA — Saskatchewan's two main political leaders hammered each other Wednesday on health care, crime and the economy in their first and only debate in the lead-up to the Oct. 28 provincial election.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says he has no plan for user-pay health care in British Columbia, after the rival NDP released a recording of him calling the Canada Health Act "silly" for not allowing such a system.

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada is warning of an incoming atmospheric river weather system that will bring "prolonged heavy rain" to British Columbia's south coast this election weekend.

OTTAWA — The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is urging chiefs to vote in favour of a landmark child welfare deal with Ottawa, saying she doesn't think a better agreement would be possible under a different federal government.

IQALUIT — More than 200 Air India passengers have landed in Chicago after a bomb threat forced their flight to be diverted to Nunavut.

TORONTO — Canada needs to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and take action before the next health emergency strikes, an expert panel of doctors and researchers say in a new independent report.

CALGARY — Canada's economic productivity crisis can only be solved if the federal and provincial governments come together to address issues like major project approvals and inter-provincial trade barriers, Alberta's premier said Wednesday.

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre refuses to seek the security clearance necessary to be briefed on a list of people in his party who are involved in or vulnerable to foreign interference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday.

MONTREAL — A former sergeant with the Canadian Armed Forces is suing the federal government for nearly $3 million, alleging unfair treatment after he reported the killing and targeting of civilians during the war in Afghanistan.

QUÉBEC — The last year was busy for Quebec's anti-corruption unit, which released an annual report Wednesday showing a rising number of whistleblower reports and convictions.