Howard Alexander

OTTAWA – The Trudeau government unveiled Thursday its plan for transforming the Senate into an independent, non-partisan chamber —the first major reform to the scandal-plagued upper house in 50 years and arguably the biggest change since its inception in 1867.

SAINT-JEROME, Que. – Guy Turcotte was found guilty on Sunday of second-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his two young children more than six years ago.

OTTAWA – The promised new era of civility in Parliament is sounding a lot like a rehash of the federal election campaign.

TORONTO – The sounds of the holiday season are pretty much the same from year to year: "Feliz Navidad," "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and "White Christmas" on constant rotation in supermarkets, department stores and coffee shops.

HALIFAX – The RCMP have launched a cuteness offensive in Nova Scotia.

MONTREAL – Dickie Moore was a gritty goal-scorer and playmaker on the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the 1950s, even if he wasn't quite as famous as some of his legendary teammates.

OTTAWA – Provincial and territorial finance ministers are scheduled to gather tonight in Ottawa with federal counterpart Bill Morneau to begin confronting the hard economic truths facing Canada and the new Liberal government.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – To say that the force is strong with this one is an understatement.

VANCOUVER – A man who helped Vancouverites bring in the New Year for decades died just minutes before the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Winter is not coming.

TORONTO – Canada's motorcycle industry is facing headwinds from the low loonie as the sector gears up for an annual round of trade shows early in the new year.