1. Canada approves permanent residency for family of Ottawa mass murder victims

• What happened: Canada has granted permanent residency to the Sri Lankan brother and father of victims in the March 2024 Ottawa townhouse mass stabbing. Victims: Darshani Ekanayake (35), her son Inuka (7) and daughters Ashwini (4), Ranaya (3) and infant Kelly (2 months). A family friend, Gamini Amarakoon (40), was also killed. Dhanushka Wickramasinghe, the husband and children’s father, survived with injuries.
• Legal outcome: In November, Febrio De-Zoysa pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder; he was sentenced to life with no parole for 25 years.
• Key numbers: victims ages (35, 7, 4, 3, 0.17), attacker sentence (life, 25 years no parole).

2. Hundreds of Kashechewan First Nation evacuees arrive in Niagara Falls, Ont.

• Situation: A water crisis in Kashechewan (a fly-in community on James Bay) forced mass evacuations. Niagara Falls is hosting 858 evacuees in two hotels; officials expect more arrivals.
• Local impact: Kashechewan’s executive director said ~400 people were expected to remain in the 2,200-member community by Sunday.
• Response: Niagara crews providing food, medical supplies and shelter; city prepared to accommodate additional evacuees.

3. Ontario Premier Ford criticizes new Canada–China EV trade deal

• Claim: Premier Doug Ford called the deal a "terrible" move that favours Chinese "spy vehicles" over Ontario jobs.
• Deal details cited: tariff cuts on up to 49,000 Chinese-made electric vehicles in exchange for reduced duties on Canadian canola seeds.
• Politics: Ford said a lack of direct communication with Prime Minister Mark Carney harmed relations.

4. Fire in west-end Ottawa apartment: 1 dead, 19 displaced

• Incident: Firefighters called around 6 p.m. to a three-storey building on Armstrong Street; blaze contained by ~6:30 p.m.
• Casualties: One person found unconscious in a bathroom later died in hospital; 19 residents displaced.
• Investigation: Fire service searched building; cause under investigation.

5. Blizzard and snow squall warnings across parts of Ontario

• Forecast: Orange-level blizzard warnings for 10 regions including Bruce Peninsula, Goderich, Hanover and Niagara Falls.
• Conditions: Wind gusts 70–90 km/h, wind chills −20 to −25°C, visibility near zero in blizzard conditions.
• Snow totals: 10–25 cm generally; Bruce Peninsula/Owen Sound possibly 20–40 cm. Snow squalls expected to begin Monday morning.