Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland participates in a media availability to discuss Canadian sanctions on Russia, as Russia continues to invade Ukraine, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Freeland is warning Canadians against fighting for Russia in Ukraine, saying anyone who does so could face severe consequences.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

By The Canadian Press

Federal government sending aid to Ukraine among top stories of today

Mar 3, 2022 | 11:20 AM

Due to some technical difficulties with the Canadian Press, stories in the Canada and World sections of paNOW are not being populated. Until the problem is fixed here are some of the top stories of the day so far.

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Russian negotiators confirm they have reached a tentative agreement with Ukraine to create safe corridors for civilians to exit besieged cities and for humanitarian supplies to be delivered.

The tentative deal would also see Russia observe local cease-fires in areas where the corridors will be created.

The lead Russian negotiator says a third round of talks will be held shortly and that in today’s session, the parties’ positions were written down point-by-point, including issues related to a political settlement of the conflict.

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(Ukraine-Citizen-Soldiers)

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is warning Canadians against leaving home to fight for Russia in Ukraine.

She says Canada views Russia’s invasion as an illegal war and that those joining Russian forces could face severe consequences.

But she and Defence Minister Anita Anand weren’t as definitive about whether it is legal to bear arms for the Ukrainian side.

The ministers announced new sanctions against Russia today as well as a shipment of rocket launchers and hand grenades for Ukraine’s military.

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(Ukraine-Immigration)

The Canadian Council for Refugees is praising the Trudeau government’s move to offer temporary refuge to an unlimited number of Ukrainians.

Executive director Janet Dench says it marks a positive and hopefully permanent change to the way Canada handles major global crises.

Dench says rules that barred people from coming to Canada temporarily because they may not leave when their visa expired has prevented many people from war zones from coming here in the past. (12)

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(Women-Labour)

A report by R-B-C Economics says after plunging to a 30-year low early in the pandemic, women have more than regained the jobs they lost.

It found a record 84 per cent of women between the ages of 25 and 54 in the workforce last year.

But the report says women still face pay and career imbalances, with women with young children earning 87 cents for every dollar earned by fathers of young kids. (12)

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(COVID-Travel-Rules)

Medical experts and travel industry groups want the federal government to drop all remaining COVID-19 border testing rules.

They say fully vaccinated Canadians and others arriving in the country shouldn’t have to pay for tests and be subject to what they call outdated measures.

Pandemic travel measures have devastated the transport and hospitality sectors, bleeding billions of dollars from Canada’s airline sector and closing hotels in a whiplash of stop-and-go restrictions. (12)

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(Mexico-Earthquake)

There are no immediate reports of damage after a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Mexico.

But the quake was strong enough to send people running out of their homes and into the streets.

It triggered seismic alarms 380 kilometres away in Mexico City, but it was not felt in the capital.