National News

PENTICTON, - B.C. mayors say they want a new partnership with the federal and provincial governments to deal with spending on local issues from roads to social services.

OTTAWA - The general who is currently in charge of Canada's overseas headquarters is expected to be named to lead a newly combined organization that's at the centre of the Harper government's overhaul of National Defence.

WASHINGTON - Mitt Romney is vowing to approve TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline on his first day on the job if elected U.S. president in November.

OTTAWA - The Netherlands foreign minister says he favours an evidence-based discussion on whether Alberta's oilsands are being discriminated against under the European Union's proposed fuel-quality directive.

OTTAWA - There is no common theme that ties together the series of deadly shootings where Afghan soldiers and police have murdered their NATO mentors, says the outgoing deputy commander of the training mission.

OTTAWA - The Harper government has funded research that argues Canada's economy suffers from so-called Dutch Disease, an economic theory the prime minister and other senior officials ridiculed when raised recently by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

OTTAWA - Inflation in Canada appears to have entered a period of stability near the Bank of Canada's two per cent sweet spot, providing little impetus for interest rate hikes any time soon.

MONTREAL - Multiple events Friday pointed to an emerging strategy in Quebec for dealing with unruly protesters: fiscal strangulation.

VICTORIA - Canada's first woman prime minister and British Columbia's first NDP premier are among 14 people who have been named to the Order of B.C., the province's highest civilian honour.