Canada approves contentious expansion of crude oil pipeline

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau looks set to form another minority government following Canada's parliamentary election. The prime minister framed the vote as a referendum on his party's handling of the COVID pandemic.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have also returned home after over 1,000 days in Chinese custody as part of the US-brokered deal that saw the release of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.

Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial executive, has now left Canada after being detained on fraud charges for nearly three years. China released two Canadians as part of the US deal.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Kamloops, in British Columbia, where the remains of hundreds of indigenous First Nations children were found buried at the site of a former residential school in May. Trudeau apologised for not making the trip earlier. In recent months, shocking discoveries of the remains of First Nations children have made headlines and researchers warn they could continue. First Nations communities want justice for one of the darkest chapters in Canada's history. Our correspondents gained rare access to a "pow wow" – a sacred ceremony in honour of the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

Vancouver Island, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, is home to immense cedars and firs, some of them 800 years old. It's here that an environmental battle is raging between the logging industry and defenders of the Fairy Creek forest. The fight over logging has gone all the way to British Columbia's Supreme Court and is resonating within Canadian society, with police accused of excessive force towards the environmental protesters. Our correspondents François Rihouay, Joanne Profeta and Laura McQuillan report.

Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.

Millions raised for the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID measures will be refunded or redirected to charities, the crowdfunding platform said, after police reports of "unlawful activity."Millions raised for the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID measures will be refunded or redirected to charities, the crowdfunding platform said, after police reports of "unlawful activity."

Some automotive giants have been forced to halt operations as anti-coronavirus mandate protesters block supply lines between Canada and US. Copycat protests have also spread to New Zealand, Australia and France.

"Freedom Convoy" protests are still paralysing the Canadian capital Ottawa. The truckers are also blocking the busiest international crossing in North America. The Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario carries a fourth of all trade between Canada and the US. Canadian lawmakers are becoming increasingly worried about the economic effects of the protests against vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions. Our correspondents François Rihouay, Joanne Profeta and Gloria Henriquez report.

Protesters opposed to COVID curbs continue to hamper trade and everyday life across Canada as demonstrations grow. Police say safety concerns have limited their capacity to disperse the protests.

Back in June 2019, the provincial government in Quebec adopted a secularism law, known as Bill 21. The law bars some government employees in positions of authority, such as teachers, from wearing religious signs while on the job. In December 2021, the law was applied for the first time. A Muslim teacher who wears a hijab was removed from her job and reassigned to an administrative position. The decision has sparked controversy and polarised Canadians.

The week began with Emmanuel Macron heading to Moscow for what he hopes will be the start of the long road to de-escalation over Ukraine.