The number of E. coli cases in Ontario has increased to 159. According to a health official, the number includes both confirmed and suspected cases of the infection.

"The latest is that we have 159 cases as of this morning. Of those, 26 are lab confirmed," said Dr. Catherine Whiting, medical officer of health at North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit.

The number of confirmed and suspected cases of E. coli poisoning linked to the Harvey's restaurant on Algonquin Avenue in North Bay, about 300 kilometres north of Toronto.  The last Thursday the count was 93 but it plummeted to  131 the next day.

Montreal : Canada's official opposition leader defied expectations Monday by refusing step down immediately following a disastrous showing in Tuesday's national elections.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion said he will stay on until the Liberals chose a new leader at the upcoming leadership convention expected in May.

"I will remain as a leader to ensure a smooth and successful transition," Dion told reporters in Ottawa.

Canada is to give 100 million Canadian dollars (85 million US dollars) in aid to developing countries to tackle climate change, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Sunday.

North Bay E Coli toll has risen to 131. According to health officials, 22 cases had been confirmed after lab tests whereas 22 other showed clear symptoms of the disease.

The outbreak is the result of contaminated food served at Harvey’s restaurant.

Dr Bill Clarke remarked that people severe gastro-enteritis had a 30 per cent increased risk of high blood pressure or kidney damage.

Now this is what you call being good at keeping secrets!  While, everyone was looking the other way, Canadian songstress Nelly Furtado, reveals on Entertainment Tonight Canada that fiancé Demacio ‘Demo’ Castellon and she very quietly tied the knot over the summer.  ‘We got married July 19,’ she says. ‘I love it.’

Enjoying this nice phase in her life, Nelly says she feels very relaxed, as she concentrates on enjoying life more.  The 29-year-old pop star and Castellon, who met when he engineered her 2006 hit album ‘Loose’ announced their engagement last summer.

State-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) is looking at acquiring a bank in Kazakhstan and also exploring options of a subsidiary in Canada.

According to the sources, the public sector lender is eyeing a bank with a capital size of $20-25 million.

The bank expected that the Canada subsidiary option would come through by March 2010.

On its abroad proposals, PNB is looking at building up a representative office in Norway, and upgrading the representative office in Shanghai.