A powerful drug used to sedate horses and cattle is creeping into Canada's illicit drug supply and has been detected in a growing number of human drug poisoning deaths in Ontario.

A criminal anthropologist suggests looking to the West to find the heart of protests and blockades that gripped the nation for more than a month.

Chad Williamson, a lawyer representing the protesters, said they were opening one lane of Highway 4 in each direction. Demonstrators followed through in the early afternoon, vehicle tires grinding on the hard-packed snow as they departed.

Kenney said he heard reports that RCMP officers had been assaulted during the day, but Mounties could not confirm them.

Still, some are moving forward with plans to celebrate, weighing the risk of contracting the disease or relying on vaccinations to provide safety.

Homeless camps are growing across Canada and there are more people without housing.

The federal government on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, advised Canadians against non-essential international travel in an effort to protect against the Omicron variant, while Ontario and Quebec announced thousands of new COVID-19 infections.

Alberta and British Columbia are reporting their first cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant that has now been detected in four Canadian provinces.

Kenney says he met with hundreds of delegates from across Alberta and only one person had something negative to say about COVID-19 vaccine promotion.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is acknowledging tensions within his United Conservative party, while the UCP president is pleading with members to remain united under the camp's banner.