A B.C. government decision to allow Teck Resources' coal mines in southeastern B.C. to use a new type of water treatment has prompted a stern response from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has written a letter to Environment Minister George Heyman demanding data on why the mines can exceed guidelines for the release of selenium, a toxic heavy metal. The agency wants to do its own assessment of the water treatment system, because it says the new technology is not effective over large areas or for long periods of time. The letter to Heyman, sent February 4th, follows U.S. concerns t

B.C. is in a better position to chart a long-term vision for the province according to the final report of the Emerging Economy Task Force. The 14-member task force has made 25 recommendations to help B.C. navigate global trends and technological advancements over the next 10 to 25 years. The report will also be a valuable resource to help inform the province's COVID-19 pandemic economic recovery. The recommendations are presented within five key strategic priorities:* embracing technology and innovation* leveraging B.C.'s green economy* building a highly skilled and adaptable workforce* ensu

The RCMP says three of the four semi-automatic weapons used by a gunman during last month's mass shooting in Nova Scotia are believed to have come from the United States. The federal force says in a news release today that only one of the guns could be traced back to a source in Canada. The Mounties are still declining to reveal the brand or the calibre of the weapons, two handguns and two rifles used during the April 18-19 rampage that killed 22 people in five communities around the province. Gabriel Wortman, who police have said didn't have a licence for the weapons, was shot and killed by

The federal government says it will provide loans and financing to the country's largest employers to help them weather the COVID-19 economic crisis. The Liberals are promising bridge financing to companies whose financial needs aren't being met by conventional credit so they can stay open and keep employees on their payrolls. The government says in a release that another goal of the financing program, aimed at companies with $300 million or more in revenues, is to avoid bankruptcies of otherwise viable firms wherever possible. Rules on access to the money will place limits on dividends, share

Quebec children have begun heading back to class today for the first time since March as the province reopens elementary schools and daycares outside the Montreal area. Quebec is the first province to open schools following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and school officials say it will be far from business as usual. Students are being met by staff wearing masks and in some cases face shields, and they are being told to follow physical-distancing rules and wash their hands frequently. Libraries, gyms and cafeterias will be closed, and children will spend most of the day at their desks

British Columbia reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the provincial total to 2,330 positive cases of the virus. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says two people have died, which brings the death toll to 129. She says the two deaths are people who were residents of long-term care homes in the Vancouver area. Henry says the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 has increased to 1,659, which amounts to 71 per cent of those who tested positive for the virus. Henry says on Mother's Day, she is asking families to honour their mothers by keeping them safe by avoiding close

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will not pay the full price for medical masks that do not live up to medical standards.About eight million of 11 million N95 respirators shipped to the government from China through a Montreal-based supplier failed to meet specifications, federal officials said Friday.Trudeau says the discovery speaks to the government's “rigorous verification system” overseen by the Public Health Agency of Canada.The prime minister did not name the price the government will pay for the sub-standard respirators, which are used to protect against the COVID-19 virus.

There are 66,434 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 36,150 confirmed (including 2,725 deaths, 8,928 resolved) Ontario: 19,598 confirmed (including 1,540 deaths, 13,990 resolved) Alberta: 6,098 confirmed (including 115 deaths, 4,020 resolved) British Columbia: 2,315 confirmed (including 127 deaths, 1,579 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,008 confirmed (including 46 deaths, 722 resolved) Saskatchewan: 544 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 355 resolved) Manitoba: 273 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 247 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 261 confirmed (including 3 dea

In view of the COVID-19 situation in the state, Punjab government has canceled the class 10th exams saying that students will be promoted based on their performance in pre-Board exams."Class X students under Punjab School Education Board will not have to take any exams and will be promoted on basis of their performance in pre-Board exams," said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.The state government has also decided to promote students from classes 5th to 9th. "The state government has decided to promote all students of Classes V to X under Punjab School Education system to next class without any