Italy's premier says all stores except pharmacies and grocery stores are being closed nationwide in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak. Premier Giuseppe Conte thanked the public for co-operating with the already unprecedented travel and social restrictions that took effect Tuesday. But he said Wednesday night on Facebook Live that Italy must `` go another step'' by closing all shops and businesses except for food stores, pharmacies and other shops selling ''essential'' items. The tighter restrictions on daily life are the government's latest effort to respond to the fast moving cri

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says politicians need to follow the same advice as anybody else to stop the spread of the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness. Handshakes are out, handwashing is in, and avoiding needless contact with others is key. Champagne was supposed to travel to Pittsburgh for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers later this month, but the U.S. State Department says today that the gathering will be held by video conference instead. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan is awaiting the results of a test for COVID-19 after going to a doctor with what

The world figure skating championships in Montreal have been cancelled because of the spread of COVID-19. The championships were scheduled to run March 18 to 22 at the Bell Centre. It is the latest sporting event that has been wiped out by the novel coronavirus. The world women's hockey championship, which was scheduled to start later this month in Nova Scotia, was cancelled on Saturday. The other major winter world championship event in Canada remains on schedule. The women's world curling championship is to start Saturday in Prince George, B.C.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says the Liberals one billion dollar package to mitigate impacts of the spread of COVID-19 is aimed at finding the balance between keeping the country ready, and also functioning. She says a decision to make it easier for people forced to stay home due to the illness to collect unemployment insurance was rolled out for that reason. The money announced by the Liberals will also be spent on purchasing medical supplies for front line workers, research towards a vaccine for the virus and bolstering provincial and territorial health care responses. The Liberals' package

Finance minister Bill Morneau has set a date,30th March,for the next federal Budget. He made the announcement in the Commons this afternoon. Morneau says the budget will recognize real challenges in the economy, a reference to things like the new coronavirus and low oil prices.

RCMP from five northwestern BC detachments had to work together to catch a suspect wanted for a series of thefts that began Monday in Smithers and ended more than six hours, and several crashes later in Burns Lake. Corporal Madonna Saunderson says it started with the theft of a white Ford F150 pickup truck in Terrace but police weren't alerted until the alleged suspect left that vehicle in Smithers and made off in a black truck before abandoning it in favour of another Ford pickup, this one possibly stowed with firearms and other weapons. Over the next several hours, one stolen trucks was cra

The women's world curling championship in Prince George will go ahead as planned starting Saturday despite the ongoing global spread of the new coronavirus. Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says the province and the Northern Health authority have been working with the event's organizers to limit the risk of transmission. Teams from countries grappling with outbreaks of COVID-19, including Japan, South Korea, China and Italy, will participate in the annual tournament at the 6,000-seat C-N Centre. Health Minister Adrian Dix says fans should stay home if they're feeling sick, adding

The World Health Organization says COVID-19 is officially a pandemic.WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the announcement at a news conference in Geneva, but is urging calm, saying with prevention, preparedness and political leadership it can be managed.He says calling the situation a pandemic doesn't change the organization's assessment of the threat from the illness or what countries should do to prepare and combat it.

According to the report prepared by a committee chaired by former attorney general and judge Wally Oppal, Surrey’s local police force will have a staff of 1150 people, including 805 officers.The local force is projected to cost $192.5 million in 2021 which will be an additional burden of $18.9 million as compared to RCMP.The report also mentions a one time $45.2 million setting-up cost for the new force.According to this report, the local police force will result in a 16% increase in the number of front line patrol officers.Full text of this report prepared by Provincial Municipality Policin