British Columbia's overdose deaths spiked in March and April reaching the same heights recorded over a year earlier. The BC Coroners Service says 117 people died last month, matching the number of fatalities in March 2019, followed by a steady decline in deaths every month since then. However, the service says 112 deaths in March and 117 in April mark the first time since late 2018 that the province has recorded more than 100 fatalities two month in a row. The service reports 78 deaths in January, and 75 in February this year More than 4,700 people have died of overdoses since the B.C. governm

British Columbia has entered its longest period in a state of emergency in its history. Premier John Horgan says the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging the province's social and economic foundations but people in B.C. are perservering in what will likely be an extended emergency period. B.C. first declared a public state of emergency on March 18 and today's extension will run until June 9, weeks longer than the emergency declaration during the devastating 2017 fire season. In a wide-ranging news conference, the premier also says he is pleased Vancouver remains in the running as a potential hub

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia: “Today, we are announcing nine new cases, for a total of 2,550 cases in British Columbia." “There are 244 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 2,144 people who tested positive have recovered. “Of the total COVID-19 cases, 37 individuals are hospitalized, seven of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation.

The first launch of NASA astronauts from Florida in nine years has been pushed to Saturday after bad weather forced the space agency to cancel today's scheduled launch of a Space-X rocket ship. Both U-S President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence were present at Cape Canaveral to watch the now-scrubbed lift-off. The mission is seen as a giant leap forward for the booming business of commercial space travel. Space veterans Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were scheduled to ride into orbit Wednesday afternoon aboard the brand-new Dragon capsule.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there are many health and safety issues to be tackled before there can be an in-person gathering of G-7 leaders. President Donald Trump is pushing the idea of having leaders meet in or near Washington sometime next month. While Trudeau says that would be more effective than a virtual meeting, he wants to make sure the US has a plan to deal with the potential COVID-19 risk first and consider whether he'd have to quarantine for two weeks afterwards.

The military's report into its mission inside Quebec's long-term care homes reveals many facilities in the network continue to struggle to bring down the number of COVID-19 infections.Members of the Canadian Armed Forces noted that upon arrival they found a widespread lack of personnel and high absenteeism, which they said negatively affected patient hygiene.Other issues they found included problems with distribution of personal protective equipment, disappearing medical supplies and residents circulating within facilities without protective equipment.But the report released today is less crit

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled against a Huawei executive wanted on fraud charges in the United States. Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says in a decision released today that the allegations against Meng Wanzhou could constitute a crime in Canada. The ruling means the court will continue to hear other arguments in the extradition case, including whether Meng's arrest at the Vancouver airport in December 2018 was unlawful. It also means Meng will not be permitted to return to China and must remain in Canada. The allegations against Meng, who is Huawei's chief financial officer and

Twenty-nine national parks, including Banff in Alberta and Pacific Rim in B-C, will reopen to visitors on June 1st.Minister of Environment Jonathan Wilkinson says the parks will open for day use, and washrooms will be open.All national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas have been closed for weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19.In Banff, the town and many of its businesses have been preparing to reopen June 1st.The town's council recently decided to close two blocks of its often-crowded main street, Banff Avenue to vehicle traffic to make more room for pedestrians.Banff is the

There are 86,648 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 48,598 confirmed (including 4,139 deaths, 14,999 resolved) Ontario: 26,191 confirmed (including 2,123 deaths, 19,958 resolved) Alberta: 6,901 confirmed (including 139 deaths, 6,048 resolved) British Columbia: 2,541 confirmed (including 161 deaths, 2,122 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,052 confirmed (including 59 deaths, 976 resolved) Saskatchewan: 634 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 549 resolved) Manitoba: 281 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 269 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 260 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 25