The jobless rate across Canada dipped sharply in March to 7.5 per cent, its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the numbers in British Columbia didn't budge. Statistics Canada says more than 300,000 jobs were added countrywide last month, pushing the unemployment rate down from 8.2 per cent in February. BC's Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation says the latest unemployment numbers show more people are working now in the province than before the pandemic hit. Ravi Kahlon says, counting the 35,000 jobs created in BC last month, the province now has 11 consecutive

The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers, liquor servers, are getting a pay boost to match the general minimum wage that's also set to increase in June. Labour Minister Harry Bains says he's proud to put an end to the discriminatory lower minimum wage for liquor servers, 80 per cent of whom are women. The province says liquor servers earning minimum wage will make $15.20 an hour, up from $13.95, effective June 1. The general minimum wage is increasing by 60 cents from $14.60 an hour, and the minimum rates for live-in camp leaders and resident caretakers are also

ICBC is on track to mail out all 2.86 million cheques by the end of this month to customers eligible for a share of $600 million in COVID-19-related rebates. Two weeks ago, ICBC began mailing small batches of COVID-19 rebate cheques directly to eligible customers. Large-scale distribution through the vendor started April 6 and, as of Thursday, April 8, approximately 940,000 cheques have been issued. ICBC is proceeding with its third-party vendor, with extra security measures in place, to print and distribute the vast majority of the remaining COVID-19 rebate cheques. This large mailout, origin

Police say a two-year investigation into an organized crime group has led to charges linked to drugs and firearms against a pair of men, one from Burnaby, and another from Surrey. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says investigators executed two search warrants leading to the seizure of items including a loaded semi-automatic handgun, a rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and drugs such as cocaine and heroin, along with over 100,000 dollars in cash. The unit says the money, as well as three vehicles and jewelry from a home have been referred to the province's civil forfeiture office. A

Canada's chief public health officer says the number of patients being hospitalized for COVID-19 is on the rise as more contagious variants of the virus spread in many parts of the country. Dr. Theresa Tam says hospitals treated an average of more than 2,500 patients with COVID-19 each day last week, a seven per cent increase compared to the previous week. Tam says 860 of these patients were in intensive-care units, which is an increase of 23 per cent over the previous week. Ontario hospitals have been asked to ramp down elective surgeries and non-urgent procedures in order to cope with the in

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says stricter measures are needed in several parts of the country as more contagious variants of COVID-19 send younger people to hospital. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam told the same federal briefing that hospital admissions are up seven per cent week-over-week, with the number of cases linked to more contagious variants almost doubling. The federal government has now delivered more than 10.5-million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the provinces and territories. Trudeau says Canada is expected to have received at least 44-million doses from Pfizer, Mo

BC's education minister says she understands that rising COVID-19 case numbers have parents anxious about potential spread to schools but she believes there's no need to close them because the province's comprehensive safety plans are working. Jennifer Whiteside says health authorities and school districts are working together to keep students in school because it's important for them to maintain connections there. But teachers in the Fraser Health region are calling for a hybrid in-class and online learning model as variants rise, and they want masks to be mandatory for all students, not jus

Buckingham Palace says Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has died at age 99.The Queen's husband was admitted to a London hospital on Feb. 17 after feeling unwell.He spent a month in hospital and was released on March 16, when he returned to Windsor Castle.His illness was said to not be related to COVID-19, the Queen and Philip were vaccinated against the coronavirus in early January.Philip retired from public duties in 2017 and had rarely appeared in public since.Philip married the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history.He and the Queen ha

New funding will be available to businesses in British Columbia affected by the latest measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, but the economic recovery minister says those who break the health orders need not apply. The B.C. government has established a $50-million fund for about 14,000 businesses, such as restaurants, bars and breweries, that have been affected by the provincial health officer's orders, which end April 19. Businesses are eligible for up to $10,000 in a one-time payment to cover expenses like perishables, rent or employee wages. Economic Recovery Minister Ravi Kahlon says t