Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister says the province is at a critical point in its fight against COVID-19, and is taking drastic action to curb surging cases. Starting Thursday, non-essential stores across the province will be limited to curbside pickup and delivery. Social and religious gatherings outside immediate household members are banned, and restaurants, museums, theatres and recreational activities must close. Schools will remain open as the province's chief public health officer says they are not a venue for much transmission.

A Vancouver biotech company is getting worldwide attention for its role in helping develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer says the vaccine could be up to 90 per cent effective. Vancouver's Acuitas Therapeutics developed lipid nanoparticles that act as the so-called delivery system for the vaccine, moving it through the body and into cells before the body breaks it down. Pfizer's ongoing study involves more than 43-thousand participants from six countries and the vaccine requires two doses taken three weeks apart. Canada has ordered 20 million doses and Ottawa is

More than two-thirds of Canadians say they would support a curfew if the COVID-19 pandemic became serious enough, according to a new poll.The survey by Léger and the Association for Canadian Studies found that 67 per cent of Canadians would back a temporary nighttime curfew,10 p.m. to 5 a.m., to curb viral spread in dire circumstances.However, respondents' enthusiasm varied by age, with young people less disposed to the notion.Fifty-five per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they would support a curfew, while three-quarters of those aged 55 and over endorsed it, including 80 per cent of

More than two years after he drove down a van down a Toronto sidewalk, killing 10 people and injuring 16 others, Alek Minassian is set to go on trial today. The judge has said the case will turn on Minassian's state of mind on April 23rd, 2018, not whether he committed the attack, which he has admitted to in court. The defence is expected to argue Minassian was not criminally responsible for his actions. Hours after the attack, Minassian told police he had done it as retribution against society, because women would not have sex with him.

British Columbia's top doctor has clarified a public health order requiring people living in two health regions to cut back on their social interactions in order to slow the rising COVID-19 case count. The details of Dr. Bonnie Henry's latest directive on Saturday are now posted online and explain that people in the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions may only socialize with those in their ``core bubble.'' The provincial webpage notes a person's core bubble consists of others who live in the same home and may also include a partner, co-parent, relative or friend who lives in a differe

Statistics Canada says that during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant drop in certain criminal activity reported to 17 police services across Canada. The services say selected criminal incidents were down by 17 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier, with the lone exception being uttering threats by a family member, which rose by four per cent. The number of service calls also rose by eight per cent, particularly for wellness checks, mental health calls and calls to attend domestic disturbances. The statistics agency says that when the physic

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is telling Canadians not to pin too much hope on a successful report from drug maker Pfizer about a COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer says it seems effective in clinical trials. But Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa this morning the vaccine will not come in time for those who are getting sick or infected right now. Canada has bought the rights to about 300 million doses of vaccine from a number of potential suppliers, including Pfizer. Trudeau says, new administration doesn't mean he'll stop fighting for Canadian jobs and interests While he congratulates Joe Biden

Effective immediately, the Province is extending the freeze on rent increases until July 10, 2021, under the powers of the Emergency Program Act and COVID-19 Related Measures Act. This is an interim measure to provide stability and advance notice for renters and landlords while a new cabinet is sworn in. Increases set to happen on Dec. 1, 2020, are cancelled, along with all pending increases through to July. "We know many renters are still facing income loss and even the slightest increase in rent could be extremely challenging. For that reason, we are extending the freeze on rent increases to

The NDP is set to lead British Columbia with a strong majority that was confirmed last night when election officials wrapped up the final mail-in vote tally. Elections BC says the NDP won 57 seats, the Liberals 28 and the Greens two at final count. One Liberal seat will undergo an automatic judicial recount because the margin was so tight. West Vancouver-Sea to Sky was projected to go Green until incumbent Liberal candidate Jordan Sturdy pulled ahead by 41 votes this weekend.