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BCJul 31, 2020

COVID-19 guidelines lay out fall session rules for B.C. universities, colleges

New COVID-19 guidelines for post-secondary institutions, ranging from transportation to support for international students, have been released as colleges and universities gear up for the start of classes in the fall. Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark says in a statement that the "Go Forward" guidelines will provide greater certainty to staff, students and faculty. She says the guidelines provide a minimum standard for institutions to follow. Mark says her ministry will work with the sector toward a full reopening, when it's safe. She expects all 25 of B.C.'s pos
BCJul 31, 2020

No charges for off-duty Langley RCMP officer involved in 2019

The BC Prosecution Service says there will be no charges against a Langley RCMP officer involved in an off-duty motorcycle crash last year.The officer's SUV and the motorcycle collided in a Langley intersection on July 1, 2019, seriously injuring the motorcycle driver.B.C.'s police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, looked into the crash and filed its report in April to the prosecution service for consideration of charges.The officer faced potential charges including careless driving and unsafe lane change. But the prosecution service says the available evidence doesn't meet its
BCJul 31, 2020

13 overdose deaths in Yukon so far this year is double last year's total toll

The number of fatal overdoses in Yukon has leaped to 13 so far this year, more than doubling the number recorded in the territory for all of last year. Yukon Health Minister Pauline Frost says most of the deaths are linked to increasingly toxic opioids that have replaced the regular supply of street drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says drug testing will be stepped up across Yukon and several other harm reduction measures are being launched. Enhanced training on the use of naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdoses, begins next week in Watson Lake and the community will proclaim Augu
victim-in-vancouvers-ninth-murder-being-remembered-as-a-beautiful-person-who-saved-many-lives
BCJul 31, 2020

Victim in Vancouver's ninth murder being remembered as a ``beautiful person'' who ``saved many lives''

A worker at an overdose prevention site in Vancouver is being remembered as a ``beautiful person'' who ``saved many lives.'' Vancouver police say 41 year old Thomas Donaghy was fatally stabbed after being involved in a fight with an unknown man outside the overdose prevention clinic where he was working. Fellow volunteers at the clinic say Donaghy had just stepped out for a break at about 8:30 Monday when he was attacked and stabbed. Police are seeking dash cam video taken near St. Paul's Hospital at that time and say investigators believe several witnesses to the city's ninth murder of the y
bc-hydro-says-pandemic-hits-site-c-project-expect-delays-cost-increases
BCJul 31, 2020

BC Hydro says pandemic hits Site C project, expect delays, cost increases

British Columbia's massive Site C hydroelectric dam project has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and now faces construction delays and rising costs.BC Hydro president Chris O'Riley says in a quarterly update submitted to the B.C. Utilities Commission that the pandemic has had a material impact on safety, cost and schedule for the project in northeast B.C.Site C's budget in April 2018 was estimated at $10.7 billion, including reserve and contingency funds amounting to about $1.5 billion for unexpected costs.O'Riley's update to the utilities commission does not estimate the extent of incre
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CanadaJul 31, 2020

CERB recipients to be transferred to EI program soon: PM

The government is going to create a transitional benefit to help workers such as gig or contract employees, who exhaust the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and don't qualify for employment insurance.The CERB is due to wind down in several weeks. Today's announcement means those who are eligible for E-I will move to the separate program. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the program will include access to training, and the ability to work more hours without having such a steep clawback of benefit payments.
canadians-can-now-download-new-covid-19-exposure-alert-smartphone-app
CanadaJul 31, 2020

Canadians can now download new COVID-19 exposure-alert smartphone app

Canadians can now begin downloading a voluntary smartphone app meant to warn users they've been near someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he downloaded the "COVID Alert" app this morning and says the more people who sign up to use it, the better it will be able to trace — and help to slow — the spread of the novel coronavirus. The app is designed to track the location of phones relative to each other, without collecting personal data anywhere centrally, using digital identifications unique to each device. Then users can be notified if their phones hav
bail-hearing-delayed-again-for-man-accused-in-rideau-hall-gate-ramming
CanadaJul 31, 2020

Bail hearing delayed again for man accused in Rideau Hall gate-ramming

The man accused of ramming through a gate at Rideau Hall while heavily armed is staying in an Ontario jail for another three weeks. Corey Hurren was arrested July 2 and has not yet had a bail hearing. He had a brief appearance in an Ottawa court this morning, only to have Aug. 21 set as the date for his next appearance. The Manitoba military reservist and sausage-maker faces 21 weapons charges and one of threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Police say Hurren broke through a side gate early in the morning the day after Canada Day and made his way toward the residence where Trudeau and hi
CanadaJul 31, 2020

CN train derails east of Winnipeg, no reports of injuries, no hazardous goods

Canadian National Railway Co. says one of its trains has derailed east of Winnipeg along Highway 1, causing a small fire. CN says there are no reports of injuries and there are no dangerous goods involved. The company says the derailed train cars are carrying potash. RCMP say the derailment occurred near Deacons Corner about 20 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Mounties were called to the scene at approximately 5 p.m. CN says the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

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AlbertaJul 18, 2025

Candidate in federal Alberta byelection stops door knocking due to death threats

An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats. Sarah Spanier says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which she attributes to her advocacy for transgender people. She says she has received some messages stating she will be met with a shotgun if she knocks on doors. Spanier is one of almost 80 candidates running in Battle River-Crowfoot, with voters going to the polls Aug. 18. The riding was won handily by Conservative Damien Kurek in the April general election, but Kurek stepped down to all
canadian-union-of-postal-workers-urges-workers-to-reject-contract-offer
CanadaJul 18, 2025

Canadian Union of Postal Workers urges workers to reject contract offer

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process. The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week. Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu last month asked the board to step in and put the Crown corporation's latest
report-says-alberta-government-created-command-challenges-fighting-jasper-wildfire
CanadaJul 18, 2025

Report says Alberta government created command challenges fighting Jasper wildfire

A report commissioned by the town of Jasper says crews did their best to fight last year's devastating wildfire but the Alberta government complicated the response. The report was based on surveyed participants and firefighters who battled the blaze that destroyed much of the mountain town. It says the Alberta government wasn't jurisdictionally responsible to lead the crisis but made things more difficult with regular information requests and by seeking to exercise decision-making authority. The report says incident commanders had their focus disrupted and were forced to spend precio
minister-restores-drug-funding-for-b-c-girl-with-rare-disease
CanadaJul 18, 2025

Minister restores drug funding for B.C. girl with rare disease

B-C Health Minister Josie Osborne says she's reinstated funding for drug coverage for a ten-year-old Langford girl who suffers from a rare neurodegenerative disease. Osborne says she spoke to Charleigh Pollock's family on Thursday evening and told them that the funding will be available for as long as her doctor and the family deem appropriate. The minister says a letter from experts on Batten disease confirmed that there's ``significant disagreement'' about the drug Brineura, which costs around $1 million a year. Pollock is the only person in B-C with the disease, and one of around 2
CanadaJul 17, 2025

Eliminating interprovincial trade barriers would add 30,000 annual housing starts: CMHC

Canada’s National Housing Agency says eliminating interprovincial trade barriers could lead to 30,000 more new homes being built in Canada each year. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said in a report Thursday that this would bring the total number of annual housing starts to nearly 280,000, a meaningful step toward addressing Canada’s housing supply gap. To achieve this goal, Canada will need to reduce provincial barriers that hinder transportation infrastructure from west to east, said CMHC chief economist Matthew LeBridge. The agency said this would help maximize the use of