Unemployment continues to edge downward in BC and across the country, as Canada tries to shed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada says 378,000 mainly full-time jobs were added last month, lowering the national jobless rate to nine per cent from 10.2 per cent in August. Unemployment reached a record-high of 13.7 per cent during the height of the pandemic in May and while September's number is encouraging, Stats Can says it would have been 11.9 per cent last month if people who wanted a job, but didn't look for work had been included in the calculation. In BC, more people ea

The federal government is boosting funding for food banks across the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the government is adding another 100 million dollars to the Emergency Food Security Fund for food banks and Indigenous organizations. The first 100 million dollars in funding provided an estimated six-million meals to two-million people across the country. The money will help organizations like the Salvation Army and Food Banks Canada meet the surge in demand for their services caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the first wave back in

Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo says Canada is at a crisis point in the COVID-19 pandemic. He's cancelled his Thanksgiving plans with his son and says even close family members should stay apart if they don't live together. New restrictions go into effect tomorrow in Toronto, neighbouring Peel Region and Ottawa as COVID-19 infections continue to soar in Ontario. For at least 28 days there will be no indoor dining at restaurants and bars. The province is also shutting down gyms, movie theatres and casinos and asking people in those areas to leave their homes only for essenti

Two former eBay employees have pleaded guilty to taking part in a campaign to terrorize a married couple who edit and publish an online newsletter critical of the company. Stephanie Popp and Veronica Zea pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. The scheme included sending live spiders, a funeral wreath, bloody pig Halloween mask and other disturbing deliveries to the couple's home. The couple was targeted after their newsletter published an article about a lawsuit filed by eBay accusing Amazon of poaching its sellers.

NDP Leader John Horgan says if elected his party will launch a long-term BC shipbuilding strategy aimed at keeping good jobs and long-term employment in this province. Horgan made the announcement this morning following a tour of the Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver. He says he will also lobby to bring construction of Canada's next Polar Icebreaker back to B-C shipyards after Seaspan was awarded the lucrative contract but lost it when Ottawa replaced the icebreaker with several smaller ships and re-opened bidding on the big vessel.Horgan's announcement comes as the third Seaspan-built, sta

The British Columbia Liberal Party is promising daycare at $10 a day for low-income families and rates that would increase from that price based on income. Party Leader Andrew Wilkinson says the $10 rate would apply to families with household incomes under $65,000 if the Liberals win the Oct. 24 election. There would be a $20 a day rate for families making $90,000 and $30 a day for those over $125,000. Wilkinson says the plan would cost $1 billion in its first year and a Liberal government would begin implementing the plan immediately but he did not say when it would be complete.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will provide direct help to businesses to help them offset the cost of rent.He says a revamped commercial rent-relief program will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible expenses for companies, and up to 90 per cent for those subject to localized lockdowns.The government also says today that it will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible wages through its subsidy program, but only until the end of December, and expand a well-used loan program by providing an additional $10,000 that could be forgivable.

Vancouver city council has unanimously approved an emergency fund of up to $30 million to help hundreds of homeless residents.The money will be used to buy or lease vacant hotels, apartments and single-room occupancy buildings and to provide other services to support as many as 750 people who lack safe shelter.Many of the potential sites will need renovation, so council also approved plans for the immediate use of a city-owned motel and a hostel on Vancouver's west side.It's expected that residents of an unsanctioned encampment in Strathcona Park will begin moving to those sites soon.The deci

British Columbia's provincial health officer is urging businesses to ensure they are in compliance with health and safety standards to protect employees from COVID-19. Dr. Bonnie Henry says public health teams would provide guidance if a worker contracts the illness but it's up to businesses to make it easy for anyone who is unwell to stay away. Dr. Henry says employees should be screened daily, tracked for where they're working and who they're with, and meet virtually as much as possible. She says businesses should contact WorkSafeBC with any concerns about what is expected of them and get g