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.

President-elect Joe Biden is imploring Americans to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, even as he cheered news about the promising development of a vaccine being developed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Biden, in remarks after meeting with his newly formed coronavirus advisory board, cautioned that Americans still face ``a dark winter'' and need to be aggressive about mask wearing and social distancing as infections continue to surge around the country. Even if Pfizer gets approval from regulators for emergency use of a vaccine, Biden noted it could be months before the vaccin

The Health Ministry says going for a walk is not considered a social gathering but British Columbians under new restrictions need to be careful it doesn't turn into a group of people gathering outside. The Ministry is clarifying some of the new restrictions that came into effect this weekend for residents of the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health regions. The restrictions include bans on social gatherings beyond members of your own household for the next two weeks, while non-essential travel to and from the regions is strongly discouraged. The Ministry says people who live alone can consider

Snowfall warnings have been issued for several regions of British Columbia, including parts of Metro Vancouver. The Environment Canada warnings cover the central Interior including the Cariboo, Prince George and Stewart-Nechako regions, as well as inland sections of the north coast and parts of Greater Vancouver. The weather office is calling for as much as 10 centimetres of snow at higher elevations of Vancouver's North Shore, along with parts of Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, while areas closer to sea level could see up to two centimetres. Inland sections of the north coast, including the Distri

One of 10 possible COVID-19 vaccine candidates in late-stage testing around the world is showing early signs of success. Pfizer says preliminary data from trials shows its vaccine may be 90 per cent effective, but there are still multiple questions that need to be answered. They include how long the vaccine's effects last and if it also protects older people as well as younger people. Ottawa has signed a procurement deal with Pfizer for 20-million doses of the vaccine. Stock markets skyrocket this morning The declaration of Joe Biden as US President-elect and the news of early data suggesting

A seat in the B.C. election that was projected to be the first Green win on the Lower Mainland has flipped to the Liberal incumbent by a slim margin. Elections B.C. says the final mail-in ballot count put Liberal Jordan Sturdy ahead of Green Jeremy Valeriote by only 41 votes. The margin is so tight that Elections B.C. says it triggers an automatic judicial recount. Elections B.C. has said it's aiming to wrap up the count of mail-in and absentee ballots today that it began on Friday, 13 days after the October 24th provincial election.