Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the second wave of COVID-19 is already underway across the country. He says the numbers are clear with more than a thousand new cases yesterday. Trudeau says families won't likely be able to gather for Thanksgiving, but it's not too late to save Christmas. He says we need to keep wearing masks, use the government's exposure-alert app and obey public health instructions. Trudeau made his comments after the throne speech in an address to Canadians on the state of the pandemic.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says the increase in COVID-19 cases in the past week is a cause for real concern. Dr. Tam says there was an average of 1,123 new cases per day over the past week, up from 380 cases in mid-August. She says the country is on track for what she calls a big resurgence in several provinces. While most of the new cases are in young adults, Tam points out the impacts affect everyone. Quebec reported 471 new cases today and Ontario 335.

Officials say the Taliban have killed 28 Afghan policemen in a series of attacks on security checkpoints in southern Uruzgan province. A Taliban spokesman says the group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. He says the attacks were carried out late on Tuesday after the police refused to surrender. The violence comes even as Taliban leaders and Afghan government-appointed negotiators are holding historic peace talks in Qatar, a Mideast country where the Taliban have set up a political office after the U.S. led invasion toppled them from power in Afghanistan. The negotiations are meant t

Police say an injured man may have been attacked and left lying in a Vancouver park for hours before help was called. Const. Tania Visintin says an unknown person called paramedics about the victim and he was rushed to hospital after being found unresponsive in Strathcona Park on Monday. Visintin says hospital staff alerted police to the suspected assault and the man remains in critical but stable condition. A statement from police says he may have been on the ground for up to 12 hours before help was called. Investigators haven't been able to identify the victim and say he's in his late 20s,

BC NDP leader John Horgan while talking to Connect FM in SVER WALA SHOW today, said that BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson delayed the construction of a much-needed Surrey hospital by selling off its potential site. He said the second hospital for Surrey is a "done deal" and the money for the hospital is already in the budget. Responding to a question about Surrey-Langley-Sky Train extension, Horgan said that he and the federal government are committed to seeing it through. He said that for Surrey’s mayor Doug McCallum or anyone else to say that his government is not moving fast enough on t

Airbnb is launching a new program for cities and tourist organizations aimed at helping them ensure compliance with local rules. Vancouver and Calgary are among the 10 North American cities included in the new portal, which Airbnb says will also aid in rebuilding post-pandemic tourism and providing technical support. The short-term home rental company says the first phase of its City Portal directly connects local governments to the Airbnb platform,providing real-time details about specific rentals and remitted tourist tax revenue. It also includes a central location for resources, such as Air

The BC Coroners Service has published updated reports on illicit drug toxicity deaths and fentanyl-detected drug deaths to the end of August 2020, with 147 illicit drug toxicity deaths reported in the month.The illicit drug toxicity death total represents a 71% increase over the number of deaths in August 2019 (86) but a 16% decrease from the number of deaths in July 2020 (176). The BC Coroners Service has detected a sustained increase of illicit drug toxicity deaths since March, and B.C. has now recorded six consecutive months with over 100 illicit drug toxicity deaths.From April to August 20

More than 400 schools in Quebec and another 153 in Ontario are reporting at least one case of coronavirus disease.The figures from the group COVID Ecoles Quebec and the Ontario government come as authorities across Canada battle a second wave of COVID-19. Data from Ontario show cases among people in their 20s have risen sharply in recent months.One expert attributes the increase among younger Canadians in part to the reopening of schools and universities. Several provinces and universities have warned of stiff fines for violating anti-COVID restrictions.However, Quebec says it will not allow p

A promised reset of federal priorities to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic begins today with the Liberal government's speech from the throne. The nearly hour-long speech is expected to address three areas: immediate action to push back against a second wave of the pandemic, supports for those still not back on their feet after the first wave, and how the economy might be further rebuilt once it can stand more on its own.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan comes as public health officials are warning the country is but a few house parties away from plunging into a full-blown second wave.He's ex