Smoke from several wildfires in Washington State has drifted northwest to blanket the tip of Vancouver Island, prompting the highest possible air quality risk rating over Victoria and Saanich. Environment Canada's air quality index gives the two cities a ``10-plus'' risk rating, while Westshore ranks at ``10'', meaning strenuous outdoor activities should be avoided and children and the elderly should stay inside. Conditions will improve tomorrow, but smoke from a large wildfire in southeastern BC remains a concern and the weather office predicts conditions in Cranbrook and Castlegar will rema

Police say a man who was punched in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has died. Const. Tania Visintin says 36 year old Neil Scarisbrick died on Monday. He is Vancouver's 11th homicide victim this year. Visintin says police believe the victim and suspect are known to each other, and there is no risk to the public.

Community centres across Vancouver are set to reopen, with programs and services focused on children, youth, seniors and food security coming first. The Vancouver Park Board says 24 centres are reopening today (Tuesday), followed by a gradual reopening of indoor pools, ice rinks and fitness centres. Certain restrictions and safety protocols remain in place in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The park board says wearing masks inside its facilities is optional but encouraged, while staff will undergo daily health screenings and complete additional training.

A 59 year old south Florida woman is dead following an argument with her son over orange juice, an air conditioner remote and the use of her car. Luis Pages told police he ``he lost it'' during the Sunday evening argument and shot 59 year old Miriam Gonzalez multiple times in their North Miami Beach home. 29 year old is charged with one count of second-degree murder and is being held without bond. Pages told investigators he tried to shoot himself too, but was out of bullets. He then called 911. When an officer arrived Pages told him, ``take me to jail.''

Canadians appear to still have solid faith in doctors and scientists nearly six months into the COVID-19 pandemic.A new survey done for Proof Strategies over the Labour Day weekend suggests more than eight in 10 Canadians trust doctors and nearly eight in 10 trust scientists.That shows little change from the levels of trust recorded in a similar survey from the beginning of May, and remains higher than the levels recorded by the same survey taken in January. Provincial premiers also seem to be earning more trust from their constituents than they were before the pandemic, though only about half

Actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drug case linked with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, has been sent to 14 day judicial custody on Tuesday after her bail plea was rejected by the court. Chakraborty appeared before the Magistrate via video conference from NCB office in Mumbai.In its remand application of Chakraborty, NCB stated that she is an active member of a "drug syndicate" and used to manage finance for drug procurement along with the late actor.NCB said that Chakraborty's disclosure/statement had made it clear that she is an acti

The federal government is extending its commercial rent-relief program one last time.The Liberals say the program that aims to help small businesses with their rent or lease costs will be extended for this month, unveiling the details one week after rent was due.In a release, the government says the one-month lifeline is a "final extension" for the program and that officials are looking at other options to help small businesses.The rent-relief program provides forgivable loans that cover half of rent for eligible small businesses, and also requires landlords to waive a further one-quarter of w

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is naming his shadow cabinet, including his predecessor Andrew Scheer as the party's infrastructure critic.O'Toole is keeping Ontario's Pierre Poilievre as finance critic and promoting Alberta's Michelle Rempel Garner to health critic and New Brunswick's Rob Moore to justice critic.Critics are government ministers' main questioners in the House of Commons and are supposed to be ready to move into their offices if the Opposition took over governing.Ontario MP Michael Chong is taking a big step up to become the Conservatives' critic for foreign affairs.Alain Ray

The leader of New Brunswick's Progressive Conservatives has ditched a candidate who reposted a Facebook message that suggested violence against a transgender person. Blaine Higgs says he was disturbed by the reposting of the meme by Roland Michaud, the party's candidate in Victoria-La Vallee.Higgs said he only became aware of the repost today.The post suggested a transgender woman should be punched for trying to use a woman's washroom.Michaud wasn't immediately available for comment.