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BCMar 18, 2020

7 Langley firefighters directed to stay home, after exposure to coronavirus

Seven Langley firefighters have been directed to stay home after exposure to a person confirmed to have the coronavirus. Chief Stephen Gamble tells CTV Vancouver the exposure occurred several days ago but Langley Fire Rescue was only notified about it yesterday. Gamble says initially eight members of the service were ordered to self isolate but one has since been cleared to return to work. He won't speculate on whether the other seven could have exposed other members of the department or the public to COVID-19 until their test results are back.
BCMar 18, 2020

ICBC has temporarily suspended all road tests

ICBC has temporarily suspended all road tests amid the evolving coronavirus pandemic. It also says all customers visiting an ICBC driver licensing office will be asked screening questions for the virus and be asked to go home if they respond yes to any questions. Access to waiting areas is also being limited to ensure appropriate social distancing. ICBC says road tests can be rebooked online and it will reassess whether to resume them in two weeks.
railways-minister-piyush-goyal-reviewed-the-progress-of-preparedness-of-indian-railways-about-efforts-to-prevent-the-spread-of-coronavirus
IndiaMar 18, 2020

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal reviewed the progress of preparedness of Indian Railways about efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus

Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday reviewed the progress of preparedness of Indian Railways and the ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "Had a meeting with General Managers and Divisional Railway Managers and took stock of the preparations and precautionary measures taken by Railways in trains and stations to combat novel coronavirus," Goyal tweeted. A total of 137 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India so far and three persons have lost their lives. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and said that E
CanadaMar 18, 2020

8 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada so far, Total cases-598

There have now been eight COVID-19 deaths in Canada, as BC reports another three fatalities hours after Ontario announced its first death. BC's provincial health officer says six of the deaths stem from a care home in North Vancouver, while a man in his 80s died on Monday in hospital in the Fraser Health region Health officials in Ontario say the 77-year-old man in the Muskoka region was not a confirmed case, but the illness was discovered after his death, the cause of which remains under investigation. BC, Ontario and Alberta have also declared public health emergencies today.
BCMar 17, 2020

Public Health Emergency declared in B.C., 3 news deaths and 83 news cases reported, Total cases-186

British Columbia is confirming another three deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic and another 83 cases of the novel coronavirus. BC's total number of cases is now 186. The province is declaring a public health emergency. Alberta and Ontario made similar declarations earlier today.
BCMar 17, 2020

BC Ferries: Passengers are being allowed to remain in their vehicles on the enclosed car decks

Passengers are being allowed to remain in their vehicles on the enclosed car decks of vessels operated by BC Ferries because of COVID-19. The ferry service says is relaxing its restriction after Transport Canada and the Canadian Ferry Association agreed to give ferry operators more flexibility to help people keep their social distance. BC Ferries says in a statement that passengers are normally kept off closed car decks to ensure their safety in an emergency. As a result of the temporary change in policy, the ferry service says it will increase patrols on the car decks of its vessels.
WorldMar 17, 2020

Costco is going to start controlling the number of customers allowed in its warehouses

Costco says it has had a surge of business since the COVID-19 outbreak, and is going to start controlling the number of customers allowed in its warehouses in response. The company is also reducing some services and is asking customers and employees to practice social distancing in its stores. Limits have been placed on the number of certain items customers are allowed to buy at once and the company is working with suppliers to make sure in-demand items are available. Costco has also stepped up sanitation of its carts, cashes and product shelves.
CanadaMar 17, 2020

State of public emergency declared in Alberta

Alberta is declaring a state of public emergency in reaction to the novel coronavirus. Premier Jason Kenney has announced that any gathering larger than 50 people, including weddings and funerals must be cancelled. Public recreation facilities, casinos, bingo halls, bars, museums and art galleries will also be shuttered if not already. Worship services and conferences also fall under the 50 person rule. Kenney says his government will spend $60 million on charities and non profit groups who are helping people cope with the effects of the virus.
BCMar 17, 2020

St. Patrick's Day won't be a party in Vancouver, all bars and restaurants in the city to close

St. Patrick's Day won't be a party in Vancouver as health authorities have asked all bars and restaurants in the city to close their doors for the day. The request from the Vancouver Health Authority came just hours after the city's mayor said the shutdown would help efforts to control COVID-19 by keeping people away from packed St. Patrick's Day events. Gatherings of more than 50 people are now banned in British Columbia. The province's latest official count of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus is 103, including four deaths and six patients under care in hospital.

Just In

CanadaSep 11, 2026

BMO Announces $70 Billion Investment Over 10 Years in Key Canadian Sectors

Bank of Montreal (BMO), one of Canada’s major banks, has announced plans to invest $70 billion in capital over the next 10 years in sectors considered critical to the country’s economy, including critical minerals and electricity. The bank says the initiative is aimed at strengthening Canada’s economic security and long-term stability. The announcement comes as Canada continues to face economic challenges and an ongoing trade dispute with the United States. The move also aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government’s efforts to reduce Canada’s reliance on the U.S. and suppor
canada-ends-special-family-sponsorship-exemption-for-refugees
CanadaSep 11, 2026

Canada Ends Special Family Sponsorship Exemption for Refugees

Canada has quietly ended a special policy that allowed certain refugees to sponsor family members whose names were not included in their original immigration applications. Under the temporary policy, some refugees and permanent residents were able to sponsor spouses or children who had not been declared in their initial applications. The policy, introduced about seven years ago, expired on Thursday following a decision by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. Under current Canadian immigration rules, permanent residents generally cannot sponsor family members who were not declared during the
BCSep 11, 2026

BC Anti-Gang Task Force Seizes Guns, Drugs and Cash in Fort St. John

British Columbia’s anti-gang police task force has seized a significant amount of weapons, drugs and cash during a major operation in the Fort St. John community. According to Sergeant Sarbjit Kaur Sangha of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, officers were deployed to the area at the request of local police between August 21 and September 5. During the operation, several arrests were made in connection with ongoing gang conflicts and illegal drug trafficking in the area. Police seized cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with seven firearms, including handguns, rifles and
calgary-police-lay-extortion-charges-continue-search-for-suspect
AlbertaSep 11, 2026

Calgary Police Lay Extortion Charges, Continue Search for Suspect

Calgary police have laid extortion charges against 23-year-old Kanurit Kaur, 21-year-old Tanveer Singh and a 17-year-old youth in connection with an extortion investigation. Police are searching for Singh, who is wanted on a warrant for possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. According to police, on March 25 at around 4:30 p.m., a woman received a demand for money through WhatsApp from an unknown number. The suspects appeared to have detailed information about the victim’s personal and business affairs. The caller repeatedly attempted to contact the victim and made explicit thr
canada-u-s-remain-in-contact-despite-trade-talks-breakdown-leblanc
CanadaSep 11, 2026

Canada, U.S. remain in contact despite trade talks breakdown: LeBlanc

Canada and the United States remain in contact despite the breakdown in formal trade talks, Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has confirmed. Speaking to reporters in Banff, Alberta, LeBlanc said that while Canada is not currently engaged in formal trade negotiations with Washington, communication between the two countries continues. LeBlanc said he does not have any meetings scheduled in Washington at the moment, but has spoken several times by phone with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He reiterated that Canada is ready to return to the ne