A lawyer who advised British Columbia's former Speaker about a retirement allowance that is the subject of a criminal charge says the name of then-clerk Craig James never came up in those conversations. Donald Farquhar told a B.C. Supreme Court trial for James that it was his legal opinion that all so-called table officers, who support the work of the clerk in the legislature, were eligible in 2011 for the retirement allowance, which has since been eliminated. He says he never advised then-Speaker Bill Barisoff specifically about James's eligibility. However, Farquhar says James had already a

BC's police watchdog and the Coroner's Service are investigating the death of a man following a traffic stop in Dawson Creek. The Independent Investigations Office says a member of the BC Highway Patrol arrested a driver without incident yesterday morning who was the subject of outstanding warrants. The agency says the man reportedly went into medical distress and was pronounced dead at the scene. It says it has begun investigating to determine what if any role police may have played in the death while the coroners service is working to determine the cause.

British Columbia's education minister says capacity at school-based events will be capped at 50 per cent for spectators to provide some physical distancing because proof of vaccination will not be required. Jennifer Whiteside says the measure is in contrast to the lifting of capacity limits starting at midnight for community-based gatherings, where COVID-19 vaccine passports must still be shown. Whiteside says the capacity cap applies to extracurricular events, whether they are on or off school property, and marks a return to the rules that were in effect last fall. Provincial health officer

The federal Liberals are defending the sweeping temporary powers now afforded to police under the Emergencies Act, but the Conservatives are denouncing the unprecedented move. During question period in the House of Commons, Conservative M-P Michelle Rempel Garner noted that the legislation has not been used for any previous crisis. She says it wasn't used to settle the rail blockades of 2020, the Oka crisis in Quebec, the standoff in Caledonia or any other dispute in Canadian history. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the act on Monday, as protesters blockaded several border crossings and

Two-time Olympic Bronze medallist Meryeta O'Dine received a boisterous welcome as she returned to her hometown of Prince George for the first time in five months. Family members and supporters waving welcome home signs cheered yesterday as O'Dine walked through the arrivals gate at the Prince George airport. She called the greeting ``just amazing,'' saying she's looking forward to a few days of rest and maybe a trip to her favourite fast-food restaurant. The 24 year old, who finished third in the women's and mixed snowboard cross events in Beijing, is the first Olympic medallist from Prince G

Canadian speedskater Charles Hamelin has become the country's most decorated male Winter Olympian, and he did it in golden fashion. The 37-year-old Hamelin joined teammates Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion to win the men's 5000m short-track relay. It's a sixth career medal for Hamelin and the third of the Games for Dubois, who now has a gold, silver and bronze in Beijing. Canada won the 5,000m relay in short track speedskating. The team of Charles Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion skated cleanly to take their nation's eighth gold medal in the 45-

On February 15th at approximately 11:00 am, New Westminster Police Department officers were called to Glenbrook Middle School for a report of indecent exposure.Staff at the school phoned the New Westminster Police Department to report that an unknown male exposed his genitals to a group of children on the school grounds. The suspect is described as a Caucasian man, between 40 to 50 years of age, standing 5’6" tall, with a medium build, balding dark hair, wearing a blue puffy jacket, dark blue jeans, and black shoes. The suspect fled across 8th Avenue and towards McBride Boulevard and the Roy

Protesters in downtown Ottawa are ignoring police notices to leave and a court injunction against blaring the horns on their trucks. Ottawa police are handing out notices telling the protesters to go home, but that only seems to generate more horn-honking. The usual crowd is gathered at an intersection across from Parliament's Centre Block, waving Canadian flags and dancing to music blaring from speakers. It is now illegal under the Emergencies Act to bring a child to a demonstration and the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa is urging parents to make alternate care arrangements if they can't c

Police say a man has died after being stabbed in Abbotsford. They say an officer was flagged down Tuesday afternoon and found the 30 year old man injured. Abbotsford police say he later died in hospital and RCMP homicide investigators are taking over the case. They say a suspect had yet to be identified. Abbotsford police on Twitter: Abbotsford Police Investigating a Homicide on Simon Ave. Victim is a 30-year-old male. Investigators are in the early stages. No information to suggest the public is at risk. IHIT has been called to scene.