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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.
pm-trudeau-liberal-government-is-looking-at-other-ways-to-impose-new-measures-without-calling-a-state-of-emergency
CanadaMar 17, 2020

Pm Trudeau: Liberal government is looking at other ways to impose new measures without calling a state of emergency

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Emergencies Act is a tool the federal government can use to enact measures it would otherwise not be able to enact. He says the Liberal government is looking at other ways to impose new measures without calling a state of emergency. Trudeau also says that with three million Canadians living or travelling abroad at any time, it would not be possible to expect that everyone would be able to come home immediately. Trudeau also says Canada is in a good fiscal position to be able to invest in Canadian individuals and businesses to make sure the country gets t

Just In

motorcyclist-seriously-injured-after-surrey-police-attempted-traffic-stop-iio-investigating
BCAug 07, 2026

Motorcyclist seriously injured after Surrey police attempted traffic stop; IIO investigating

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after a collision in Surrey early Friday following an attempted traffic stop by the Surrey Police Service. According to a Surrey Police Service news release, an officer attempted to stop a speeding motorcycle at about 3:30 a.m. near the Trans-Canada Highway and the 104 Avenue off-ramp. Police said the rider fled into oncoming traffic before colliding with a civilian vehicle. The motorcyclist was transported to hospital by BC Emergency Health Services for treatment. Police said no other people were injured in th
canadian-dairy-farmers-urge-ottawa-not-to-make-dairy-concessions-in-u-s-trade-talks
CanadaAug 07, 2026

Canadian dairy farmers urge Ottawa not to make dairy concessions in U.S. trade talks

Canadian dairy producers are urging the federal government not to offer any concessions on the dairy sector or Canada's supply management system as trade negotiations with the United States continue ahead of a key tariff deadline. In a statement, Dairy Farmers of Canada said the country's food sovereignty "is not for sale" and warned that any agreement weakening the dairy sector would not be in Canada's national interest. The organization said Canada has already made several concessions in recent months in an effort to advance discussions with the United States, but argued that the Trump admin
punjab-seeks-centres-intervention-over-canadian-work-permit-issues-affecting-students
IndiaAug 07, 2026

Punjab seeks Centre's intervention over Canadian work permit issues affecting students

Punjab NRI Affairs Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh says the state government is making efforts to protect the interests of Punjabi students in Canada who are facing work permit-related difficulties. According to the minister, about 1,500 students have been affected. He said the Punjab government is closely monitoring the situation to better understand the challenges faced by the students and to identify measures that could support them. Dr. Ravjot Singh said he has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar seeking an urgent meeting on the issue. In the letter, he urged the Central gover
rcmp-investigating-five-suspicious-brush-fires-near-shuswap-lake-amid-extreme-wildfire-danger
BCAug 07, 2026

RCMP investigating five suspicious brush fires near Shuswap Lake amid extreme wildfire danger

RCMP are investigating five suspicious brush fires reported in the Shuswap Lake area after multiple fires broke out within a short period Wednesday evening while the region was under an extreme wildfire danger rating. According to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, three fires were reported along Squilax–Anglemont Road, each approximately 100 metres apart. Shortly afterward, two additional fires were reported in the nearby Anglemont Estates area. Officials said the fires were contained quickly due to the prompt response of local residents and firefighters, preventing significant damage.
CanadaAug 07, 2026

Canada weighs trade concessions as it seeks relief from U.S. tariffs

The federal government is considering a series of trade concessions as it seeks relief from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The measures under consideration reportedly include easing restrictions on the sale of U.S. liquor in some provinces, removing Canada's retaliatory tariffs on automobiles and expanding market access for U.S. dairy products. According to the sources, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is attempting to demonstrate to the United States that Canada is committed to improving bilateral trade relations. One of