British Columbia's NDP government used today's throne speech to list its accomplishments since coming to power two-and-a-half years ago, but it is also touting new funding supplements for children and youth in care that are coming in October. The speech also highlights plans to expand commuter services into the Fraser Valley, more HOV lanes and high-speed connections to Washington state. The speech, read by Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, says the government has eliminated Medical Services Plan premiums, reduced child care fees, and built thousands of affordable homes. It was delivered agai

Former federal health minister Jane Philpott has a new job. She will lead the faculty of health sciences at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Philpott represented the Ontario riding of Markham Stouffville from 2015 until last year's federal election. The former politician made headlines last year when she resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet over the SNC Lavalin affair.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has run afoul of federal ethics rules yet again, this time missing the deadline for filing a financial disclosure statement with the ethics commissioner. Every MP is required to file a disclosure statement within 60 days of his or her election being published in the Canada Gazette; in Trudeau's case, the deadline was Jan. 13. Of the 338 MPs elected last October, only 13, including Trudeau, had failed to file their statements as of Feb. 5, the last time commissioner Mario Dion's office updated a status report on members' compliance with the disclosure requirement.

Canadian National Railway Co. says it will be forced to close ``significant'' parts of its Canadian network unless blockades impeding its rail lines are removed. CN has halted more than 150 freight trains since Thursday evening, when demonstrators set up blockades in British Columbia and Ontario in solidarity with opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project that crosses the traditional territory of the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in northwestern British Columbia.

British Columbia's provincial health officer says four people diagnosed with the novel coronavirus are doing well in isolation and would be cleared of the illness after two negative tests, 24 hours apart. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the individuals in the Vancouver region are being monitored by health professionals and three of them are living in a home with others. She says those who are ill have been instructed to sleep in separate areas of the house, wear masks, not to share food and utensils, and to wash surfaces that could be infected with the virus. Henry says 371 people in the province have

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday gave the official name for the latest novel coronavirus, that has sickened more than 42,000 people, as 'Covid-19,' which stands for coronavirus disease starting in 2019. The CO stands for corona, while the VI for virus and the D for the disease. "Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the OIE Animal Health and FAO, we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press

Hundreds of protesters blocked the entrances to the British Columbia legislature today as demonstrations against a pipeline project continued to flare across the country. Protesters hollered "Shame'' as politicians tried to enter the building with help from security and others chanted "Shut down Canada'' and "Stand up, fight back.'' Protesters have been camping outside the legislature since Friday. Premier John Horgan's New Democrat government was set to deliver its throne speech later in the day but the traditional military salute and honour guard that typically greets the lieutenant governo

The BC legislature resumes today with a throne speech, one week before the NDP's next budget at roughly the midway point of the minority government's mandate. Premier John Horgan says the elimination of Medical Service Plan premiums, more child care options and raises in the minimum wage are among his government's achievements, but more needs to be done to improve affordability. He says the government often hears about gas prices and cellphone charges and promises those issues will be addressed in the throne speech. Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson says the NDP has been downplaying

A second Canadian plane carrying evacuees from Wuhan, China landed at CFB Trenton, Ontario this morning with 185 passengers aboard.As was the case with passengers from the first Canadian flight, and those who got out on a US government plane, the passengers will be quarantined for two weeks.So far, no one in the first two sets of passengers has shown any symptoms of the new coronavirus.One of them, 25-year-old Myriam Larouche says her private room at Yukon Lodge, a motel on the base, has a fridge, a microwave, a T-V and an ensuite bathroom.Meals are delivered to her door and she is allowed ou