Justin Trudeau says Canada is arranging for the safe passage of any Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families still in Ukraine following the Russian invasion. The prime minister says more severe sanctions will target dozens of people and entities with connections to Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says the world cannot allow the attack to end the rules-based order that Canada helped build in the aftermath of the Second World War. Trudeau is calling Russia’s military action against Ukraine an attack on democracy, international law, human rights and freedom. He

Premier John Horgan says this is a ``dark day'' and Russia's attack on Ukraine ``must be condemned.'' Horgan posted a social media statement today, just hours after Russian forces entered Ukraine, targeting airports and communication sites. The premier says the action is an ``unprovoked war of aggression.'' Iryna Shyroka, president of the Vancouver chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Council, says the invasion threatens global security and she has organized rallies today and Saturday in downtown Vancouver so everyone opposed to the war can be heard.

Environment Canada says chilly conditions that broke many south coast temperature records over the last few days will persist into Friday. The weather office is maintaining special weather statements for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound until at least tomorrow morning, warning of overnight temperatures to minus 5C and wind chill values making it feel as cold as -10. A total of 17 records were set across southern BC yesterday as the mercury hit new lows for the day. At -7.7 C, the Duncan area of Vancouver Island edged its old record of -7.2, which has stood since 1917 while ot

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is imposing more severe sanctions on Russia in response to its military strike against Ukraine. The new sanctions will target 58 people and entities connected to Russia, including members of that country's elite and their families, the paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and major Russian banks. The sanctions, announced today after Trudeau attended a virtual G7 meeting, will also affect members of the Russian Security Council, including key cabinet ministers. Canada is also cancelling existing export permits for Russia and will not iss

Health Canada has authorized a made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine from Medicago, known as Covifenz.The two-dose, plant-based vaccine is authorized for use in people aged 18 to 64.Health Canada says its effectiveness and safety in those under 18 and over 64 have ``not yet been established.''Clinical trials suggested the vaccine was 71 per cent effective in protecting against COVID-19 one week after the second dose. The dosing schedule is 21 days apart.Medicago, a biotechnology company based in Quebec City, along with GlaxoSmithKline, submitted Phase 3 data to Health Canada in December.The company

B.C. is reporting 799 new cases of COVID-19 today, for a total of 346,196 cases in the province.The new cases include:Fraser Health: 109Vancouver Coastal Health: 52Interior Health: 280Northern Health: 214Island Health: 140People who reside outside of Canada: fourNote: 97 cases reported in Northern Health as new today are due to data corrections for historical cases reported between April 2021 and February 2022.There are 653 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in B.C., and 108 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, one new death (Northern Health) has been reported, for an overall total

Rapid tests and the option for a new vaccine will be available soon for British Columbia residents. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says one rapid test box containing five tests will be available at pharmacies at no cost starting Friday for those 70 years and older. She says the tests should be picked up when people are asymptomatic and be used one test at a time when they have symptoms. Dr. Henry says the tests will be made available to all age groups over the next month as additional shipments of 12 million tests are sent to the province. Dr. Henry says Novavax, the new protein-b

Patrol officers are asking for your help to locate high-risk missing youth Lia Barker.Lia is described as a 16-year-old Caucasian girl standing five feet, seven inches tall, with a slim build. Lia has shoulder-length dyed blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, black sweater, black sweatpants, and grey boots. Recent photographs of Lia are below.Lia was last seen in Victoria on the morning of February 1st, and investigators are concerned about the length of time that Lia has been missing. Lia may have travelled to Vancouver. Patrol officers are working to locate Lia and ensure th

Two Vancouver Island New Democrat members of Parliament report their constituency offices have been vandalized. A photo from North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney's office shows graffiti scrawled on windows while RCMP confirm the glass front door and two exterior windows of Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord John's Parksville office were smashed early yesterday but no one entered the office. Blaney calls the incident Sunday night at her Campbell River office ``scary'' and ``illegal,'' saying it's not how Canadians express differences of opinion over policy issues while Johns says his staff should