15.84°C Vancouver

News

CanadaAug 14, 2020

Asylum seekers on front lines of COVID-19 to have chance at permanent residency

Asylum seekers working on the front-lines of the COVID-19 crisis are getting an early chance at permanent residency in Canada.Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the program today in response to public demand that the so-called "Guardian Angels" many in Quebec be recognized for their work in the health-care sector during the pandemic.Ordinarily, asylum seekers must wait for their claims to be accepted before they can become permanent residents, but the new program waives that requirement.To apply for residency now, they must have claimed asylum in Canada prior to March 13 and have
390-covid-19-cases-reported-in-canada
CanadaAug 14, 2020

390 COVID-19 cases reported in Canada

There are 121,234 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 60,917 confirmed (including 5,715 deaths, 53,441 resolved) Ontario: 40,367 confirmed (including 2,787 deaths, 36,689 resolved) Alberta: 11,969 confirmed (including 220 deaths, 10,713 resolved) British Columbia: 4,274 confirmed (including 196 deaths, 3,500 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,511 confirmed (including 20 deaths, 1,325 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,071 confirmed (including 64 deaths, 1,007 resolved) Manitoba: 588 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 377 resolved), 15 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 268 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 263 reso
BCAug 14, 2020

B.C. adds $36 million to create 123 addiction treatment beds for youth

The British Columbia government says it is committing $36 million over nearly three years to fund more addiction treatment space for youth. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says the investment will add 123 new treatment beds and more than double the current number of spaces available for youth aged 12 to 24. The province and local health authorities are discussing where the spaces should be located, but Darcy says some could be available within the next few months. The beds will form part of a continuum of care that Darcy says will include withdrawal management and detox space
78-covid-19-cases-reported-b-c-health-minister-issues-warning-for-those-planning-on-holding-weekend-events
BCAug 14, 2020

78 COVID-19 cases reported, B.C. Health Minister issues warning for those planning on holding weekend events

British Columbia's Health Minister warned those planning on holding large parties and events this upcoming weekend to expect visits from officials to ensure COVID-19 guidelines are being followed. Adrian Dix says parties may not be immediately shut down but there would be consequences for those found flaunting the rules. The pronouncement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in B.C., particularly among young adults between the ages of 20 to 29. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says those infections have been seen after exposure events, such as parties where young adults have bee
man-guilty-of-murdering-his-partner-at-hotel-in-kelowna-b-c
BCAug 14, 2020

Man guilty of murdering his partner at hotel in Kelowna, B.C.

A judge has found a man from Surrey, B.C., guilty of second-degree murder, ruling that Tejwant Danjou intended to kill his partner or at least knew his violent actions could lead to her death. Rama Gauravarapu was killed at a hotel in West Kelowna on July 22, 2018. Competing explanations of Danjou's state of mind were presented to Justice Allison Beames of the B.C. Supreme Court during closing arguments last month at his trial for second-degree murder. The Crown said Danjou was an abusive and violent man. The defence asked for a manslaughter conviction and described Danjou as suffering from d
BCAug 14, 2020

Man suffers serious injuries in bear attack in remote area near Lillooet, B.C.

The BC Conservation Office Service says a man is recovering after he was seriously hurt by a bear while camping in a remote area near Lillooet over the weekend. Deputy Chief Chris Doyle says the man and his hiking partner were camping on Mount McLean on Sunday, when the man was awoken by a noise outside his tent. The noise was a black bear, which attacked him, leaving the man with serious injuries to his arm. Doyle says the bear was surprised when the man came out of his tent and appeared to have attacked defensively. The man and his hiking partner were able to get away and were later airlift
BCAug 13, 2020

RCMP charge man after drugs, weapons seized in British Columbia

A five-month investigation in B.C. has resulted in charges against a man in what Ridge Meadows RCMP say is the largest seizure of drugs, weapons and cash in the detachment's history. The RCMP say the drug investigation began in March with a focus on so-called blue fentanyl, which they say is believed to be linked to multiple overdose deaths in the Lower Mainland. On July 15, police say they executed search warrants at homes in Maple Ridge and Mission. The RCMP say more than $114,000 was seized, as well as about 3.5 kilograms of what was suspected to be fentanyl _ which police estimate is abou
increase-in-the-number-of-threats-made-against-the-pm-and-cabinet-ministers-rcmp
CanadaAug 13, 2020

Increase in the number of threats made against the PM and cabinet ministers: RCMP

The RCMP says there has been an increase in the number of threats made against the prime minister and cabinet ministers. From January to July 2019, protective policing opened 100 investigations into threats, while from January to last month it launched about 130 investigations. That doesn't include the investigation police launched this week into an incident where a man yelled obscenities at a staff member at Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna's Ottawa office. Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod was reportedly put under police protection this week when she was threatened after speaking out against
we-charity-laying-off-staff-looking-to-sell-real-estate-in-toronto
CanadaAug 13, 2020

WE Charity laying off staff, looking to sell real estate in Toronto

WE Charity is scaling back its operations, making dozens of layoffs in Canada and the United Kingdom and looking to sell some of its real estate holdings in Toronto. WE Charity's U-K operations will be centralized in Canada, which means 19 full-time and contract employees in London will be laid off. At its global headquarters in Toronto, 16 full-time employees will be laid off and another 51 employees working on fixed-term contracts won't have them renewed. All this follows the uproar over the Liberal government's decision to award WE a sole-source contract to manage its student jobs program,

Just In

new-westminster-police-officers-help-rescue-15-residents-from-apartment-fire
BCJul 31, 2026

New Westminster police officers help rescue 15 residents from apartment fire

New Westminster Police Department officers helped rescue 15 residents from a burning apartment building Thursday evening after spotting smoke while working nearby, according to the police department. Police said officers were in the 800 block of 5th Avenue at about 6 p.m. when they became aware of the fire. As they approached the building, they saw several older adults leaning out of windows to avoid the smoke. According to a New Westminster Police Department news release, officers entered the building alongside crews from New Westminster Fire and Rescue Service and assisted 15 residents to sa
BCJul 31, 2026

Coquitlam man faces six firearms charges following Surrey and Coquitlam searches

A 35-year-old Coquitlam man is facing six firearms-related charges after a joint investigation by B.C.'s anti-gang police and the Surrey RCMP Provincial Operations Support Unit. According to the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC), the investigation began in June. On July 16, officers executed search warrants at two residences in the 11500 block of 141A Street in Surrey and the 4300 block of Quarry Road in Coquitlam. Police said investigators seized several firearms during the searches, including two Beretta handguns. Officers arrested Sadiq Azimali Daya at
man-dies-after-fleeing-surrey-traffic-stop-struck-by-vehicle-on-highway-10
BCJul 31, 2026

Man dies after fleeing Surrey traffic stop, struck by vehicle on Highway 10

A man died after being struck by a vehicle while fleeing on foot following a traffic stop in Surrey late Thursday night, according to the Surrey Police Service. Police said an officer stopped a westbound vehicle for a traffic enforcement check at about 11 p.m. in the 15600 block of 56 Avenue, along Highway 10. The driver then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. According to the Surrey Police Service, the man was crossing the roadway when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle. Surrey police officers, Surrey Fire Service crews and BC Emergency Health Services paramedics attempted life-saving me
suspect-arrested-after-firearm-reported-at-new-westminster-shopping-centre
BCJul 31, 2026

Suspect arrested after firearm reported at New Westminster shopping centre

A suspect is facing potential charges after allegedly brandishing a firearm at a patron outside a coffee shop in New Westminster on Wednesday morning, according to the New Westminster Police Department. Police said officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at about 6 a.m. on July 30 after receiving reports that a person had pointed a firearm at someone seated on the patio of a business in the Columbia Square shopping centre. Investigators determined the suspect fled across Columbia Street, passed through a hole in a fence and crossed nearby railway tracks. Officers searched the area with assistance f
b-c-supreme-court-strikes-down-parts-of-mental-health-act-allowing-treatment-without-consent
BCJul 31, 2026

B.C. Supreme Court strikes down parts of Mental Health Act allowing treatment without consent

The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that portions of the province's Mental Health Act that allow patients to receive psychiatric treatment without their consent are unconstitutional, giving the provincial government six months to amend the legislation. Justice Lauren Blake found that British Columbia was the only province in Canada where patients could be subjected to psychiatric treatment without an assessment of their decision-making capacity. The court concluded that the provisions violate constitutional protections. The ruling comes as the B.C. government is pursuing plans to expand involunta