A promised reset of federal priorities to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic begins today with the Liberal government's speech from the throne. The nearly hour-long speech is expected to address three areas: immediate action to push back against a second wave of the pandemic, supports for those still not back on their feet after the first wave, and how the economy might be further rebuilt once it can stand more on its own.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan comes as public health officials are warning the country is but a few house parties away from plunging into a full-blown second wave.He's ex

BC has logged another 96 cases of COVID-19 for a total of 8,304 cases. A statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are almost 1,500 active cases and another 3,300 people are under public health monitoring because they were exposed to the known cases. It comes as Dr. Henry said earlier today that BC may be in a second wave, but health officials believe they can keep the virus contained through the fall. The death toll remains at 227 people with no new deaths. Almost 6,600 people who tested positive are considered recovered. Dr. Henry says that as people move inside f

Three Metro Vancouver men are paying the price for some boorish behaviour at a Port Moody restaurant. Police say the three were issued multiple tickets totalling about seven hundred dollars in fines on Saturday night. Staff called police when the three, who police say were impaired, violated COVID-19 rules, refused to sit at their table, entered a staff-only area, shouted, vomited on their table and spat on it when asked to leave. A statement from police says their first step is to educated the public about respect for COVID-19 rules, but the actions of the men left no choice but to impose fi

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says staving off future lockdowns will depend on whether people can follow COVID-19 mitigation measures. She says keeping gatherings small and respecting the rules is a sacrifice everyone needs to make. But she says virus activity is not the same across the country, or even across single provinces. So she says a ``surgical approach'' is needed to determine whether restrictions need to be tightened and it should be targeted to regions of concern.

Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has wrapped her update on the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada with a direct message to young people. The novel coronavirus's spread in their cohort must be pared back for the good of the rest of the country. Dr. Tam says young people played a crucial role in crushing the spring wave of the pandemic and they can do it again. A review of known cases in Canada shows the incidence has remained highest among young adults since late June. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says Canada is now at a crossroads when it comes to avoiding a major resurgenc

In the eight months since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the U-S, there have been more than 200-thousand deaths linked to the virus. The grim milestone was confirmed today by Johns Hopkins University, which has been keeping a tally on both deaths and cases of COVID-19 recorded around the world. It is by far the highest confirmed death toll from the virus in the world, with Brazil in second place with 137,272, followed by India with 88,935. But experts say the true number is likely even higher, given thatmany COVID-19 deaths were likely recorded as the result of other causes.

John Horgan and the BC NDP will keep British Columbia moving forward by building on the progress already made in improving health care for people.A re-elected BC NDP government will build ten more urgent and primary care centres by the end of 2021, with a focus on the communities that need them most. Horgan made the commitment alongside North Vancouver-Lonsdale BC NDP candidate Bowinn Ma, a strong advocate for the North Shore Urgent and Primary Care Centre."People want to be able to get the health care they need closer to home, without waiting for hours in an emergency room," said Horgan. "Our

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson wants three televised debates during the provincial election campaign so voters can hear what each party has to offer. Wilkinson says voters need information and debates are the best way to provide it during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilkinson began the first day of the election campaign for the Oct. 24 election by touting the Liberals' candidates so far, adding he expects to have an entire slate by the end of the week. He highlighted transportation as a big need in Surrey, the fastest-growing city in the province, and says those working in the trucking and t

Rebecca O'Toole, the spouse of federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, has tested positive for COVID-19. The party says she began showing symptoms on Sunday, was tested that night in Ottawa, and her results came back late Monday night.Erin O'Toole tested positive on Friday for the novel coronavirus and has been in isolation. Their two children are being monitored for symptoms. Earlier last week, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet tested positive for COVID-19. He is staying in isolation at his Shawinigan, Quebec home until September 26th. Blanchet's wife, Nancy, also tested positi