Ontario's premier is defending his government's new stay-at-home order against criticism that the latest measure to fight COVID-19 is not clear. Doug Ford stressed that the measure means people should "use their best judgment" to determine if they need to leave their home as virus rates surge. Under the order that takes effect Thursday, Ontario residents will be required to stay at home except for essential activities such as accessing health care, shopping for groceries, or outdoor exercise. The government has also restricted hours of operation for non-essential retailers currently offering

The US has posted another record-breaking single-day death toll from COVID-19. More than 4,300 people died from the virus over the previous day, as the push continues to vaccinate Americans. Many large companies aren't going to mandate a shot. But Dollar General, which employs 157,000 people, is going to provide employees who get vaccinated with four hours of pay. Most of its workers are in small towns or rural areas, and the company's CEO says it's important to bring the vaccine to rural America.

A manslaughter charge has been laid after the death of a man in late December in Chilliwack, B.C. A statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says 45 year old Carlton Leith died several days after he was injured Dec. 27 during a fight with another man. A 42 year old suspect was arrested shortly after the assault, and RCMP said the isolated incident did not pose a risk to the public. William Escott remains in custody, charged with several offences, including manslaughter and aggravated assault. Court records show he returns to court in Chilliwack on Monday. Investigators are no

The latest wicked weather to sweep across southern British Columbia downed trees and power lines in many areas and left thousands in the dark. Environment Canada says wind gusts topped 100 km/h in Victoria and the eastern Fraser Valley at the height of the storm early Wednesday. It had moved into the southern Interior by dawn, prompting special weather statements across the region while BC Hydro reported more than 100,000 customers lost power, with the hardest hit areas in Abbotsford, Victoria and Vernon. The weather office says winds ended over Metro Vancouver overnight and were expected to

The farmers' protest at the borders of the national capital against the Centre's farm laws entered its 49th day on Wednesday amid biting cold weather across the region. A temporary Gurudwara has been set up at the Singhu border, where the farmers are protesting. According to Charanjeet Singh, a member of the Gurudwara, the Gurudwara has been set up for six days and many people are coming to pray for the souls who lost their lives during the protest. "We are doing an 'Akhand path' (ritual worship) to honor the souls of the people who have died. This will be set up for about six days so that peo

Air Canada says it will cut 1,700 jobs as it scales down flights for the first quarter of 2021.The 25 per cent reduction in service will also affect 200 employees at Air Canada's Express carriers, the company said Wednesday morning. With the reduction, Air Canada's capacity in the first quarter of 2021 will be about 20 per cent of its capacity during the first quarter of 2019, the company says.Lucie Guillemette, Air Canada's executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said in a statement that increased travel restrictions by federal and provincial governments have had an immediate

British Columbia health officials say staying active and connected is important for physical and mental well-being despite the challenges of COVID-19. In a news release Tuesday, they say people have learned and adapted to the changing pandemic. The advice to stay active comes as officials reported 446 new COVID-19 cases and nine more deaths. Health officials also reported a new health-care facility outbreak at Mount St. Joseph's Hospital. The total number of COVID-19 infections in the province now stands at 58,553 with 1,019 deaths. To date, 62,294 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine in B

A homeless woman is unhurt but police want to catch the man who tried to set her blankets on fire as she slept on a Vancouver street. A statement from the Vancouver Police Department on Tuesday says the apparent arson happened at around 4 a.m. on Dec. 13. Sgt. Steve Addison says the woman, who's in her 30s, was wrapped in a jacket and blankets and the man paced around her as she lay on the ground, then set her belongings on fire and walked away. Addison says video the department just acquired shows the fire smouldering before flames emerge, but the woman woke up in time to avoid serious harm.

A First Nations community on Vancouver Island is fighting to contain a COVID-19 outbreak while facing intolerance from some members of the surrounding community. Cowichan Tribes general manager Derek Thompson says some members of his Duncan-area First Nation have faced discrimination in the community since COVID-19 cases were first reported this month. Thompson says there were no COVID-19 cases among their members for the first 10 months of the pandemic, but that has increased to 73 people since Jan. 1. The First Nation has issued a stay-at-home order for tribal members until Jan. 22 in an ef