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key-measure-suggests-canadas-covid-19-surge-could-be-slowing-down-says-tam
CanadaApr 23, 2021

Key measure suggests Canada's COVID-19 surge could be slowing down, says Tam

Canada's top public health doctor says there's been an increase of more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases since last month, but there are signs the epidemic is easing.Dr. Theresa Tam says average case counts have more than doubled over the past month, with upwards of 8,400 infections reported daily over the last week.But Tam says there's reason for hope due to Canada's declining reproduction rate, which represents how many people are infected by each new case.She says this measure has fallen below the key threshold of one for the first time in weeks, meaning the rate of transmission is trending dow
hundreds-of-scheduled-surgeries-in-b-c-postponed-more-than-1-000-covid-19-cases-reported-in-the-province
BCApr 23, 2021

Hundreds of scheduled surgeries in B.C. postponed; More than 1,000 COVID-19 cases reported in the province

Hundreds of scheduled surgeries in British Columbia have been postponed as the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals reaches a new peak. Health Minister Adrian Dix says 1,750 surgeries at nine affected hospitals in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions have been delayed. There are 502 people in hospital and more than 160 of those are in intensive care units. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says pressure on B.C.'s health-care system is ``immense'' right now. The government is also asking specially trained health workers who are now in community settings to return to int
WorldApr 23, 2021

Sharpton decries 'stench of racism' in Daunte Wright's death

Daunte Wright was remembered at his funeral Thursday as a dedicated father whose life was ended too soon at the hands of police. Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a thundering eulogy, promising that Black people will never ``shut up and suffer,'' and that changes to federal law are coming. Wright was shot by police during a traffic stop in suburban Minneapolis during the murder trial of former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin for killing George Floyd. He was convicted two days ago. Hundreds of people packed into Shiloh Temple International Ministries to remember the 2
police-report-15-gang-linked-killings-in-metro-vancouver-in-2021-after-dip-since-2017-indetify-langley-shooting-victim
BCApr 22, 2021

Police report 15 gang-linked killings in Metro Vancouver in 2021 after dip since 2017, indetify Langley shooting victim

The man fatally shot outside a sports complex in Langley, B.C., has been identified by police as a longtime gang associate targeted in what investigators believe is an intensifying gangland conflict that has simmered for almost two decades. The victim of Wednesday's shooting is 46 year old Todd Gouwenberg and although police have not yet found an obvious motive for his slaying, they say it was targeted. Assistant Comm. Manny Mann, chief officer of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, the south coast agency focused on gang conflict, says Gouwenberg had been connected to the United Nat
former-minister-tells-inquiry-money-laundering-on-b-c-radar-but-so-were-guns-gangs
BCApr 22, 2021

Former minister tells inquiry money laundering on B.C. radar, but so were guns, gangs

The interim leader of the B.C. Liberal party says reports of money laundering at casinos had the attention of the government when she was the minister in charge of gaming a decade ago. But Shirley Bond says civil forfeiture, gang violence and gambling addiction were also big issues during those 11 months as part of her duties as the solicitor general and minister of public safety. She told the Cullen commission today that she never discussed reports of millions of dollars of suspicious cash at casinos being linked to money laundering and organized crime with former premier Christy Clark. Clar
canada-bans-flights-from-india-pakistan-for-30-days
CanadaApr 22, 2021

Canada bans flights from India, Pakistan for 30 days

Transport Canada is halting all direct passenger air traffic from India and Pakistan for 30-days, starting at 11:30 tonight. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says cargo flights will be allowed to ensure the continued supply of vaccines and PPE. Alghabra says passengers who depart from the two countries via an indirect route will need obtain a negative COVID-19 test at their last point of departure. The announcement comes just after MPs voted in favour of Canada suspending international flights from countries where COVID-19 outbreaks are raging.
39-cases-related-to-b-1-617-variant-first-identified-in-india-reported-in-b-c
BCApr 22, 2021

39 cases related to B.1.617 variant first identified in India reported in B.C.

The BC Centre for Disease Control and its public health lab are reviewing the genetic sequencing of what they are now calling a ``variant of interest'' that has made its way to this province. A statement from the Ministry of Health says 39 COVID-19 cases involving the B.1.617 variant first identified in India were found in B-C by April 4th, but the strain was not then considered a variant of concern or a variant under investigation. The statement says the ministry should be able to provide an update by later this week on the number and severity of cases linked to the latest variant. Quebec id
major-general-dany-fortin-warns-escalating-case-numbers-in-india-mean-shipments-of-the-vaccine-from-that-country-are-temporarily-on-hold
CanadaApr 22, 2021

Major-General Dany Fortin warns, escalating case numbers in India mean shipments of the vaccine from that country are temporarily on hold

The man in charge of Canada's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is warning there will be more delays in the delivery of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot before June. Major-General Dany Fortin says escalating case numbers in India mean shipments of the vaccine from that country are temporarily on hold. India is reporting a global record daily tally of more than 314-thousand new infections. Deputy Chief Public Health Minister Dr. Howard Njoo says Canada will be making adjustments at the border for incoming flights ``very soon.'' Njoo says the prime minister and the government are looking at COVID-19 data an
CanadaApr 22, 2021

Montreal newspaper blasted for front-page photo of Trudeau in India

The Journal de Montreal newspaper is being criticized for running a photo from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 2018 trip to India on its front page today to accompany a COVID-19 story. Trudeau is wearing traditional Indian clothes and holding his hands together in prayer beside a caption that reads, ``The Indian variant has arrived.'' The cover refers to Quebec's first case of a novel coronavirus variant that emerged in India, and it asks ``Justin'' whether ties with India will be cut quickly. Benoit Charette, the provincial minister responsible for fighting racism, said today on Twitter he f

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AlbertaSep 22, 2026

Alberta Government Suspends Fuel Tax Until Year-End

The Alberta government is suspending the province’s fuel tax for the rest of the year. Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement Tuesday while addressing business leaders in Calgary. Smith said the average price of Western Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was $90.54 per barrel last month, triggering a full suspension of the 13-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax for the quarter beginning October 1. The province had previously suspended its fuel relief program during the last quarter. However, Smith said Albertans had told the government they would prefer to receive the savings directly at th
b-c-premier-david-eby-calls-early-provincial-election
BCSep 22, 2026

B.C. Premier David Eby Calls Early Provincial Election

B.C. Premier David Eby has formally called a provincial election after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia and requesting the dissolution of the legislature. The election is being held two years ahead of schedule. The next provincial election had originally been set for October 21, 2028. The announcement also cancels the Abbotsford-Mission byelection scheduled for September 26, as the riding will now be contested as part of the provincewide general election. The seat had been vacated by B.C. Conservative MLA Rian Gaspar to allow former party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay to run in the
BCSep 22, 2026

B.C. MLA Brent Chapman Leaves Conservatives, Joins OneBC Party

Party-switching intensifies in B.C. as Surrey South MLA Brent Chapman leaves the B.C. Conservatives and joins the OneBC Party. Chapman, who is the husband of former B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, had been facing continued pressure within the party over controversial social media comments from his past. In a statement, Chapman said he had been a loyal party member for the past 15 years, but recent internal divisions, publicly exposed disagreements and what he described as a decline in the party’s principles had made it difficult for him to remain with the B.C. Conservatives. On
b-c-premier-david-eby-meets-lieutenant-governor-wendy-cocchia
BCSep 22, 2026

B.C. Premier David Eby Meets Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia

B.C. Premier David Eby has met with Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia. Eby is scheduled to hold a press conference at 12:15 p.m. at Government House in Victoria, where he is expected to formally announce a provincial election. The election is being called with about two years remaining in the current term of the B.C. NDP government. Eby had indicated that he was considering an early election amid recent turmoil within the opposition Conservative Party, a change in leadership and the NDP government's narrow one-seat majority in the legislature. According to Elections B.C.'s anticipated electio
CanadaSep 22, 2026

Canada’s NDP Opposes Federal Plan to Allow Private Investment in Major Airports

Canada’s federal NDP is opposing the federal government’s plan to allow private investment in the country’s airports. NDP Leader Avi Lewis has described the Carney government’s proposal as privatization, arguing that calling it anything else is misleading to the public. Speaking outside the House of Commons alongside party members and labour union leaders, Lewis warned that handing over the operations of Canada’s four largest airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver to private investors could lead to higher passenger fees. Lewis said the plan amounts to privatization beca