British Columbia has again extended its state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic nearly 10 months after it was first declared. The Ministry of Public Safety says in a news release the extension until Jan. 19 will allow officials to use powers under the Emergency Program Act. Premier John Horgan says in the statement there's hope with the provincial immunization program getting underway, but it's too early to ease restrictions in the pandemic that has claimed 954 lives in B.C. A joint statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry on Tue

A 37 year old man has died after being shot by police in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood early Tuesday. Police say in a news release paramedics called for help in response to a man who was acting aggressively and erratically at a residential building. They say the man sustained injuries after smashing his window and throwing large objects into the street before police arrived. Police say they received reports the man was chasing people on the street with a weapon, "using it in an aggressive and threatening manner." He was subsequently shot by police. Police did not provide further

British Columbia's chief veterinarian says a mink farmer decided to euthanize the remaining 1,000 animals on his Fraser Valley operation after some of the mink tested positive for COVID-19. Dr. Rayna Gunvaldsen says the operator was not ordered by the provincial government to euthanize the animals as more tests are underway to determine the extent of the presence of COVID-19. The first farm where the virus spread to mink also had eight workers who tested positive and Gunvaldsen says both farms remain under quarantine. She says there are no other reports of COVID-19 at B.C.'s eight other mink f

A grant that helps British Columbia homeowners offset a portion of their property tax is being raised to reflect an increase in the assessed value of their homes. The Ministry of Finance says the threshold for the 2021 homeowner grant has been set at $1.625 million, a $100,000 increase over last year. It says the increase means the same percentage of homeowners remain eligible for either the basic grant or an enhanced grant that's available to those over 65 or people with disabilities. About 92 per cent of homeowners were eligible last year. In Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional Dist

Vancouver Coastal Health say there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 on the cardiac ward in St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver, closing the unit to all but end-of-life visits. Although the rest of the hospital remains open. Interior Health says weekly case numbers of COVID-19 are higher, per capita, in Revelstoke than in many other areas of B.C.Interior Health says weekly case numbers of COVID-19 are higher, per capita, in Revelstoke than in many other areas of the province and it is urging residents to take steps to curb the spread of the virus. The health authority has issued a news re

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will look at just about any measure to discourage people from travelling internationally. But he says Canada doesn't want to join the short list of countries that require government approval for travel, with measures such as exit visas. He says the federal government has been crystal clear since early last year that travelling abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic is a bad idea. Starting Thursday, Canada is requiring incoming air travellers to present evidence of a recent negative COVID-19 test before being allowed t

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians who have travelled abroad should not expect to collect a benefit for people who have to isolate themselves. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is making changes to the $1,000 sickness benefit. He says the program is for workers who have to quarantine because they are sick or have had close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Trudeau says the point was never to subsidize vacations and he's frustrated and angry that non-essential travellers might have claimed the benefit. The government will revise the rules t

Canada's chief public health officer says she's concerned at how quickly Canada's COVID-19 case numbers are growing. Doctor Theresa Tam says over the past week, the number of infections has been increasing by almost 7,500 per day. She notes that it took five months for Canada to reach its first 100,000 cases, and just over two weeks to go from 500- to 600,000. Dr. Tam says this rapid accumulation of cases will continue until we can make significant progress in interrupting the spread of the virus. More than 617,000 case have been reported in Canada since the start of pandemic. At present 79,5

BC Ferries has cancelled the majority of sailings today between Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver due to extreme weather. Environment Canada says a strong Pacific frontal system will bring very strong winds beginning in the late morning, with gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour. The strongest winds are expected over exposed coastal sections near the Strait of Georgia, Haro Strait and the Southern Gulf Islands. BC Ferries says it doesn't take the decision lightly and will resume service as soon as it's safe to do so. BC Ferries is telling travellers to check its website after numerous aftern