BC Hydro says its latest report shows people around the province are coping with pandemic restrictions by boosting holiday spirits with brighter, more elaborate lighting displays and decorations. An online survey of 800 people shows more than 90 per cent think COVID-19 will affect their holiday celebrations but about 20 per cent plan to do more indoor and outdoor decorating to combat the disappointment. Almost two-thirds say they will put up an outdoor display with 22 per cent expecting to use an average of eight strands of lights and 10 per cent firing up more than 10 strands, a three per ce

A University of BC researcher is being hailed for an innovation that uses salt to destroy COVID-19 droplets on reusable masks. Recent PhD graduate Ilaria Rubino used a salt and water solution on the first or middle layer of a mask and found as droplets were exhaled through the mask, spiky salt crystals would develop and damage the bacteria or virus within minutes. Rubino receives an innovation award today from Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization honouring academic researchers, and joins Simon Fraser University Chemistry PhD student Audrey Taylor at the virtual ceremony. Taylor is being reco

Dr. Theresa Tam says wrestling COVID-19 back under control depends heavily on individual Canadians restricting their activities. Canada's chief public health officer says the country is facing outbreaks in places that didn't have them during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring. And after the current second wave hit younger adults first, more and more cases are being reported in older, more vulnerable people. The Public Health Agency of Canada says on an average day in the past week, more than 2,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 70 people died. Dr. Tam says we know more n

Afghan officials say a roadside bomb attack in central Afghanistan has killed at least 13 civilians and a traffic policeman. The attack Tuesday comes as government negotiators and the Taliban meet to find an end to decades of war. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry says 45 others were wounded in a late afternoon blast in Bamiyan city in Bamiyan province. Several shops and vehicles were destroyed or damaged in the attack. A provincial official says there were two bombs that exploded in quick succession. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Islamic State group aff

A woman in Kelowna has been arrested after refusing to wear a mask at a Value Village store. Mounties say they responded to a call on Sunday, with the woman refusing to leave the store. She was arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance and obstructing a police officer. The woman was later released on conditions for a future court date.

Statistics Canada says a preliminary estimate shows manufacturing sales rose 0.6 percent in October. The agency says the growth came due to higher sales in the petroleum and coal products, paper, primary metals and wood products industries. The flash estimate for October follows a rise of 1.5 percent to $53.8 billion in September.Statistics Canada cautioned that it is continuing to collect October data and that the early indicator is subject to a higher revision rate than its regular monthly release.The early estimate was calculated based on a weighted response rate of 57.8 per cent. It says

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the Liberals will deliver a long-awaited update on the health of federal finances on Nov. 30. She made the announcement today in the House of Commons. The Liberals had promised an update this fall on the federal deficit as part of a document that could also include the first steps toward a national child-care program. The government has not tabled a budget for this fiscal year, but in July delivered what it called a ``fiscal snapshot'' that estimated the deficit was heading for a record of $343.2 billion. Deputy PM announces businesses can start applyin

British Columbia health officials are working to clear up confusion surrounding COVID-19 restriction guidelines announced last week. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix spent part of their news conference Monday explaining what counts as an event or social gathering. Non-essential travel is not recommended across the province, and worship services along with community and social events have been suspended. Dr. Henry and Dix announced 1,933 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days, along with 17 additional deaths for a total of 348 people since the p

Longtime legislature member Shirley Bond will serve as the B.C. Liberal party's interim leader after Andrew Wilkinson's resignation on Saturday. Bond has been a member of the legislature since 2001, representing Prince George-Valemount, and served in cabinet, including as justice minister and deputy premier in the province's previous Liberal government. Bond says in a statement that she is looking forward to holding the NDP government accountable over the coming months. The NDP won 57 seats in last month's provincial election to form a majority government. The Liberals won 28 seats and the Gr