There were 624 new cases of COVID-19 reported Friday and 11 additional deaths, for a total of 724 fatalities. A joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix on Friday says 2,592 doses of vaccine have been given so far. Tickets worth $18,400 issued to representatives from three places of worship in Fraser Valley The RCMP say they have served tickets totalling $18,400 to representatives from three places of worship in British Columbia's Fraser Valley for violating public health orders. The Mounties say in a news release the churches were hosti

The former clerk of the provincial legislature is facing charges following a lengthy RCMP investigation into the activities of the chamber's senior staff. The BC Prosecution Service says Craig James has been charged with four counts of breach of trust and two counts of fraud in excess of five-thousand dollars. James and sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz were placed on administrative leave two years ago and retired in 2019. He could not be reached for comment on the charges. But he and Lenz denied any wrongdoing after a report in early 2019 alleged they had engaged in inappropriate spending on person

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out in Canada, the country's chief public health officer says health authorities are keeping track of any negative reactions to the shots. But so far, Doctor Theresa Tam says there have been no serious side effects. She says 10 per cent of recipients might have soreness, or some fatigue. Some who've received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in other countries have reported serious allergic reactions, prompting the drug maker to warn people with allergies not to get it. Canada will have 100 freezers in place across the country for Moderna vaccine: Anita AnandAmerican biote

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s frustrated China doesn't understand the rule of law and continues to imprison Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Trudeau says China is only hurting itself by using such coercive diplomacy by arbitrarily detaining the pair. Kovrig and Spavor were arrested December 10th, 2018 and eventually charged with violating China's national security, which Canada and its allies have reject as trumped-up charges. They say China is retaliating for the arrest by Canada of a Chinese high-tech executive on an American extradition request. Huawei's Meng Wanzhou is s

Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for much of Vancouver Island, the southern Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, the Central Coast and Metro Vancouver. A strong frontal system is moving into the coast bringing heavy rains and winds between 70 and 90 kilometres an hour depending on the area. The system has also prompted a rainfall warning for eastern Vancouver Island from Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay, where up to 50 millimetres of rain is forecast by late afternoon. Snowfall warnings have been posted for the Peace and Williston regions where 10 to 15 centimetres is expected and

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ending a very bad year in much better shape than its international counterparts. This is could be Trudeau's final news conference of the year. Trudeau told reporters at the news conference that Canada is on a stronger health and financial footing than other countries, including the United States. Trudeau says Canada is set to receive 125,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech per week in January, for a total of 500,000 doses next month. As well he says 168,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine candidate are scheduled to arrive by the end of the month, pending regula

Canada's chief public health officer says recent data suggesting opioid-related deaths are at an all-time high is a sobering reminder of how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the overdose crisis. Dr. Theresa Tam says there were more than 1,600 opioid-related deaths in Canada between April and June, the highest number recorded in a quarter since national surveillance began in 2016. Dr. Tam says prior to the pandemic's onset, some parts of the country were seeing early signs that opioid-related deaths were on the decline, but the COVID-19 crisis seems to have reversed those gains. She sa

RCMP in Burnaby say a school was locked down yesterday after police received reports of a fight involving a gun outside. The Mounties say in a news release that responding officers found and arrested two people. They say the gun was located and identified as an airsoft pistol. RCMP say there were no serious injuries reported. Later the lockdown at Burnaby South Secondary was lifted.

Poor weather conditions have led the RCMP to suspend the ground search for five missing Nova Scotia fishermen for a second day. But they will search the Bay of Fundy shoreline using a helicopter from the province's Department of Lands and Forestry. The 15-metre scallop dragger Chief William Saulis had six fishermen aboard when it is believed to have capsized in three-metre waves near Delaps Cove on Tuesday morning. The company that owns and operates the boat, Yarmouth Sea Products, has said the crew did not issue a distress call and it appears the vessel capsized, with its automatic emergency