Canada is signing deals with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and U.S.-based biotech firm Moderna to procure millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines.Procurement Minister Anita Anand is announcing the deals this morning in Toronto, which will see Canada get access to the vaccines if they prove to be both safe and effective.Both companies began Phase 3 clinical trials of their vaccine candidates in the last week, large-scale tests to determine how well the vaccines work.Earlier in July both Pfizer and Moderna reported positive results from smaller trials.The Phase 3 trials will both

There are 117,791 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 59,845 confirmed (including 5,685 deaths, 50,886 resolved) Ontario: 39,628 confirmed (including 2,782 deaths, 35,601 resolved) Alberta: 11,146 confirmed (including 201 deaths, 9,754 resolved) British Columbia: 3,787 confirmed (including 195 deaths, 3,273 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,368 confirmed (including 18 deaths, 1,097 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,071 confirmed (including 64 deaths, 1,005 resolved) Manitoba: 427 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 341 resolved), 15 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 266 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 259 resol

British Columbia health minister is urging residents not to attend private parties and gatherings after recent increases in the number of COVID-19 cases across the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix says many of the latest cases stem from such events and the numbers serve as a reminder that people must adhere to public health rules this summer. B.C.'s top doctor says public health workers are tracing the contacts of almost all the new cases. But Dr. Bonnie Henry says that's possible because transmission remains low and residents must ensure it stays that way. She says common factors in many

The province is ramping up its response to the leaping number of overdose deaths related to illicit drugs. The coroner says B-C set records for the highest number of overdose deaths in May and broke that record in June as supply issues during the pandemic have made illicit drugs increasingly toxic. Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says a total of 29 new supervised consumption or inhalation services will open around B-C and more staff will ensure users are connected to the help they need.She says the funds come from 10.5-million dollars set aside to aid those who have seen deva

The British Columbia government says new rules for private cannabis retailers will allow pot to be reserved and paid for online, but customers still have to pick up their orders in person.The province says the regulations now allow private cannabis stores to accept payments made on a website, app or by telephone. Previous licence conditions allowed customers to reserve cannabis products online, but required them to visit a store to complete the payment and obtain their purchases.The province says it changed its policies because of a request from private retailers, which felt online orders wou

The Alberta government is following Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia and will make wearing masks mandatory for most students and staff this school year.Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says students in Grades 4 to 12 and all staff will be required to wear masks in common areas, hallways and on buses, but not in classrooms.The province is going to provide two reusable masks for each student and staff member.

RCMP say a shooting Saturday evening in Maple Ridge was targeted. Ridge Meadows RCMP say it happened at about 10:30 p.m. on August 1st and seriously injured a 30-year-old man they describe as known to them. He was sitting in his car when another vehicle drove by and someone inside fired several shots but investigators say the injured man was able to drive himself to hospital for treatment. Mounties say they responded quickly and determined the attack was isolated and not random, but have not said if a suspect has been identified.

Canada's chief public health officer says regardless of when a COVID-19 vaccine is developed, the Public Health Agency of Canada is planning to be responding to the pandemic for at least another year if not two or three. Dr. Theresa Tam says a safe and effective vaccine is a very important aspect of the COVID-19 response, but it is not the ``silver bullet'' that will end the health crisis. Tam says the public health measures we currently have in place such as social distancing, wearing a mask in indoor public spaces are going to have to continue in the long-run. Answering criticism that the f

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation alert for 43 properties northwest of Princeton as a small wildfire burns nearby. The blaze was sparked Sunday by lightning but had charred just 22 hectares by yesterday evening. A crew of 50, backed by heavy equipment, helicopters and airtankers, is assigned to contain the fire, which is the largest of just over 20 that broke out over the long weekend. The BC Wildfire Service lists the fire danger across much of the southern quarter of the province as high to extreme but Environment Canada says cooler weather and rain are