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progress-being-made-after-recommendations-issued-following-sinkings-crashes-or-other-events-causing-death-or-injury-tsb
BCMay 13, 2021

Progress being made after recommendations issued following sinkings, crashes or other events causing death or injury: TSB

The Transportation Safety Board says progress is being made by the marine, aviation and rail sectors to act on TSB recommendations issued following sinkings, crashes or other events that have caused death or injury. In its annual reassessment of responses to 62 ongoing safety recommendations, the board says 12 more have received a ``fully satisfactory'' rating, pushing the number of recommendations to receive the top rating to nearly 85 per cent. But the board says some key safety ratings have still seen minimal movement, including one it ranks as ``unsatisfactory'' related to a recommendatio
autopsy-planned-as-rcmp-identify-one-of-two-bodies-found-monday-near-penticton-b-c
BCMay 13, 2021

Autopsy planned as RCMP identify one of two bodies found Monday near Penticton, B.C.

Homicide investigators say they have identified one of two victims found dead along a forest service road near Penticton, B.C. An update from the RCMP's Southeast District major crime unit says the second person has not yet been named but identification work continues. An autopsy on both victims is set for Friday. The bodies were found Monday along a road in the Naramata Creek area and police say although the killings appear targeted, the incident is believed to be isolated and the public is not at risk. A vehicle found near the bodies is part of the investigation and detectives are appealing
expert-says-covid-19-could-be-a-cause-in-public-nature-of-gang-violence-1
BCMay 13, 2021

Expert says COVID-19 could be a cause in public nature of gang violence

An expert on gangs says the very public nature of a recent series of shootings in Metro Vancouver may be attributed to COVID-19 restrictions, with rivals striking at the first chance they get.Martin Bouchard, a professor in Simon Fraser University's school of criminology, says the pandemic has changed people's routines and they aren't getting out of their homes often, which could play a role in the brazen nature of shootings.He says gang violence follows its own course regardless of what the initial motive was for the conflict.The comments come as police leaders meet today with Solicitor Gene
british-columbia-to-use-remaining-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-second-doses
BCMay 13, 2021

British Columbia to use remaining AstraZeneca vaccine for second doses

British Columbia will be holding its remaining stock of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to use as second doses for residents. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say the change is due to the limited availability of the vaccine. The pair say in a joint statement all currently scheduled vaccination appointments through pharmacies will proceed, but no additional appointments will be booked. British Columbia reported 600 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 5,887 active infections, for a total of 137,223 since the pandemic began. It also reported one n
partial-brick-of-suspected-cocaine-seized-by-sget
BCMay 12, 2021

Partial brick of suspected cocaine seized by SGET

The Surrey Gang Enforcement Team has seized a partial brick of suspected cocaine as part of on-going targeted gang enforcement in Surrey.On May 9, 2021 at 11:27 p.m., Surrey Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) attempted to stop a speeding vehicle in the area of 108 Avenue and 152 Street. The vehicle failed to stop and fled from police at high rate of speed. Other SGET units in the area were able to get ahead of the fleeing vehicle and blocked the lanes of travel. With no route of escape, the suspect vehicle stopped and the driver was arrested.Further investigation led to seizure of a partial brick of
second-degree-murder-charge-laid-after-body-of-a-35-year-old-woman-found
BCMay 12, 2021

Second-degree murder charge laid after body of a 35 year old woman found

RCMP say a second-degree murder charge has been laid after the body of a woman was found last week in Kootenay National Park in southeastern BC. Days after the body of Brenda Ware was found, police issued a notice they were looking for 41 year old Philip Toner as a person of interest. Toner was found by Lake Country RCMP yesterday and has now been charged with the Alberta woman's death. Mounties say BC's Prosecution Service and the Alberta Crown worked together to lay the charge in the Alberta courts, where police allege the murder was carried out.
penticton-council-writes-letter-to-premier-seeking-intervention-in-shelter-dispute
BCMay 12, 2021

Penticton council writes letter to premier seeking intervention in shelter dispute

Officials in Penticton, B.C., are appealing to Premier John Horgan in the latest twist in a bitter dispute over a temporary shelter in the Okanagan city. Penticton Mayor John Vassilaki has written an open letter to Horgan urging him to intervene on the city's behalf as it tries to close the 42-bed shelter in defiance of BC Housing's application to extend the temporary-use permit for another year. Vassilaki hopes Horgan will help resolve the disagreement with Attorney General David Eby, who's also the minister responsible for housing. Eby has said the province needs more time to find long-term
BCMay 12, 2021

B.C. pharmacist fined and suspended for a year for diverting and reselling prescription medication

The BC College of Pharmacists has fined a pharmacist and suspended him for a year for diverting and reselling prescription medication. The college says in a recent ruling that Ian Petterson worked at a hospital pharmacy and sold its supplies and medication to a community pharmacy, then pocketed the cash. A written disciplinary ruling says text messages and emails provided the evidence and that Petterson circumvented the hospital's policies and procedures aimed at preventing such theft and diversion. He has been fined 35,000 dollars and must retake a licensing exam, though even if he passes
what-we-want-to-see-b-c-covid-19-case-counts-trending-downward-vaccinations-up
BCMay 12, 2021

'What we want to see': B.C. COVID-19 case counts trending downward, vaccinations up

British Columbia recorded 515 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, continuing a downward trend of infections as the vaccination rate accelerates. Health officials say in a news release that 6,020 people have active infections, 426 of whom are hospitalized, including 141 in intensive care. Two more people have died, bringing the death toll to 1,624. More than 2.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, 110,516 of which are second doses. The government is also extending the provincial state of emergency through May 25, saying it would allow health and emergency management officials to

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alberta-government-to-release-revised-school-library-book-ban
AlbertaSep 05, 2025

Alberta government to release revised school library book ban

The Alberta government is set to release this afternoon its revised school library book ban. The new version would come three days after the government directed school boards to pause their work in complying with the original ministerial order. School boards initially had until the end of the month to remove books containing what the province deemed sexually explicit content, including images, illustrations and written descriptions. That led Edmonton Public Schools to compile a list of over 200 books it needed to remove, including literary classics such as Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tal
canada-lost-nearly-66-000-jobs-in-august
CanadaSep 05, 2025

Canada lost nearly 66,000 jobs in August

Canada lost nearly 66,000 jobs in August and the unemployment rate hit a nine-year high of 7.1 per cent, excluding the pandemic. Statistics Canada said the Canadian economy lost most part-time jobs last month. The rise in the unemployment rate has also raised the possibility of the Bank of Canada cutting interest rates this month. About 1.6 million people were unemployed in Canada in August. The unemployment rate was last seen near 7 per cent in May 2016, according to Statistics Canada. It is worth noting that the Canadian economy has shown a tolerable level in the face of US tariffs on s
environment-canada-expands-air-alerts-as-wildfire-smoke-spreads-over-b-c
BCSep 05, 2025

Environment Canada expands air alerts as wildfire smoke spreads over B.C.

Environment Canada's special air-quality statements for wildfire smoke have now expanded to cover most of British Columbia, with air quality at its worst possible level in parts of the Fraser Valley. The alerts advise people to limit or avoid outdoor activity and are now in place for all of B.C. outside of Vancouver Island, the Central and North Coast, Haida Gwaii and about a quarter of the province on its northern edge. An air-quality warning continues to be in effect in Metro Vancouver, covered by orange smoke haze for a third day. Monitoring from the Metro Vancouver Regional District shows
carney-pledges-370m-in-incentives-for-canola-sector
CanadaSep 05, 2025

Carney pledges $370M in incentives for canola sector

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the government is launching a new $370 million production incentive to help Canada’s canola producers. The government says its new biofuel production incentive is meant to address "immediate competitiveness challenges" as China imposes massive tariffs on Canadian canola seed.
portuguese-police-say-two-canadians-dead-in-lisbon-streetcar-crash
CanadaSep 05, 2025

Portuguese police say two Canadians dead in Lisbon streetcar crash

Police in Portugal say two Canadians are among the 16 people killed when a streetcar derailed Wednesday. The dead also included five Portuguese nationals, three British citizens, two South Koreans, one American, one French, one Swiss and one Ukrainian, police said in a statement. The list of nationalities was published following forensic identification. The French Foreign Ministry said Friday that a woman who was a French-Canadian dual citizen is among the dead. The Portuguese government's Office for Air and Rail Accident Investigations said that it has concluded its analysis of