Seven BC mayors have added their support for Vancouver's application to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs. They say it's time Ottawa stepped up. The mayors say the ongoing opioid crisis also has harsh effects in their cities and decriminalization could encourage users to seek help. Vancouver has applied to Health Canada for decriminalization of simple possession of 15 different drugs, and has the support of a broad coalition, including Vancouver police, the province, chief coroner and provincial health officer. The mayors of Victoria, Nanaimo, Saanich, Kamloops, New Westminster, Bu

Vancouver Police are investigating after firearms were located during an inspection of an unlicensed marijuana store by the Province’s Community Safety Unit (CSU). "The Community Safety Unit has the authority to enter premises where cannabis is being sold without a provincial retail store licence and take enforcement action, including seizing cannabis," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "Legislation states that a seller must be licensed by the provincial government and that product for sale must be sourced through the provincial government to ensure the safety of the product, and ultimatel

RCMP in Shawnigan Lake are investigating a fire that claimed a young woman's life in Mill Bay. Police say officers responded to the early-morning blaze yesterday after a report by the Malahat Nation. The residence was completely engulfed and four people who were outside were taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. But an 18 year old woman who alerted others to the fire did not make it out of the house, and firefighters found her body inside after extinguishing the blaze.

British Columbia's top doctor says she's confident more COVID-19 restrictions can be lifted next week as planned due to dramatic declines in cases and because the person-to-person transmission rate has dropped. Dr. Bonnie Henry says fewer infections reflect the power of vaccines, with nearly 73 per cent of eligible residents aged 12 and up having had their first shot. However, only about eight per cent of those 18 and over have received both doses of a vaccine as the province pushes for more people to register for a second shot. B.C. is expected to move to the second of its four-step reopenin

A bulk quantity of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine has been seized by the Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) as the result of a traffic stop in Cloverdale.On June 8, 2021 at 6:50 pm, SGET conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle for a motor vehicle infraction in the area of 176 Street and Fraser Highway. As they interacted with the driver, officers saw evidence of weapons possession, and the driver was arrested.Further investigation led to the seizure of a holster, two starter pistols, a large canister of bear mace, multiple knives, and $1200 in cash. Officers also located and seiz

Surrey RCMP frontline officers seized seven imitation firearms and large amount of suspected fentanyl following a recent traffic stop in Whalley.On June 4, 2021 at 4:40 pm, Surrey RCMP frontline officers conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle for a motor vehicle act investigation, in the area of 94 Avenue and King George Boulevard. During their interaction with the driver, the officers observed items consistent with drug trafficking and arrested the driver and passenger.Further investigation led to the seizure of seven imitation firearms, a pistol magazine with live ammunition, a sword, and a

After a months-long investigation into a drug organization associated to Lower Mainland gangs, Burnaby RCMP’s Drug Section has made a significant seizure of drugs, weapons and cash. With the assistance of Strike Force and the Community Response Team, Burnaby RCMP’s Drug Section executed a residential search warrant, which led to the arrest of a Coquitlam resident and numerous seizures. Some of the items seized were multiple ounces of suspected cocaine and fentanyl likely bound for street-level trafficking, as well as approximately $15,000 in cash, a high-end vehicle, several weapons, and

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia. "Today, we are reporting that 74.5% of all adults in B.C. and 72.4% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,749,758 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 390,264 of which are second doses."We have had 148 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 145,843 cases in British Columbia."Of the new cases, 23 are in

BC's independent police watchdog says an investigation has determined the death of a man after his release from RCMP cells in Mission had no connection to his involvement with police. The Independent Investigations Office says the man was arrested in the early hours of March 21st last year and released from cells about nine hours later. The office says the man was reported missing six days later and a review of available evidence confirms a thorough search was done, including canvassing of the area, patrols and missing-person bulletins. Human remains found this past April in a forested area a