British Columbia's top doctor says lifting more COVID-19 restrictions this week would not include allowing gathers beyond 50 people. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked today about the possibility of restrictions being eased this week. Henry says any further openings would be on the lighter side of the scale, comparing it to adjusting a dimmer switch. But she said that would not involve increasing gatherings beyond 50 people. Restaurants, hair salons and personal services including dentist offices and physiotherapy clinics were permitted to reopen on May 19. Schools in B.C. h

As BC slowly returns to a slightly more normal routine in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, many people are beginning to travel more and that has prompted a response from bus and ferry operators. BC Ferries and TransLink want passengers to wear a non-medical grade mask while aboard, and while TransLink is strongly suggesting masks should be worn, BC Ferries has made face coverings mandatory. Starting today and continuing indefinitely, ferry passengers over the age of two without a face covering will not be permitted to board a vessel that will be at sea longer than 30 minutes. TransLink's ap

The BC Supreme Court judge in Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's extradition case says she's concerned by the length of the proceedings. During a case management conference today, Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes said the proposed schedules from Crown prosecutors and Meng's counsel would see the case wrap up next spring. Holmes said the court could move faster. The United States is seeking to extradite Meng, Huawei's chief financial officer, on fraud charges based on allegations she violated US sanctions against Iran, which she and the company deny. Holmes ruled last month that Meng's alle

A number of roads in northern British Columbia have been closed after heavy rain caused washouts and localized flooding on Monday. Environment Canada said the ground in the area isn't able to absorb further rainfall because it was already near the saturation point. Communities in the north Peace had received between 30 and 80 millimetres of rainfall by Monday morning. Environment Canada said the highest amounts were observed near the Rockies over communities like Hudson Hope. A further 15 to 20 millimetres was forecast before the rain is expected to end. The River Forecast Centre issued a hig

B.C. is funding eight new centres to improve mental health and substance use services for youth.Three of the centres will be within the Greater Vancouver region, including Squamish, while the others will be in Burns Lake, Williams Lake, Cranbrook, Port Hardy and the Comox Valley.Foundry centres are designed to offer those aged 12 to 24 a variety of services - from walk-in counselling to mental health, substance use and social services.Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy says with COVID-19 and the opioid crisis continuing across the province, it's more important than ever that youn

David Sidoo's membership in the Order of British Columbia was terminated on Friday, June 12, 2020. The Provincial Symbols and Honours Act governs nominations, appointments, resignations and terminations in the Order of B.C., the province's highest honour. According to the act, the chancellor of the Order may terminate a person's membership on the recommendationof the advisory council and with the approval of the executive council. This process is initiated when a member of the Order is convicted of a criminal offence or when their conduct undermines the credibility and integrity of the Orde

One man has been charged in what Kamloops RCMP describe as a gang-related weapons seizure at a storage locker in a warehouse in that city. Police say three semi-automatic rifles, one bolt-action rifle, a lever-action rifle, a shotgun, air-soft pistols, crossbows, nunchucks and possible explosives were seized in the Wednesday raid. A 43 year old man and 23 year old woman arrived at the warehouse while the bust was underway and police say the two were searched and weapons and drugs, including cocaine, fentanyl and crack, were seized. The man now faces drug and weapons charges while police sa

British Columbia's premier says calls for defunding police are a simplistic approach to a complex problem. John Horgan says police are increasingly burdened with a range of challenges in areas including homelessness, mental health and addiction which need more funding. He says it's inappropriate to expect law enforcement to take on those issues as they deal with public safety concerns. Horgan says he envisions expanding the capacity for communities to ensure they're not asking police for more than they're capable of delivering. He says defunding issues arising from George Floyd's police-involv

British Columbia is marking the sixth day in a row with no additional deaths due to COVID-19. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the death toll is still 167 and there have been no new community or health-care outbreaks identified since Wednesday. She says 14 more people have tested positive for the disease, bringing the total to 2,694. There are 183 active cases, including 13 people in hospital with five in intensive care. Henry says 2,344 people have recovered so far. Health Minister Adrian Dix says the situation in B.C. is not necessarily typical, since cases of COVID-19 a