Following conversations with business and worker representatives, the Province of British Columbia has extended the temporary layoffs provisions to a maximum of 24 weeks expiring on Aug. 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.The extension will give employers and workers additional flexibility to support economic recovery in the province with the expectation that businesses honour their obligations to workers and reach agreement with their employees in the event a further extension is required."This extension will provide even more certainty and flexibility," said Harry Bains, Minister of Labo

BC is easing more health restrictions imposed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, including allowing spas, hotels, resorts and RV parks to resume operating. Premier John Horgan say the province can gradually move into the third phase of its reopening plan because it's been successful in flattening the curve of the pandemic. But while more businesses and recreational areas are allowed to open, large public gatherings will remain capped at a maximum of 50 people. The province has also released summer travel guidelines that include people respecting local travel advisories to remote communities an

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, have issued the following joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia: "Today, we are announcing 14 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 2,849 cases in British Columbia."There are 162 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 2,516 people who tested positive have recovered."Of the total COVID-19 cases, 14 individuals are hospitalized, seven of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation."Si

Homicide detectives in Metro Vancouver are appealing for information as they investigate the murder of a 41-year-old woman who died in hospital on June 17.A statement from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says little is known about Bo Fan, who was dropped off at a Surrey hospital with life-threatening injuries and died a short time later.Sgt. Frank Jang says police do not believe her murder was random.He says investigators have determined she was a citizen of China, had links to a group known as either Golden Touch or Create Abundance, and had been living in Surrey since February 20

British Columbia's top doctor says old-fashioned contact tracing, not an app, is the primary tool that's been helping public health officials find people who could be infected with COVID-19. Dr. Bonnie Henry says officials are accustomed to tracking people who could have come into contact with carriers of other diseases and COVID-19 is no different, except that 600 people have been focused on the task. Henry says an app would be more useful for when people may have spread or contracted the illness in a large crowd of people. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promoted a voluntary app called CO

School trustees in both Vancouver and Victoria have voted to examine the role of police liaison officers in their facilities. The separate, unanimous votes came during school board meetings last night when trustees also rejected calls for immediate suspension of the liaison program while the reviews are underway. Supporters of the liaison program, which sees officers with special training assigned to specific elementary or high schools, say it helps police develop relationships, especially with at-risk youth. But critics question who the program is actually protecting.

The Government of British Columbia is taking action to help stratas better mitigate the rising costs of insurance.Actions include bringing more transparency to the strata insurance industry, closing loopholes related to depreciation reports, ending referral fees paid to property managers and giving strata owners and corporations the tools they need to do their part."The rising cost of strata insurance is a major financial pressure facing thousands of British Columbians during an already challenging time," said Carole James, Minister of Finance. "This is an extremely complex issue playing out i

Final arguments in the extradition case for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou will take place early next year. The BC Supreme Court approved a schedule proposed by the Crown and Meng's defence team. In a letter to Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes, Crown lawyer John Gibb-Carsley says the schedule aims to resolve all necessary evidentiary issues through the summer and early fall. Hearings are to resume on August 17th, when the court will meet for five days to hear arguments over privilege claims in the case.

British Columbia's top doctor is warning people not to let their guard down against COVID-19 as the province prepares to allow more travel this summer. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the premier is expected to announce later this week when the province will move into the third phase of its restart plan, which allows overnight camping and the opening of hotels, resorts and RV parks. She says travellers have to exercise caution, be respectful of the communities they plan to visit and take the same care they do at home to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Henry says trav