Elections BC says seven days of advance voting for the provincial election will begin on Thursday. An extra day has been added for those wishing to vote early in the election, up from six days in 2017. Elections BC says the extra day is aimed at helping reduce the number of people at voting places during the pandemic, and voters should note that some voting places won't be open on every advance voting day. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from this Thursday to next Wednesday, and safety precautions will include protective barriers, physical distancing and officials wearing

Police in Kelowna are looking for witnesses to a collision that killed a 60 year old motorcyclist on Highway 33 near Kelowna. RCMP say a white Chevrolet Tracker travelling westbound crossed the centre line and struck a red Honda motorcycle, seriously injuring the rider, who died in hospital. The driver of the Tracker was not injured, remained at the scene and is co-operating with investigators. Police are asking for any dash camera video that shows the collision or the driving behaviour of the small SUV before the crash.

The B.C. Liberal party says it would implement a new economic response plan to the COVID-19 pandemic within 60 days if it wins the Oct. 24 provincial election. In the party's platform, the Liberals say the plan would involve eliminating the PST for a year, launching a comprehensive review of regulatory processes to ensure more timely approvals and establishing an emergency pandemic response committee to work with all parties and the provincial health officer. The party says it would also appoint an independent Fair Tax Commission to review all provincial taxes and recommend adjustments, reduc

The leaders of B.C.'s three main political parties will meet Tuesday in a televised debate that political experts say could be one of the few events where voters get a chance to truly assess the leaders in what has been a largely scripted online election campaign. New Democrat Leader John Horgan called a snap election last month during the global COVID-19 pandemic and the debate comes with less than two weeks remaining before election day on Oct. 24. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, Green Leader Sonia Furstenau and Horgan will appear live on television, radio and online for the 90-minute deba

The B.C. New Democrats have announced a renter's rebate as the latest plank of their election platform as parties prepare for the first televised debate of the provincial campaign. NDP Leader John Horgan says his party's plan also includes making a cap on rent increases permanent. Under the rebate plan, households that earn up to $80,000 a year will be entitled to $400 a year. Horgan also reiterated his party's support of freezing rents until the end of 2021. He accused the B.C. Liberals of giving tax breaks to the rich and says the NDP benefit would help those who need it most. The leaders o

BC is reporting 119 new cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are 1,406 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. 68 of those patients are being treated in hospital, including 19 in intensive care. In a statement, Dr. Henry continues to urge people to do all they can to ensure they have safe celebrations over the Thanksgiving long weekend. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is being awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Royal Roads University in Victoria. The university says it will bestow the honour on what it describes as

Fishermen, kayakers and hikers are being warned of potential fluctuations in the water level of the Capilano River after a spillway gate on a dam was taken out of service. Metro Vancouver says the gate at the Cleveland Dam in North Vancouver will remain out of service throughout the winter. Without the gate being in operation, water levels could naturally be affected on the Capilano River from an upstream lake that serves as the main reservoir for the Lower Mainland. A statement from Metro Vancouver, which delivers services to municipalities in the Lower Mainland, says electronic signs have b

The BC Green party has released its plan to rebuild the provincial economy after COVID-19 with a focus on climate action. Campaigning in Nanaimo, Leader Sonia Furstenau says the Green promise goes even further than the existing Clean BC plan, which she says never would have happened under the minority NDP government if not for her party. Furstenau says a Green government would initiate a just transition program for workers to move to guaranteed jobs in the clean economy. The plan would establish a 1 billion dollar strategic investment fund to support business innovation, especially initiative

NDP Leader John Horgan says if elected his party will launch a long-term BC shipbuilding strategy aimed at keeping good jobs and long-term employment in this province. Horgan made the announcement this morning following a tour of the Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver. He says he will also lobby to bring construction of Canada's next Polar Icebreaker back to B-C shipyards after Seaspan was awarded the lucrative contract but lost it when Ottawa replaced the icebreaker with several smaller ships and re-opened bidding on the big vessel.Horgan's announcement comes as the third Seaspan-built, sta