British Columbia's health minister says the province is working to set up a lab in Vancouver to determine if respirators and other equipment meet safety standards. Adrian Dix says B.C. is also rebuilding its reserve of personal protective equipment to prepare for a potential second wave of COVID-19 as it explores the possibility of locally made products. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says an increase in cases in some parts of the world suggest local measures to prevent the spread of the illness should not be relaxed too quickly. Henry says Beijing and the United States serve as c

The Teamsters Union says a CN Rail conductor has been killed in an accident just outside a rail yard in Prince Rupert. The union representing rail employees in BC says the man in his 30s died on the job while performing a switching operation yesterday. It's the second time in two weeks that a CN Rail worker has died on the job in BC. 31 year old Jas Riar was also killed during a switching incident at a rail yard in Surrey on June 1st.

British Columbia is planning to expand measures to support restaurants, bars and tourism operations hard hit by COVID-19 restrictions. The Ministry of Attorney General says a temporary wholesale pricing program will mean liquor licence holders can purchase beer, wine and spirits at reduced cost. The program is set to begin at the end of next month and be in place until March 31, when it will be reviewed. Restaurants, bars and pubs currently pay for liquor purchases at full retail price, which is the wholesale price, plus a retail markup set by the ministry's liquor distribution branch. The ne

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