Premier John Horgan says he expects BC will receive nearly two billion dollars from the federal government under a new COVID-19 Safe Restart Agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is providing a total of 19-billion dollars to provinces and territories to boost their economies amid the pandemic. The agreement includes 10 days of paid sick leave, fully funded by the federal government. Horgan says the sick-leave program is a key move to make sure nobody feels pressured to go to work while ill.

BC is reporting 21 new cases of COVID-19 and no additional deaths. The province's death toll stands at 189. The province's top doctor says 2,789 people in BC have recovered from the illness out of 3,170 cases in total. Doctor Bonnie Henry says 192 of BC's cases are active. Four cases are now associated with Krazy Cherry Fruit Company in Oliver and Henry says 27 cases have been linked to recent instances of community exposure in Kelowna. Dr. Henry says the next step is more targeted antibody testing to help understand who has been most affected by the virus.

Police say a pedestrian is in critical condition after a crash involving a semi truck in Surrey's Cloverdale neighbourhood this morning. RCMP say they responded to the collision at the intersection of 172 Street and Highway 10 just after 9:40 A-M and roads are closed in the area. They say the driver of the semi truck remained at the scene and officers are investigating. The pedestrian is in hospital in critical condition and police ask that anyone who witnessed the collision come forward.

Another record for monthly overdose deaths related to illicit drugs has been set in British Columbia. The BC Coroners Service says 175 fatalities in June surpassed the previous high of 171 deaths in May. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the pandemic has limited access to harm-reduction services and people should not be using opioids or other substances alone. Lapointe is urging substance users to have someone present when using drugs or to go to an overdose prevention or supervised-consumption site where drugs can be checked for toxicity. She says opioids, along with cocaine and the stimulant

BC health officials say they're concerned about the increase in new cases of COVID-19 in the province. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that they're worried COVID-19 is silently circulating in communities. The province has logged 21 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of three-thousand 149. While infections early in the pandemic were concentrated in long-term care and assisted living facilities, health officials say most of the new cases are in the broader community. The statement says residents need to do their part by layering

Police are investigating after a body was found in a wooded area on the boundary between Langley, B.C., and Surrey on Wednesday morning. Surrey RCMP say in a news release that officers and members of the Langley fire department responded to a report of a brush fire shortly before 11 a.m. They say the fire was put out and a body was found. The cause of the person's death is not known but police says it's suspicious. The Mounties did not provide information about the identity of the person found dead. Surrey RCMP's general investigation unit has taken over the investigation.

The Vancouver Park Board has passed a motion allowing overnight camping in parks around the city.In a social media post, the board says the vote includes provisions to "more effectively manage temporary structures and tents for those seeking shelter in parks."The board says the move reflects recent B.C. Supreme Court decisions recognizing the Charter right to stay in public spaces when adequate shelter is not available.The motion passed 4-3 after two nights of debate and submissions from dozens of speakers.The updated bylaw requires tents to be removed each morning.The change comes after more

Leader of the Federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh shared his views on important political issues, on Connect FM's 'Sver Wala Show' this morning.Singh says that Public Services and Procurement Canada is a highly capable agency, and government should have undertaken the responsibility of administering Canada Student Service Grant on their own instead of giving it away to WE Charity.He says if substantial relevant evidence emerges out of the WE Charity probe, then police should also investigate the issue.About Canada's China policy, he agreed with government's decision to not swap Meng Wanzhou for the two

British Columbia's top doctor says she's pleased a travel ban between Canada and the United States has been extended but anyone seeing American licence plates north of the crossing should not be quick to judge. Dr. Bonnie Henry says some Canadians living in the US may be returning to care for family members and given the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases south of the border it's not surprising they're in BC. The border closure has been extended by another 30 days for a fourth time, to Aug. 21, but Henry says considerations may need to be made for students who contribute to research programs at uni