Unemployment continues to edge downward in BC and across the country, as Canada tries to shed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics Canada says 378,000 mainly full-time jobs were added last month, lowering the national jobless rate to nine per cent from 10.2 per cent in August. Unemployment reached a record-high of 13.7 per cent during the height of the pandemic in May and while September's number is encouraging, Stats Can says it would have been 11.9 per cent last month if people who wanted a job, but didn't look for work had been included in the calculation. In BC, more people ea

The federal government is boosting funding for food banks across the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the government is adding another 100 million dollars to the Emergency Food Security Fund for food banks and Indigenous organizations. The first 100 million dollars in funding provided an estimated six-million meals to two-million people across the country. The money will help organizations like the Salvation Army and Food Banks Canada meet the surge in demand for their services caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the height of the first wave back in

Deputy chief public health officer Dr. Howard Njoo says Canada is at a crisis point in the COVID-19 pandemic. He's cancelled his Thanksgiving plans with his son and says even close family members should stay apart if they don't live together. New restrictions go into effect tomorrow in Toronto, neighbouring Peel Region and Ottawa as COVID-19 infections continue to soar in Ontario. For at least 28 days there will be no indoor dining at restaurants and bars. The province is also shutting down gyms, movie theatres and casinos and asking people in those areas to leave their homes only for essenti

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will provide direct help to businesses to help them offset the cost of rent.He says a revamped commercial rent-relief program will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible expenses for companies, and up to 90 per cent for those subject to localized lockdowns.The government also says today that it will cover up to 65 per cent of eligible wages through its subsidy program, but only until the end of December, and expand a well-used loan program by providing an additional $10,000 that could be forgivable.

COVID-19 numbers continue to surge in Ontario, Quebec ahead of Thanksgiving weekend Canada's largest province is reporting the most new cases of COVID-19 it's had in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic. Ontario has announced 797 new cases of the virus, and Health Minister Christine Elliott says 57 per cent of those infected are people under the age of 40. Quebec's surging numbers continue with 1,078 new cases. The province is also reporting nine more deaths, and Premier Francois Legault says hospitalizations have increased by 16. Legault says his government was right to recently

The federal and Ontario governments are each chipping in more than $250 million to mass produce electric vehicles and the batteries that power them at Ford Motor Co.'s plant in Oakville, Ont. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are to announce the joint investment today. It is part of a three-year agreement worth nearly $2 billion that was announced last month between the automaker and Unifor, the union that represents autoworkers in Canada.The Oakville plant employs 3,400 Ford workers and Unifor president Jerry Dias has said retooling the plant to produce electric veh

As of tomorrow, romantic partners of more than one year, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren and those seeking entry on compassionate grounds can apply to enter Canada. Ottawa is lifting cross-border travel restrictions for a wider range of family members. Specific details on who qualifies, what documents are required and how to apply will be released tomorrow. The closure of the border between Canada and the U-S has left many couples and families stranded on opposite sides for the past eight months.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says when Health Canada approves a COVID-19 vaccine, it will be free for all Canadians. Trudeau made the pledge today after N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh told the House of Commons Canadians are concerned about whether they will have to pay to be inoculated against the deadly virus. But how the vaccine will be distributed and who will receive it first is still unclear. Trudeau told the Commons a committee of experts will counsel the government on how to fairly distribute vaccines to everyone.

Canada's defence minister is calling out China over what he describes as its ``hostage diplomacy'' and says the NATO military alliance needs to keep tabs on the increasingly assertive Asian giant. Harjit Sajjan's comments came during a online panel discussion with counterparts from Slovakia and Latvia as two Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor remain in Chinese custody. The two Michaels were arrested in apparent retaliation for Canadian authorities' having detained Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in December 2018 to face fraud charges in the United States. Sajjan said China