CanadaSep 16, 2020
If forced, holding an election would not be an irresponsible act: PM Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is making clear he doesn't want to be on the campaign trail this fall. At the same time, Trudeau says holding an election campaign, if one was forced on Canadians, would not be an irresponsible act. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is warning Canadians that we aren't immune as countries in Europe and elsewhere see a steady rise in new COVID-19 infections. Trudeau says we've come too far to give up now. He is urging Canadians to follow public health guidelines and stay vigilant. Trudeau is wrapping up a two-day cabinet retreat today. Cabinet meetings included talk of
BCSep 16, 2020
BC's inflation rate stayed static in August at 0.2%
Lower prices for gas and air travel helped push the cost of living down last month, keeping inflation pegged at 0.1 per cent across Canada in August, the same as July. BC's rate also stayed static in August at 0.2%, identical to the July setting. The cost of living in Victoria edged down to 0.1 per cent in August from 0.3 % in July but inflation in Vancouver remained in negative territory at -0.2 up from -0.3 per cent the month earlier. Sluggish inflation means the Bank of Canada will hold its interest rate at 0.25% the lowest possible, in hopes people will borrow and spend, propelling the cos
BCSep 16, 2020
B.C. nurses will be able prescribe drugs in OD fight
Registered and psychiatric nurses in British Columbia will be able to prescribe safer drugs for people at risk of overdose under a new public health order. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry's order comes as B.C. experiences a record number of monthly overdose deaths with border closings during the COVID-19 pandemic being blamed for putting more toxic drugs on the streets. Henry says new nursing standards will be introduced, along with training, education and access to expert consultation.More than 5,000 people have fatally overdosed in B.C. since the province declared a public health
BCSep 16, 2020
Some parts of B.C. enjoy better air quality but southern regions still affected
Smoky skies have cleared slightly in parts of British Columbia but Environment Canada is maintaining air quality statements for the entire southern third of the province.For the first time in days, the weather office lifted smoky skies bulletins for all areas north of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and Thompson regions.But it says wildfire smoke carried north from blazes in Washington state, Oregon and California is expected to continue blanketing southern B.C. at least until later this week.The province's air quality health index reflected a brief improvement in conditions early Wednes
CanadaSep 16, 2020
Consumer price index in August hits 0.1 per cent, Statistics Canada says
Statistics Canada says the consumer price index in August was up 0.1 per cent compared with a year ago.The annual inflation rate was unchanged from the year-over-year increase of 0.1 per cent in July. The average economist estimate had been for a year-over-year increase of 0.4 per cent for August, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv. Gasoline prices remained down 11.1 per cent compared to August 2019, following a 14.9 per cent decline recorded in July.Excluding gasoline from the inflation calculations, the consumer price index rose by 0.6 per cent in August. Prices, though, wer
BCSep 16, 2020
About 3,000 people in B.C. under COVID-19 monitoring, 97 new positive cases
BC is reporting 97 new cases of COVID-19 and no additional deaths, leaving the death toll at 219. Heath officials say a new outbreak has been detected at the Opal retirement residence in Vancouver, meaning 11 long-term care or assisted-living facilities have ongoing outbreaks. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has ticked up to 63. There are 1,590 active cases in BC, while 3,000 people remain under active monitoring by public health workers after exposure to known cases.
WorldSep 15, 2020
Hurricane Sally crawling towards northern Gulf Coast, Alabama Gov. urges people to flee low-lying areas
The US National Hurricane Center says parts of Alabama and the Florida panhandle could see historic flooding when hurricane Sally makes landfall near the Alabama-Mississippi state line sometime today or early tomorrow. The Category 1 storm is crawling toward the northern Gulf Coast at just three kilometres per hour. Forecasters say some places could be inundated with almost two metres of water. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is urging residents near Mobile Bay and low-lying areas near rivers to evacuate if conditions still permit a safe escape from Hurricane Sally.
CanadaSep 15, 2020
Canada no longer announcing retaliatory counter-measures, reserves the right to take action if necessary: Mary Ng
International Trade Minister reserves the right to take action if necessaryis praising the Team Canada approach to fighting the tariff. Ng says Canada will no longer be announcing its own suite of retaliatory counter-measures but it reserves the right to take action if necessary. International Trade Minister Mary Ng says it's a good day for Canada's aluminum industry. And Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says things are back to where they should be. The comments come after the United States stepped back from a tariff dispute with Canada and is lifting a 10 per cent levy on aluminum. The
BCSep 15, 2020
Cleanup is underway after train derailment in British Columbia
Clean-up is underway along CN Rail tracks just west of Hope where a train derailed early yesterday morning. CN says no one was hurt when about 60 cars jumped the tracks at a rail bridge, dumping tons of potash into Hunter Creek. Environmental crews are at the scene, along with Transportation Safety Board investigators, and a vacuum truck is being used to remove the potash. CN says the CP train was on its tracks because the two companies share tracks through the narrow Fraser Canyon region.