Statistics Canada says the economy lost 200,000 jobs in January amid stricter public health rules put in place to slow the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The decrease marks the largest drop since January 2021, when the economy shed 207,800 jobs. The loss also pushed the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent in January compared with 6.0 per cent in December. As Omicron spread across the country, governments reintroduced capacity limits and closures for workplaces such as restaurants and gyms. Statistics Canada says the bulk of the job losses were in Ontario and Quebec, which impleme

B.C. is reporting 1,518 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 329,143 cases in the province.There are 25,554 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 299,657 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 985 COVID-positive individuals are in hospital and 145 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.The new/active cases include:424 new cases in Fraser HealthTotal active cases: 10,057217 new cases in Vancouver Coastal HealthTotal active cases: 5,024431 new cases in Interior HealthTotal active cases: 7,759227 new cases in Northern

Ridge Meadows RCMP is investigating sexual exploitation offences which occurred in Pitt Meadows. In order to advance the investigation, police are confirming the accused’s name and issuing his photo in an effort to locate further witnesses and individuals who may have information.In October of 2021, police received information that a mixed martial arts trainer based out of Pitt Meadows had allegedly sexually exploited a female youth, for several years, during training sessions dating back to 2016.Through the investigation, witness statements indicate the suspect was involved with other femal

RCMP say a Quebec man involved in a crash in Burnaby nearly two years ago that seriously injured his passenger has been arrested in his home province. Police say the man has been returned to BC to face charges related to the June 2020 crash that flipped the Dodge Durango he was driving. Police allege the driver left the scene even though a woman passenger was badly hurt. The 33 year old left BC before charges, including impaired driving and criminal negligence, were laid last May but he was picked up in Laval in January, returned to B-C last week and makes another court appearance today.

Vancouver Police and Metro Vancouver Transit Police are investigating after more than two dozen windows were broken on buses driving through the Downtown Eastside."We believe someone may be launching projectiles at buses as they travel along East Hastings Street in the Downtown Eastside," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "The frequency of these incidents is increasing and we’re worried someone could get hurt."Twenty-six windows have been broken since January 17, and investigators believe whoever is launching the projectiles is likely doing so from outside the buses."In each of these cases

A 90-day driving prohibition, 30-day vehicle impoundment, and fines and costs climbing into the thousands are among a host of consequences a 19-year-old North Van driver is facing after hitting 225 km/h in an 80 km/h zone in North Van last weekend."He failed a roadside screening test for alcohol as well," said Sgt. Peter DeVries of the North Vancouver RCMP. "This was an extreme example of recklessness and disregard for the safety of other people."The driver was travelling on the upper levels highway near Westview when a North Vancouver RCMP officer captured the vehicle speed on radar. "The dri

Police in Essex, England, say a 19-year-old British Columbia woman has been murdered and a man is under arrest. A statement from Essex Police says 19 year old Ashley Wadsworth of Vernon died Tuesday, shortly after officers were called to a disturbance at a home in Chelmsford, northeast of London. A 23 year old man was arrested at the scene and police say he has been charged with murder. Jack Sepple, who lived at the address where Wadsworth died, was charged Thursday. Police said he was expected to appear in Colchester Magistrates' Court later in the day. Detectives in Essex have released littl

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a military response to the ongoing Ottawa protest against COVID-19 measures isn’t on the table at the moment. He says there were questions a few years ago regarding using the military to end other protests that were blocking critical infrastructure. He says his answer is the same today as it was then.Trudeau adds there has been no such request made to the federal government for military intervention. Trudeau says the federal priority remains "being there for the citizens of Ottawa." Trudeau says one must be "very, very cautious" about deploying troops on Ca

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he looks forward to speaking with Conservative MP Candice Bergen and congratulating her on her new role as the party's interim leader. But Trudeau says he also plans to highlight the importance of cross-party co-operation and support for public health measures. Bergen's predecessor, ousted Tory leader Erin O'Toole, struggled to bring his caucus together on issues like vaccine mandates. Manitoba MP Candice Bergen is the new interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Conservative MPs chose Bergen for the role in a secret ballot Wednesday night after vo