BCMay 18, 2021
Former Liberal minister seeks party leadership after almost decade away from politics
 A former British Columbia government cabinet minister who left politics almost a decade ago to work in the private sector says he's entering the Liberal party's leadership contest.Kevin Falcon announced his leadership bid Monday, saying he wants to rebuild, renew and rename B.C.'s Liberal Party, which has lost its way since the 2017 election.Falcon is the third candidate to enter the Feb. 5, 2022 leadership race, joining Ellis Ross, the Liberal member of the legislature for Skeena, and Gavin Dew, a Vancouver entrepreneur and former Liberal byelection candidate. Liberal transportation critic M
BCMay 18, 2021
1,360 new COVID-19 cases and 14 deaths reported over the weekend in B.C.
 Health officials are reporting 1,360 new cases of COVID-19 over the past three days for an average of 453 each day. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says 14 more people have died, pushing the death toll in BC to 1,648. There are 350 people in hospital with COVID-19, including 132 in intensive care. Dr. Henry says more than 55 per cent of eligible people aged 18 and up have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine and all remaining adults need to book appointments as soon as possible.  British Columbia's provincial health officer says those who received the first dose of the Ox
CanadaMay 17, 2021
Vancouver mayor, police apologize to retired B.C. judge for wrongful detainment
 The mayor of Vancouver says he is "appalled" that police officers wrongfully detained and handcuffed a retired British Columbia Supreme Court justice out for a walk on Friday morning.Kennedy Stewart says in a statement he reached out to apologize to Justice Selwyn Romilly, the first Black person appointed to the court.Vancouver Police Sgt. Steve Addison says officers were dispatched around 9:15 a.m. following reports of a man kicking, punching and spitting at people along the seawall near English Bay.He says officers patrolling the area noticed a man resembling the description of the suspect 
BCMay 15, 2021
B.C. reports lowest increase of COVID-19 cases since mid March
 All British Columbia residents over 25 years old can now book their COVID-19 vaccine, while those 18 and older will be able to do so by the end of the weekend, as the province speeds up its vaccine rollout. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that it's clear vaccines are working, and more people registering will help protect the wider community. B.C. reported 494 new cases of COVID-19 Friday, for a total of 138,304 since the pandemic first began. There were also two new deaths, bringing the toll to 1,634. Dix and Henry say more th
BCMay 14, 2021
23 year old Jaskeert Kalkat identified as victim of Burnaby shooting
 Police say the seventh person to be shot and killed in Metro Vancouver since early last month was a 23 year old man affiliated with gangs. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Jaskeert Kalkat was hit by a barrage of gunfire in the parking lot of a Burnaby mall last night. Sergeant Frank Jang says a man and woman in their 20's who were with Kalkat were also seriously wounded but are expected to survive. Police have no suspects in the latest fatality as escalating gang violence has seen daylight shootings in parks, malls and at the Vancouver International Airport. 
BCMay 14, 2021
1 dead, 2 injured in shooting at Burnaby's Market Crossing 
Burnaby RCMP are investigating a shooting at a shopping complex in Metro Vancouver that left one person dead and two in hospital. Police say they were called to the scene around 8:35 pm Thursday evening following reports of gunshots at Market Crossing. They say their initial investigation shows this shooting ``does not appear to be a random act.''Police say one man they found with gunshot wounds succumbed to his injuries despite all attempts to revive him.They say two other people were also shot and are recovering in hospital. No suspect information was released.The Burnaby Mounties are now wo
BCMay 14, 2021
B.C. reports second case of a person developing a rare blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
 There has been a second case in BC of a person developing a rare blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says it involves a man in his 40's in the Fraser Health region. Dr. Henry says he is receiving treatment and is in stable condition. The case was reported a day after Henry announced that the province would use its remaining stock of the AstraZeneca vaccine for second doses.  Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says no COVID-19 health restrictions will be lifted before the May long weekend even though the infection rate
CanadaMay 13, 2021
Ethics watchdog: PM didn't violate conflict rules over WE Charity, but Morneau did
 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not breach the Conflict of Interest Act over failing to recuse himself from cabinet discussions to have WE Charity operate a federal student-volunteer program, Canada's ethics watchdog say in a report released Thursday. In a separate report, federal ethics commissioner Mario Dion found that former finance minister Bill Morneau did violate the rules and should have recused himself. He says Morneau ``gave WE preferential treatment by permitting his ministerial staff to disproportionately assist it when it sought federal funding.'' Dion says he was asked to inve
CanadaMay 13, 2021
Greyhound Canada to cut all routes, end operations
 Greyhound Canada is permanently cutting all bus routes across the country, shutting down the intercity bus carrier's operations in Canada after nearly a century of service. The motor coach company says its remaining routes in Ontario and Quebec will cease permanently on Thursday. Its American affiliate, Greyhound Lines, Inc., will continue to operate cross-border routes to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver once the border reopens. The decision comes a year after Greyhound Canada temporarily suspended all service due to a sharp decline in passengers and mounting travel restrictions amid the firs