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b-c-clamps-down-on-covid-19-enforcement-with-fines-for-large-party-hosts
BCAug 21, 2020

B.C. clamps down on COVID-19 enforcement with fines for large party hosts

As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to climb in BC, especially among young people, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says a party is ``not worth someone's life.'' Farnworth says $2,000 tickets can now be issued to the owner of a home where a large party is underway or to the organizer of an event such as a drum circle if such gatherings violate health rules. $200 tickets can also be issued to anyone refusing to leave a gathering or who is abusive to staff trying to maintain physical distancing rules. Farnworth says a small minority of people are either wilfully ignorant
80-more-covid-19-cases-reported-in-b-c-one-new-community-outbreak-in-surrey
BCAug 21, 2020

80 more COVID-19 cases reported in B.C., one new community outbreak in Surrey

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.'s deputy provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 80 new cases for a total of 4,825 cases in British Columbia. "There are 780 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,574 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 3,845 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, 11 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, four of whom are in int
liberals-to-replace-cerb-with-new-benefit-simplified-ei-program-at-cost-of-37b
CanadaAug 20, 2020

Liberals to replace CERB with new benefit, simplified EI program at cost of $37B

The federal Liberals are rolling out a $37-billion income-support plan for workers whose earnings have crashed during the pandemic. The details released today outline what will happen to some four million workers receiving the $500 a week Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which is set to wind down starting next month. The CERB will be extended another four weeks, and a new benefit that pays $400 a week for up to 26 weeks will replace it for those ineligible for employment insurance. Anyone eligible for EI will get the same minimum for at least 26 weeks and will need to have worked 120 hours
us-officials-install-cable-barrier-along-canadian-border
CanadaAug 20, 2020

US officials install cable barrier along Canadian border

A cable barrier was installed along a section of the border between Washington state and Canada in an effort to curb ``dangerous criminal enterprises,'' according to a statement from the U.S. Border Patrol Wednesday.KING-TV reports the U.S.-Canada border has been closed to all non-essential travel since March to help limit the spread of the virus.The section of the border near Lynden, Wash., where the barrier is being constructed, has been used as a meeting place for families and friends during the coronavirus pandemic.The new barrier is designed to prevent vehicles either ``accidentally, or
increase-in-covid-testing-centres-and-hours-as-case-count-increases-in-b-c
BCAug 20, 2020

Increase in COVID testing centres and hours as case count increases in B.C.

Testing for COVID-19 is being stepped up as the number of new cases increases in British Columbia. Health Minister Adrian Dix and deputy provincial health officer Dr. Reka Gustafson say new testing centres and extended hours of service have been added in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions. In a joint statement, they say the province can now complete 8,000 tests a day. Another 68 new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the province, bringing the active cases in the province to 798. A total of 4,745 cases have been diagnosed in B.C., while 3,749 people have recovered.
liberals-hand-over-5-000-pages-of-documents-on-we-decision
CanadaAug 19, 2020

Liberals hand over 5,000 pages of documents on WE decision

Thousands of pages of newly released documents back up the Trudeau government's contention that it was federal public servants who recommended a student service grant program be administered by WE Charity.They also suggest bureaucrats may have been nudged to look in that direction by their political masters. The five-thousand-plus pages of government documents were tabled with the finance committee almost two weeks ago.They had not been released to committee members because legal counsel was still vetting them to ensure there were no breaches of cabinet confidences or personal privacy.The doc
83-more-covid-19-cases-reported-in-b-c
BCAug 19, 2020

83 more COVID-19 cases reported in B.C.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.’s deputy provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 83 new cases, for a total of 4,677 cases in British Columbia. "There are 775 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 3,704 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, six individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, three of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. As well, 2,326
trudeau-set-to-move-freeland-to-finance-prorogue-parliament-for-economic-reset
CanadaAug 18, 2020

Cabinet glass ceiling shattered as Chrystia Freeland named finance minister

Canada has its first ever female finance minister. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was sworn in this afternoon at Rideau Hall in a cabinet shuffle that also saw Dominic LeBlanc take over the intergovernmental affairs portfolio. Prime Minister Trudeau usually hugs his cabinet ministers at such ceremonies, instead he gave Freeland and LeBlanc a congratulatory elbow bump. Trudeau has asked Governor General Julie Payette to prorogue Parliament until September 23rd, two days after the House of Commons was initially to resume sitting.
finance-minister-bill-morneau-resigns-plans-to-run-for-head-of-oecd
CanadaAug 18, 2020

Finance Minister Bill Morneau resigns, plans to run for head of OECD

Bill Morneau is resigning as the federal minister of finance and a Liberal MP. Morneau says he is putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next secretary general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he accepted Morneau's resignation earlier Monday and that Canada would ``vigorously support'' his efforts to take on the new role. Morneau has been finance minister since 2015, when the Liberals returned to power. For several weeks, opposition parties have been calling for Morneau's resignation over allegations that he had a con

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b-c-launches-new-forestry-and-emergency-management-testbed-under-look-west-plan
BCDec 16, 2025

B.C. launches new forestry and emergency management testbed under Look West plan

The B.C. government has launched a new Forestry Innovation and Emergency Management Testbed aimed at helping local companies develop and scale technologies to better protect communities from wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. The initiative is part of the province’s Look West economic plan, which focuses on strengthening domestic industries and reducing reliance on external markets. Delivered through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace, the provincewide testbed will allow B.C. businesses to pilot technologies in real-world settings tied to wildfire and flood prevention, f
five-month-nanaimo-rcmp-probe-leads-to-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges
BCDec 16, 2025

Five-month Nanaimo RCMP probe leads to drug trafficking and firearm charges

A five-month investigation by Nanaimo RCMP has resulted in multiple drug and firearm-related charges against two Nanaimo residents, following the seizure of controlled substances, weapons and body armour from a local residence. Police say the investigation began in early November 2024 after general duty officers received information that a home in Nanaimo was being used to traffic illegal drugs. With assistance from the RCMP General Investigation Section and the Projects Drug Unit, officers executed a search warrant at the residence on April 17, 2025. During the search, investigators seized qu
federal-buy-canadian-procurement-rules-take-effect-prioritizing-domestic-industries
CanadaDec 16, 2025

Federal ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement rules take effect, prioritizing domestic industries

The federal government’s new ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement policy came into force today, marking a significant shift in how Ottawa purchases goods and services for major public projects. The policy, announced earlier this fall, is designed to give preference to Canadian-made products and Canadian workers in federal contracting. The government says the approach is aimed at strengthening domestic industries and protecting supply chains during a period of ongoing global trade uncertainty. In its first phase, the policy applies to federal contracts valued at $25 million or more. These projects
AlbertaDec 16, 2025

Inmate convicted in Edmonton prison killing was already serving life sentence for Calgary murder

A man already serving a life sentence for the murder of a Calgary caseworker has been convicted in the killing of a fellow inmate at a maximum-security federal prison in Edmonton. Brandon Newman was found guilty last week of manslaughter in the 2022 stabbing death of 33-year-old Bretton Fisher at the Edmonton Institution. Newman is currently incarcerated for the second-degree murder of Deborah Onwu, a caseworker who was stabbed 19 times at an assisted-living facility in Calgary in 2019. Court heard that tensions escalated inside the prison after Fisher confronted Newman over the earlier killin
heavy-rain-warnings-remain-in-southwest-b-c-as-flood-recovery-continues-in-fraser-valley
BCDec 16, 2025

Heavy rain warnings remain in southwest B.C. as flood recovery continues in Fraser Valley

Residents in parts of southwestern British Columbia are being warned to prepare for more heavy rainfall as cleanup efforts continue following recent flooding in the Fraser Valley. Environment Canada says up to 70 millimetres of rain could fall across areas including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley through Wednesday morning. The forecast comes as floodwaters linked to the Nooksack River in Washington state begin to recede, allowing cleanup operations to start earlier this week in several low-lying Fraser Valley communities. Provincial officials say the flood threat is not over. B.C. Emerg