Ontario is extending a period of lower hydro rates as well as its emergency orders.The orders, which were set to expire today, include the closure of non-essential businesses, the prohibition of public gatherings of more than five people, and the closure of outdoor amenities such as playgrounds.They have now been extended for another two weeks, to May 19.Ontario's overall declaration of a state of emergency was extended last month to May 12.The government also says that it will extend lower electricity rates for residential consumers, farms and small businesses to May 31. An initial order fro

BC is reporting only eight new cases of COVID-19 but four new deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says that brings the total number of cases to 2,232 and 121 deaths. Henry says there are now active outbreaks at 22 long-term care centres but the one at Lynne Valley the first major outbreak in the province is over. She says the province has put the brakes on COVID-19 but it's too early for people to start planning play dates and expanding their social connections.

Canada's chief public health officer says the daily increase of COVID-19 cases in Canada has slowed to about three per cent. Dr. Theresa Tam says that trend, coupled with statistics showing the percentage of tests coming back positive is going down, even as the number of tests goes up, signifies that the epidemic in Canada is slowing down. Meanwhile, Tam says the pediatric network in Canada is monitoring children for signs of the inflammatory syndrome known as Kawasaki disease, which some countries have found in some children with COVID-19. But Tam says there are no firm conclusions in Canada

The B.C. Wildfire Service is launching its new wildfire app, aimed at providing consistent, accurate and timely information about wildfires when they occur.A statement from the wildfire service says the app can provide real-time wildfire information and an interactive map that can be customized to display specific data.It could include everything from current fire danger ratings, active fires and evacuation orders or alerts to BC Parks closures and advisories or closures listed on DriveBC, the province's website providing road conditions.The map can also be customized to provide a ``near me''

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising a $252 million aid package for Canada's agriculture and food industries in the COVID-19 pandemic.He says $77 million of that will go to measures to keep workers in food processing safe with protective equipment and by supporting physical distancing in workplaces.Meat-packing plants, in particular, have seen large outbreaks of the virus that causes COVID-19.The package includes money for beef and pork producers holding animals they can't sell, a credit program for the dairy industry and a $50 million fund to buy food that spoils and send it to groups

British Columbia is reporting 53 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths since Saturday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. now has a total of 2,224 positive COVID-19 cases, with 1,417 people having recovered. She says the provincial death total is now at 117 people. Henry says the three most recent deaths are people who were residents of long-term care centres. She says B.C.'s most recent COVID-19 modelling data continues to show dramatic decreases in cases since the province introduced physical distancing and other measures in March to slow the spread of the virus, but it cont

World leaders are pledging billions of dollars for research into a vaccine against the new coronavirus.During a video conference of leaders this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged $850 million to bolster international efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and treatment, as well as to aid developing countries.UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says the funding target of $11.5 billion to help find a vaccine, new treatments and better tests for the disease would be merely a downpayment on the tools that will be needed to fight the virus.

A much anticipated new phase in the COVID-19 pandemic starts today with several provinces beginning the process of slowly loosening some of their lockdown restrictions.Quebec, which accounts for more than half of Canada's coronavirus cases, including deaths from the illness, is reopening retail stores outside Montreal while those in the greater Montreal area are to reopen on May 11.Ontario, the other epicentre for the virus, is allowing a small list of mostly seasonal businesses to reopen, including garden centres with curbside pick-ups, lawn care and landscaping companies, and automatic car w

The RCMP say the bodies of two children have been recovered after an accident in a rural part of Chilliwack, B.C.Sgt. Krista Vrolyk said police were called Sunday afternoon after a side-by-side vehicle went off Foley Creek Forest Service Road, east of downtown.She said five people, all believed to be related, were in the vehicle when it became submerged in water about 4.5 metres deep.Two adults and a child escaped from the vehicle, but two youths went missing, and a dive team was sent in to search for them.In a statement issued late Sunday night, Sgt. Vrolyk said ``It is with deep sorrow, tha