British Columbia crossed the 3,000 mark for cases of COVID-19 as health officials reported 18 new infections and three more deaths on Wednesday. The total number of cases stood at 3,008. There have been a total of 186 deaths. Health officials said in a statement that B.C. has 162 active cases of COVID-19 and 2,660 people who tested positive have recovered. The government says while there are no active outbreaks, new cases and community exposure to the virus continue.

The Liberals are projecting the deficit will soar to $343.2 billion in 2020-2021 due to pandemic relief programs.That is a historic level and 43-billion-dollars beyond even the highest private sector predictions.Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the government expects nearly two-million Canadians will remain out of work this year as the COVID-19 pandemic drags down the economy.In the event of a second wave of infections, the government is forecasting a deeper and longer-lasting negative impact on the economy. The COVID-19 fiscal snapshot: By the numbersEstimated federal deficit for 2020-21:

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says if the Rideau Hall intruder had been a person of colour the outcome would have been different. Military reservist and Manitoba businessman Corey Hurren is in an Ottawa jail facing 22 charges for allegedly carrying weapons and making a threat against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Police say they arrested Hurren early on July 2, about 200 metres from Trudeau's front door, after he allegedly rammed his pickup truck through gates at Rideau Hall and then ran with a loaded gun through the grounds towards Trudeau's residence. Singh says systemic racism is at play when H

British Columbia health officials announced 12 new infections of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the government extended the provincial state of emergency for two more weeks. The government says the province has had 2,990 cases of COVID-19 in total. The province has 162 active cases and 2,645 people who tested positive have recovered from the illness. The statement says there have been no new COVID-19 related deaths and the number of people who have died stands at 183. One of the new cases announced on Tuesday is epidemiologically linked, which means public health investigations have shown that it mee

The parliamentary budget office says it could cost more than $98 billion to provide almost all Canadians with a basic income for six months beginning this fall.That figure is the upper range of the scenarios the budget watchdog was asked to research as part of a report out this morning.The idea of providing a basic income to Canadians has taken on more steam as millions have watched their jobs or earnings evaporate in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the federal spending of about $174 billion to provide a financial floor for individuals and businesses.The cost for the federal government could range

British Columbia is reporting six more deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic with all those who died in long term care. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says four deaths were in the Vancouver Coastal health region and two were in Fraser Health. One person died in June but that death has now been attributed to the virus. The total number of people who have died due to COVID-19 in B.C. stands at 183. There have been 31 new cases of the novel coronavirus since Friday. The province has recorded a total of 2,978 cases of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is taking a pass on a meeting this week with U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.Trudeau's office says he wishes the two countries and their leaders well but Trudeau will remain in Ottawa for a cabinet retreat and a scheduled sitting of Parliament.Lopez Obrador is travelling to D.C. in part to celebrate the entry-into-force of the new North American free-trade deal and had expressed hope Trudeau would join as well.Trudeau's office says the prime minister will continue to work with both countries to ensure the agreement be

The B.C. government reported an additional 13 cases of COVID-19 on Friday. The additions bring the total number of cases in the province to 2,947, with 162 listed as active. The province did not report any additional deaths. There have been a total of 177 deaths in British Columbia related to the novel coronavirus. The government says six cases that were previously reported in the overall total have been removed from B.C.'s statistics because they were identified as residents of another province. It says those cases will be reported in their home province, which is consistent with regular pro

A man who allegedly drove a pickup truck through the gates of Rideau Hall in Ottawa now faces charges, but police are still not saying anything about his motive. He is identified as 46 year old Corey Hurren, a member of the military reserves. He was arrested by RCMP not far from the front door of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's current residence. Trudeau was not there when the alleged incident occurred on Thursday morning. The RCMP say Hurren had several weapons on him, including at least one gun. He faces 22 charges, including one for uttering threats. The rest are weapons charges. He appears