British Columbia is reporting 43 new COVID-19 cases, but no new deaths. A joint statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. now has a total of 1,618 COVID-19 cases. The statement says 119 people are in hospital with 52 of those people in intensive care. It says 966 people have recovered from COVID-19. Earlier Friday, Henry and Dix released modelling data showing B.C. is flattening the COVID-19 curve to the point where plans are underway to loosen some provincial restrictions.

Ottawa is going to spend $1.7 billion to help clean up orphaned wells.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says dealing with abandoned oil and gas wells is good for the environment, landowners and for the thousands of workers needed to do the job.He's also announced the government is creating a $700 fund to cut methane emissions.In addition, $962 million in funding is in the works for regional development agencies to help more businesses.

B.C. is reporting two new outbreaks of COVID-19, one at a long-term care facility in Cranbrook and one at an acute care unit at the Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge. In a statement, the province said new cases have also been identified at four long-term care facilities where outbreaks had previously been declared over. Outbreaks are now confirmed at 26 long term care and assisted-living facilities and one acute care unit in the province. There have been three additional deaths in B.C., bringing the provincial death toll to 78, along with 14 new confirmed cases of the disease for a total

An inmate has died from an apparent complication related to COVID-19 at a prison in British Columbia. Correctional Service Canada says in a statement it is the first death related to the novel coronavirus among federally sentenced inmates. It says in a statement the inmate died at Abbotsford Regional Hospital Wednesday. The correctional service says the inmate, who has not been identified, was serving time at Mission Institute where 54 people have tested positive for the virus. It says the inmate's next of kin has been notified and the BC Coroners Service will review the circumstances of deat

WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 1,700 pilots as the company continues to struggle with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.The Air Line Pilots Union says 700 employees received layoff notices effective May 1, with 1,000 more kicking in on June 1, depending on seniority.The layoffs come amid an ongoing collapse of global travel triggered by border shutdowns and tanking demand, with WestJet and Air Canada slashing the vast majority of their flights through April and May.WestJet calls the impact ``colossal'' and says the layoffs are a ``last resort'' that make up part of broader cost re

British Columbia is reporting three more deaths and 44 new cases of COVID-19 today. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says one of those deaths represents the first in the Interior Health region, a man in his 60s who had been recovering at home. The province's death toll is now up to 75 and the total number of cases is 1,561. Henry says 131 people are in hospital, including 59 in critical or intensive care, while 955 people in B.C. have recovered from the disease. She says three additional cases have been identified amid an ongoing outbreak at a West Kelowna nursery, where 26 people h

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government is expanding to Canadian Emergency Response Benefit to people who earn some income, seasonal workers and those who have run out of EI.He says people who earn up to $1,000 per month will soon be able to access the benefit.The prime minister says the government also plans to top up the pay of essential workers less than $2,500 per month.He says that includes many people who work in long-term care homes.

Canada Border Services Agency is temporarily scaling back opening hours at several of what it describes as ``low traffic'' crossings along the border with the United States.In all, 27 ports are affected; three in British Columbia, two in Alberta, eight in Saskatchewan, six in Manitoba and eight in Quebec.The western crossings and two in Quebec will open later and close earlier while six other Quebec ports usually open around the clock will operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.Revised hours take effect at midnight and Canada Border Services says the changes which are related to COVID-19 measures w

British Columbia has had three more deaths from COVID-19, all of them in long-term care homes, bringing the total number of fatalities in the province to 72. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, says 27 new cases of the disease have been confirmed. That brings the total number of cases of COVID-19 in B.C. to 1,517. She says 942 people have recovered from the illness.