The BC legislature resumes today with a throne speech, one week before the NDP's next budget at roughly the midway point of the minority government's mandate. Premier John Horgan says the elimination of Medical Service Plan premiums, more child care options and raises in the minimum wage are among his government's achievements, but more needs to be done to improve affordability. He says the government often hears about gas prices and cellphone charges and promises those issues will be addressed in the throne speech. Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson says the NDP has been downplaying

A second Canadian plane carrying evacuees from Wuhan, China landed at CFB Trenton, Ontario this morning with 185 passengers aboard.As was the case with passengers from the first Canadian flight, and those who got out on a US government plane, the passengers will be quarantined for two weeks.So far, no one in the first two sets of passengers has shown any symptoms of the new coronavirus.One of them, 25-year-old Myriam Larouche says her private room at Yukon Lodge, a motel on the base, has a fridge, a microwave, a T-V and an ensuite bathroom.Meals are delivered to her door and she is allowed ou

After an initial lead on many seats and continued suspense at poll centres, only 8 BJP candidates were able to emerge victorious from their respective constituencies as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept almost two-third seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.Among eight candidates, two BJP sitting MLAs- Vijender Gupta and OP Sharma were comfortably able to retain their seats.Gupta defeated AAP's Rajesh Nama Bansiwala by a margin of 12,648 votes while OP Sharma won against Deepak Singla from by 16,457 votes.Jagdish Pradhan, who was among three BJP MLAs who won 2015 polls along with Gupta and Sharma, l

Western Forest Products says a tentative agreement has been reached with the United Steelworkers union to end a strike that began at the company's Vancouver Island operations just over seven months ago.A statement released by the company says the deal still needs ratification, but the union's bargaining committee has advised it will be recommending acceptance.About 3,000 employees and contractors at Western Forest Products facilities in several Vancouver Island communities have been off the job since July 1. Mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers were working with the two sides, but booked o

Police made 33 arrests at the Port of Vancouver at Hastings and Clark streets Monday as they enforced an injunction against protesters blocking access to the site. The stage is set for a possible confrontation between police and anti-pipeline protesters blocking access to four ports in the Vancouver area. Yesterday the protesters were served with a court injunction ordering them to stop blocking access to four ports in the Vancouver area or face arrest but the protesters say they intend to stand their ground. The protesters are acting in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs, who are

An eighth Canadian is among the 66 fresh cases of the new coronavirus detected aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship under quarantine in Japan. All affected passengers and crew have been transported to Japanese hospitals. None of the 213 Canadians flown out of Wuhan, China last week is showing any symptoms of the virus while in quarantine at CFB Trenton, Ontario. Another 236 Canadians are hoping to board a plane due to leave Wuhan today.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned as to why the Election Commission (EC) has still not released the final voter turnout for the Delhi Assembly elections. "Absolutely shocking. What is EC doing? Why are they not releasing poll turnout figures, several hours after polling?" the Chief Minister said in a tweet. The polling for 70-seat of Delhi Assembly took place on Saturday. The counting for votes will be done on February 11. Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 61 per cent in the hard-fought Assembly election with the polling having picked up pace in the evening on Satu

A judge has ordered the Metro Vancouver city of Surrey to immediately stop ticketing and fining Uber drivers. The city had been issuing $500 tickets to drivers, arguing that they were operating without a business licence. However, Uber claimed in court that drivers held the appropriate provincial permits and Surrey had not created a municipal licence that its drivers could apply for. Uber filed for an injunction against Surrey and a British Columbia Supreme Court judge ruled in favour of the ride-hailing company. Justice Veronica Jackson also ordered that the city pay Uber's court costs. Surre

A plane carrying Canadians from Wuhan, China, has landed at a military base in Ontario where they will spend 14 days under quarantine. The evacuation flight was arranged by the Canadian government. All of Canada's evacuees will stay at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ontario, where they will be monitored for the virus that has caused hundreds of deaths in Wuhan. Several governments have arranged similar flights including the U.S. and are requiring quarantines for the maximum incubation period of the virus to prevent local outbreaks.