As COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential travel within BC are lifted today, police road checks established in the first week of May have also come to an end. RCMP Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet says more than 14,000 vehicles were stopped at the checkpoints set up along several highways on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between May 6th and last weekend. She says just 26 vehicles were told to turn around by police and another 236 voluntarily turned around at the checks established to prevent people from travelling between three regional zones for non-essential reasons. No tickets were handed

The owner of the Budway cannabis dispensary in Vancouver has been ordered to pay 40,000 dollars to Subway for imitating the sandwich chain's branding. The Federal Court ruled the shop was both benefitting from and damaging Subway's brand by infringing on its trademark logo and using a mascot. Justice Nicholas McHaffie described it as ``a submarine sandwich filled with cannabis leaves.'' The pot shop has been ordered to pay 15,000 dollars in damages and 25,000 dollars to cover Subway's legal fees.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spent his last day in Europe thanking leaders and local workers for getting COVID-19 vaccines to Canada.Trudeau visited the Pfizer-BioNTech manufacturing facility in Puurs, Belgium, where Canada's vaccine supply was produced until the United States started shipping doses early last month.His main message to those at the plant was ``Thank you.''Trudeau repeated it multiple times to workers during a brief walking tour of the facility, as well as to Pfizer's managing director.He listened as officials showed the deep freezers where vaccines are stored, then walked up

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal was detained by Punjab Police during a protest against the Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress government on Tuesday. Sukhbir Singh Badal and party workers were protesting outside chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh's residence in Siwan and demanding the dismissal of state health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu and a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged selling of vaccines at an exhorbitant price. "If a storm rises, Captain won't be able to stop it, even if he uses all his force. There is a scam in vaccination, there is a sc

Farmers under the aegis of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee protested against Punjab government in Guruwali Village, Amritsar over the power shortage issue during paddy sowing season. They also burnt effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to show their anger. The committee's secretary said, "We were promised 8 hrs of power supply on 10th June but we're getting only 5-6 hrs of supply. This is affecting our crops".

BC is reporting 68 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest daily rate since last August, as the province prepares to enter the second stage of its restart plan tomorrow. The new cases announced are among 277 diagnosed since Friday for a total of one-thousand-537 active infections, including 136 people who are in hospital. Another four people have died, pushing the death toll in BC to 1,734. Just over 74 per cent of all eligible residents aged 12 and up have now had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine out of more than four million shots administered overall. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provinci

An inquest begins next week to examine the death in police custody of an 18 year old Indigenous woman just hours after she was airlifted to hospital from RCMP cells in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. Jocelyn George died in June 2016 and a report by the Independent Investigations Office cleared RCMP of wrongdoing, finding her death was due to inflammation of the lining around her heart following toxic drug use. The mother of two young children was held in custody because she seemed intoxicated and, at one point, appeared well enough to be released, but deteriorated after being picked up agai

Lieutenant-General Mike Rouleau says his recent golfing trip with former defence chief Jonathan Vance was only an attempt to reach out and quote ``ensure his wellness.'' But Rouleau is apologizing, saying he understands how the activity could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest and controversy. Rouleau has announced he is stepping aside from his role as vice-chief of the defence staff. He will join the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group, which helps members shift into civilian life. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan confirmed in the House of Commons that Lieutenant-General Mike

British Columbians can hit the road again, Premier John Horgan says restrictions are being lifted on travel within the province. Horgan announced the change as he, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and several cabinet ministers confirmed BC is moving to Step Two of its restart plan. That means non-essential travel within the province is allowed, but travel elsewhere in Canada is still not recommended. Starting tomorrow groups of up to 50 can gather outdoors, movie theatres can re-open and sports fans can watch events in person, while masks remain mandatory in indoor public places. Ba