The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate target on hold at 0.25 per cent, saying economic conditions still require it even if things are going better than anticipated.In a statement, the central bank says it expects economic growth in the first quarter of 2021 to be positive, as opposed to its previous forecast in January for a contraction to start the year.The bank's senior decision-makers say resilience in the economy has to do with consumers and businesses adapting to new rounds of lockdowns and restrictions.The statement also points to a stronger-than-expected housing market as

Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday clarified that barricades at borders of Delhi were strengthened to prevent any possible repeat of conduct displayed on January 26. Union Home Ministry in Rajya Sabha today replied on barbed wire fencing at Delhi borders where roads have been dug up in view of farmers agitation. Home Ministry said the steps were taken after vandalism took place on January 26. "Delhi Police has informed that no road has been dug up at Delhi borders in view of farmers' agitation. However, on 26.01.2021, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha broke the barricades, in violation of pe

BC health officials say it's been one year since the first person in the province has died as a result of COVID-19, and since then there's been almost 1,400 other deaths. A joint statement from Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is reporting 550 new cases today and another two deaths. There are almost 5,000 active cases and of those, 249 people are in hospital, 68 of them in intensive care. There's been another 182 new cases linked to variants of concern for a total of 576 cases, many of them connected to the strain first found in the United Kingdom. Mor

Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in the wake of allegations from Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that have rocked the British royal family. It's the first comment from the palace about the couple's allegations of racism within the Royal Family. Meghan, who is biracial, told Oprah Winfrey that the palace had failed to help her when she had suicidal thoughts. She also alleges an unidentified member of the royal family had expressed concern about how dark her baby's skin would be when she was pregnant with her son, Archie. A statement issued on behalf of the Queen says the issues raised

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment on the Meghan and Harry interview, but said he's not interested in conversations about getting rid of the British monarchy. Asked how he reconciles his support for the monarchy with his stated desire to rid Canada of a legacy of colonialism, Trudeau said many institutions in Canada are built around colonialism and systematic racism, including Parliament, and said the answer is to listen Canadians who face discrimination so that institutions can be fixed. "The answer is not to suddenly toss out all the institutions and start over," Tru

A 33 year old former nanny on Vancouver Island has been handed an eight year prison term. Nanny is going to serve this term for abusing elementary schoolchildren in his care. Jonathan Robichaud was sentenced yesterday in BC Supreme Court in Victoria after pleading guilty last year to several charges related to three children from two Central Saanich families. In addition to the prison term, Robichaud must register as a sexual offender and abide by numerous conditions for 25 years after release, including restrictions on internet use and to stay away from places where children gather. In passi

The Transportation Safety Board says rain on the windshield may have played a part in a fiery helicopter crash in northwestern BC last August that killed the pilot. It happened August 17th near a worksite northwest of Stewart as heavy rain swept over the area where the Aberdeen Helicopters pilot was moving a dismantled drilling rig from one site to another. The TSB says as the rain arrived, the pilot flew out of the work area and tests indicate the helicopter had no mechanical issues and was under full power when GPS co-ordinates show it hit the upper edge of a nearby mountain seconds later a

Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan reached an estimated 17.1 million viewers in the United States on Sunday. That's according to preliminary numbers from the Nielsen company. Winfrey guided the two as they discussed racism and dysfunction inside the royal family in a two-hour special on CBS. Nielsen said it had the largest audience for any prime-time entertainment special so far this television season. In the interview, Meghan said she considered suicide, while Harry said he and his family were "trapped" in an oppressive institution.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the pace of vaccination in Canada is "accelerating significantly." Trudeau told an Ottawa news conference the government is working tirelessly every day to acquire and distribute more doses.Trudeau says half-a-million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine were delivered last week and are being distributed to provinces. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says there's still no firm date for when Johnson & Johnson will send its COVID-19 vaccine to Canada. Health Canada approved the vaccine for use last week but the company has reported production delays could t