Highlights from the federal Liberal budget tabled Monday by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland: $30 billion over the next five years, and $8.3 billion ongoing for early learning and child care and Indigenous early learning and child care. The plan would aim to see an average drop in fees next year by 50 per cent for preschooler daycare spaces and an average of $10-a-day care by 2026. $3 billion over five years, starting in 2022-23, to Health Canada to support provinces and territories in improving standards for long-term care. The government says this funding will keep seniors safe and improv

Investigators with the York Regional Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Peel Regional Police, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, dismantled a large-scale international drug trafficking network that extended to Western Canada, the United States and India.In May 2020, officers began an investigation, dubbed Project Cheetah, into a robust network involved in importing large quantities of cocaine, ketamine, heroin and opium into Canada. The drugs were then distributed across the country through a sophisticated system

Canada hit the 10 million milestone this morning for total COVID-19 vaccines administered and is closing in fast on getting a first dose to one in four Canadians. With Ontario reporting almost 67,000 new vaccinations this morning, Canada surpassed the 10 million mark. About 9.1 million people have now received at least one dose, including about 915,000 who have received both required doses. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2021. Though amid these vaccinations Ontario is reporting Ontario is reporting 4,447 new cases of COVID-19 today and 19 more deaths attribute

People in BC 18 years and older are invited this week to register to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry of Health says more than 1.8 million people are eligible to register for vaccines this week through the province's Get Vaccinated program. The ministry says people 40 years old and older are invited to register today, with those 35 and older signing up Tuesday and 30 and older Wednesday. Those 25 and older can register Thursday and 18 and above can sign up Friday. BC Government News on Twitter: NEW: Updated COVID-19 vaccine registration schedule. Find out when it's your turn to re

A wildfire burning near homes in British Columbia's southern interior has prompted the first evacuation alert of B.C.'s barely three-week-old wildfire season. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued the alert for the small community of Canford and for homes in a subdivision about 12 kilometres northwest of Merritt. The BC Wildfire Service says the suspected human-caused blaze was fanned by winds after being sparked on Sunday and now covers an estimated one square kilometre. It is one of about a dozen wildfires reported Sunday from southern Vancouver Island to the Prince George and Cranbr

Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says he has contacted the city's chief of police after several gatherings on the weekend violated COVID-19 health restrictions. In a message posted on social media, Stewart says the Vancouver Police Department will be reassessing its approach to outdoor parties. Large groups of mostly maskless people held impromptu gatherings in parks and on beaches Friday and Saturday as the first warm spell of the year created summer-like conditions. Police can issue tickets and even make arrests if they see gatherings of more than 10 people, but a police spokeswoman says offi

Vancouver police say one man was killed in what they believe was a targeted shooting in a downtown neighbourhood.They say there have been no arrests.Police say they were called to the Coal Harbour area Saturday night after numerous 9-1-1 calls about shots fired.Const. Tania Visintin says the shooting occurred in a public area at about 8:30 p.m. outside Cardero's restaurant near the Coal Harbour Quay.She says the victim died despite efforts by police and emergency officials to save him.Visintin says the popular location of the shooting put innocent people at risk. She says the man's death is V

A Duty Magistrate in Tihar Jail on Sunday said that the remand hearing of the actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, an accused in the Republic Day violence case, will be heard by the concerned magistrate on Monday.Sidhu's lawyer Jasdeep Singh Dhillon said that the Delhi Police has sought four-day police custody of Sidhu, who was arrested on Saturday, in another case related to Republic Day violence.Sidhu's lawyer opposed the police plea. The lawyer further said that the Duty Magistrate in Tihar Jail did not allow the police plea and remanded Sidhu to one-day judicial custody. The magistrate has pu

To tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases, a six-day complete 'corona lockdown' has been imposed in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.The lockdown will be in place from 10 pm today till 5 am on April 26, the Chief Minister added. The restrictions have been announced after a meeting between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today. According to sources, all private offices will work from home and only government offices and essential services will be open.The Lieutenant Governor has instructed the issues of migrant labourers to