British Columbia reached a record of daily COVID-19 cases today as schools reopened across the province. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 139 new cases for a provincial total of 6,830 since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations also rose to 42, with 14 of those people in intensive care. There are no new deaths and the total number of fatalities remains at 213. Dr. Henry says she understands the first day of school can be an anxious event, especially this year during a global pandemic. She says public health teams are ready to support schools, which will be alerted as soon a

British Columbia's health minister is celebrating a judge's decision against a surgeon advocating for the rights of patients to pay for private medical care. Adrian Dix says it highlights the significant role of the public health-care system as a cornerstone of Canada's identity. Doctor Brian Day challenged the province's Medicare Protection Act, which bans extra billing and private insurance for medically necessary procedures. After a four year trial, a judge ruled that Day and other plaintiffs failed to show patients' rights are being infringed by the act, adding its focus is on equitable a

Victoria police are asking any witnesses to come forward if they have information about a violent sexual assault that happened just north of the downtown core late Monday night. Police say the victim was injured and was treated in hospital after being attacked and then sexually assaulted by an unknown man just after 10 p.m. The victim reports the attacker was 30 to 40 years old, black, about six feet tall and spoke with an East African accent. He also wore a mask, jeans and T-shirt and was pushing an older-style racing bicycle.

Two COVID-19 outbreaks have been declared at high schools in southern Alberta. A letter sent to parents of students at Henry Wise Wood High School from Alberta Health Services says two or more cases have been confirmed at the southwest Calgary school. It says the local medical officer of health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the school and public health is investigating to determine who may have been exposed to the virus. A similar letter was sent to parents with children at Chinook High School in Lethbridge. The letter from the medical officers of health from Lethbridge and Medicine Hat

In a recent development regarding the demolition of Kangana Ranaut’s office building by BMC, we hear now that the actress has been exempted from the 14-day home quarantine rule by the BMC itself. The rule is for people arriving from outside the state. Ranaut arrived in the city on September 9 and has been in the news ever since.According to a senior BMC official, Kangana had made an online application for the exemption of home quarantine as she was on a short visit. The official said that she was exempted under the 'short-term visitor category'. The actress will reportedly be leaving the cit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is offering himself up for questions from Liberal party supporters in a first-of-its-kind virtual fundraiser tonight. Donors ponying up any amount but $25 is what the party suggests get to participate in a mass video link and pose written questions to the Liberal leader.The party says it has received more than 500 questions so far. Montreal MP Rachel Bendayan is moderating the event and will choose which questions to put to Trudeau. Trudeau normally attends multiple fundraisers across the country but the COVID-19 pandemic has put an end to large in-person gatheri

The Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned the plea filed by Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut against the demolition of alleged "illegal alteration" at her property in Mumbai, till September 22. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) today filed its response in the matter, following which Kangana's lawyer sought time to respond to the affidavit.The High Court had yesterday stayed the demolition drive being undertaken by the BMC at Kangana Ranaut's property. Ranaut, through her lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui, had moved the High Court against the demolition of what the BMC termed as "illegal altera

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the quarantine system is "broken" because federal health officers are not charging people ignoring self-isolation orders for COVID-19. Since the end of March, an emergency order under the federal Quarantine Act has required most people arriving from outside Canada to isolate themselves for 14 days, even if they don't have symptoms.Federal quarantine officers can lay charges with penalties of up to six months in jail and fines of $750,000, while police can issue tickets of up to $1,000. Federal health officials say nobody has been arrested for ignoring a quaranti

Canada's election watchdog says former finance minister Bill Morneau broke the law when he promoted Liberal candidates at events he attended while in charge of the finance portfolio.The commissioner of Canada elections says before the last federal election, Morneau pumped up two prospective candidates who were attending separate events he headlined as finance minister.One candidate, Anita Anand, has since gone on to become a cabinet minister herself.Ministers aren't allowed to use taxpayer funds for partisan gain, but there are also provisions in election law that bar anyone but individuals fr