An inquiry into money laundering in BC has been told that efforts in 2017 to control the illegal practice at casinos across the province created a ``ghost town effect'' but only for a few weeks. Daryl Tottenham, manager of anti-money laundering programs for the BC Lottery Corporation testified this morning that the crackdown led to a dramatic reduction in casino revenues for two or three weeks. He says all gamblers, not just the high-end players stayed away, but the chill lifted quickly. Commissioner Austin Cullen is leading the inquiry which was launched by the NDP government after reports t

Federal political leaders are calling on Canadians to find different ways to remember the sacrifices of the country's war veterans, despite the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a speech today marking Veterans' Week and Remembrance Day in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted how many Canadians have been supporting veterans throughout the pandemic by delivering groceries and helping them in other ways. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says Remembrance Day this year can be marked by watching online services, holding veterans in prayers or by simply wearing a poppy, even

Following a transatlantic media backlash, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron today. Trudeau has been criticized in both countries for not speaking forcefully enough to defend freedom of expression in response to last week's murder of three people in a church in Nice. The prime minister had earlier waited more than a week after a French school teacher was beheaded before expressing solidarity with France. And after the recent knife attack, Trudeau hedged his condemnation by stressing that free speech has its limits. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Fran

Joe Biden's campaign is expressing optimism at the ultimate result of the election but warning supporters to ``stay patient and stay calm'' as vote counting continues. Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon said Thursday on a briefing call with reporters that ``the story of today is going to be a very positive story'' for their campaign, but cautioned that as the counting continues, ``we need to allow it to get done and get done well.'' She says the campaign expects their lead to fluctuate in some states as more votes come in. O'Malley Dillon also charged that legal challenges by Presiden

City council will wait until early 2021 before deciding whether Vancouver should make a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics. In a message posted on social media, Coun. Melissa De Genova says she successfully delayed her motion until sometime in March 2021. She says the delay will allow time for a staff report on the merits of hosting the Games, and give the public a chance to register to speak on the issue. Council voted seven to four in favour of the referral request. De Genova put forward her original motion earlier this year calling on council to explore the merits of an Olympic bid but the e

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are reporting 335 new cases, including seven epi-linked cases, for a total of 16,135 cases in British Columbia. "There are 3,120 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 7,133 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 12,659 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, 92 individuals are hospitalized with CO

Democrat Joe Biden has carried Michigan and its 16 electoral votes, further dismantling Donald Trump's Rust Belt wall of support that helped deliver him the presidency four years ago. The flip from red back to blue was a huge blow to Trump, whose victories in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in 2016 sent him to the White House. Biden also carried Wisconsin, though Pennsylvania hasn't been called yet. Biden's victory in Michigan pushes him to 264 Electoral College votes, six short of the 270 needed to win the White House. Trump is at 214 electoral votes. Nevada, which has six electoral vot

Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump in battleground Wisconsin, securing the state's 10 electoral votes and reclaiming a key part of the blue wall that slipped away from Democrats four years ago. The Associated Press called Wisconsin for Biden after election officials in the state said all outstanding ballots had been counted, save for a few hundred in one township and an expected small number of provisional ballots. Trump's campaign has requested a recount. Statewide recounts in Wisconsin have historically changed the vote tally by only a few hundred votes. Biden leads by .624 perce

While the City of Surrey has and continues to find ways to mitigate economic pressures created by COVID-19, the pandemichas nevertheless created a strain on the City’s finances. Today, the City of Surrey welcomes and is grateful for the nearly $15 million in federal and provincial funding from the COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant for Local Governments. "The City of Surrey has been working hard to safely navigate through the turbulent waters created by COVID-19," saidMayor Doug McCallum. "The $15 million in funding today helps to stabilize the sound foundation we have built for the city’s fiscal