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BCOct 06, 2020

BC government encourages residents to write a will

It's Make a Will week across BC as the provincial government encourages residents to write a will or bring an existing one up-to-date. BC responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with legislation in August that makes it easier to create wills which can be signed electronically and stored online. A spokeswoman for a Toronto-based online estate planning platform says almost two-thirds of B-C residents are thinking more about emergency preparedness because of the pandemic. But data shows only 38 per cent of B-C residents have an up-to-date will and 90 per cent of millennials don't have a will at all.
inpatient-admissions-suspended-at-delta-hospital-due-to-covid-19-outbreak
BCOct 05, 2020

Inpatient admissions suspended at Delta Hospital due to COVID-19 outbreak

The hospital in Delta., B.C., is not admitting new inpatients due to an outbreak of COVID-19, though the emergency department remains open and all scheduled surgeries will continue. The Fraser Health Authority, which operates Delta Hospital, says patients requiring care outside those units will not be admitted ``for the time being'' in order to protect them from the risk of transmission. Dr. Elizabeth Brodkin, chief medical health officer at Fraser Health, says 18 patients and 17 staff have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the outbreak first identified on Sept. 16. She says seven patients have
liberals-promise-10-lane-bridge-over-fraser-river-would-dump-ndp-massey-tunnel-plan
BCOct 05, 2020

Liberals promise 10-lane bridge over Fraser River, would dump NDP Massey Tunnel plan

The B.C. Liberals are promising to resurrect their previous plan when in government to build a 10-lane bridge over the Fraser River to replace the aging Massey Tunnel in Metro Vancouver. Leader Andrew Wilkinson says the Liberals, if elected on Oct. 24, will dump the NDP's long-delayed eight-lane tunnel proposal and start immediate on construction of the 10-lane bridge to replace the current tunnel. Wilkinson says the bridge project will relieve the largest traffic bottleneck in Western Canada. Wilkinson says the 10-lane bridge proposed by the Liberals when they were in government back in 2013
lottery-system-for-popular-parent-grandparent-visa-program-reinstated-for-this-year
CanadaOct 05, 2020

Lottery system for popular parent, grandparent visa program reinstated for this year

A popular immigration program that allows people to sponsor their parents or grandparents to come to Canada is reverting to a lottery system.Federal Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the relaunch of the parent and grandparent program today, saying it will open for applications on Oct. 13. It ordinarily opens in January but was delayed this year as officials sought to revamp the system after a first-come, first-served approach buckled under excessive demand last year. A lottery system had been used before that but it led to widespread frustration that people's efforts to bring the
BCOct 05, 2020

Penticton, B.C., man accused in 4 deaths to plead guilty: defence

The lawyer for a man accused in a shooting that left four people dead in Penticton, B.C., says his client plans to plead guilty next week. John Brittain was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder after the shooting in April last year. Rudi Winter, Barry and Susan Wonch and Darlene Knippelberg were all killed. Defence lawyer Paul McMurray told a B.C. Supreme Court judge hearing the case in Kelowna that he's expecting Brittain to plead guilty to all four indictments in court on Oct. 14. Brittain was a former city employee whom Penticton Mayor John
CanadaOct 05, 2020

Greens slam other parties for refusing to show 'leader's courtesy' to Annamie Paul

Former Green leader Elizabeth May slammed the New Democrats this morning for refusing stand down their candidate in a coming byelection so the first Black woman elected to lead a federal party in Canada can win a seat. Annamie Paul is the new leader of the Green party after winning on the eighth ballot of the contest Saturday. Paul says she is not surprised none of the other parties will offer what's sometimes called "leader's courtesy" in the upcoming byelection in Toronto Centre but that she is used to overcoming obstacles. But May says in 2019, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said it was "classy"
BCOct 05, 2020

Elections BC clears Liberal candidate of NDP claims of vote-by-mail corruption

Elections BC has wrapped up an investigation into allegations of corrupt voting by a Liberal candidate, saying it found no evidence to shore up the claims.A probe was launched earlier this week after a complaint from the NDP saying the campaign for Liberal candidate Garry Thind was gathering personal information to illegally request vote-by-mail packages.It's illegal to obtain a ballot on behalf of another voter.A statement from Elections BC says it found no evidence of improper vote-by-mail package requests.It says the complaint against Thind, the candidate in district of Surrey-Fleetwood, h
liberal-leaders-promise-to-put-hold-on-surrey-police-move-away-from-rcmp-criticized
BCOct 05, 2020

Liberal leader's promise to put hold on Surrey police move away from RCMP criticized

An election promise by British Columbia Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to intervene in the city of Surrey's transition away from the RCMP is drawing fire. Wilkinson has promised an elected Liberal government would freeze the transition to the independent police force and hold a referendum to put the final choice in the hands of Surrey residents. Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum was elected on the promise of changing the police force and says in a statement he's appalled the Liberal leader would stoop to this level of desperation to garner votes. McCallum says the B.C. Liberals decision to interfer
b-c-has-161-new-cases-of-covid-19-on-friday-three-additional-deaths
BCOct 03, 2020

B.C. has 161 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, three additional deaths

British Columbia announced 161 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and three additional deaths related to the virus. In a statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say there are 1,302 active cases in the province. 63 people were being treated in hospital, with 16 of them in intensive care. The province has had a total of 9,381 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began and the number of people who have died stood at 238. The statement says there were 3,114 people being monitored because they have been exposed to a known case. On Thursday, Henry

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carney-says-new-oil-pipeline-would-require-emissions-plan-indigenous-consultation
BCMay 20, 2026

Carney says new oil pipeline would require emissions plan, Indigenous consultation

Prime Minister Mark Carney says any future oil pipeline connecting Alberta to the British Columbia coast would depend on conditions including a major emissions-reduction project, economic benefits for B.C., and constitutionally required consultation with First Nations. Speaking to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Carney said the pipeline proposal discussed last week between the federal and Alberta governments would only move forward alongside the proposed Pathways Alliance carbon capture project. He said Indigenous consultation under Section 35 of the Constitution is “non-negotiable.”
AlbertaMay 20, 2026

Alberta ticket wins $12.5M share of Lotto Max jackpot

A Lotto Max ticket purchased in Alberta has won a $12.5-million share of the latest jackpot draw, according to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The corporation said the winning ticket was sold somewhere in Alberta outside the Edmonton and Calgary regions. Another winning ticket was sold in Quebec, splitting the $25-million jackpot between the two winners. Lottery officials said the Alberta ticket holder has one year from the draw date to claim the prize. The winning location and ticket holder have not yet been identified publicly. The jackpot split means multiple winners matched all sev
CanadaMay 20, 2026

Rising FIFA World Cup ticket and hotel prices in Vancouver raising concerns for fans

Football fans hoping to attend FIFA World Cup matches in Vancouver are facing growing costs as ticket prices and hotel rates continue to climb ahead of the tournament. Reports indicate some match tickets are being listed for as much as $2,000. Accommodation costs in Vancouver have also become a concern for visitors planning trips to the city during the event. Experts say provincial restrictions on short-term rentals, along with annual licensing fee requirements, have reduced available accommodation options and contributed to higher hotel prices. Jarrett Vaughan, a professor at the University o
shooting-at-surrey-home-under-investigation-police-say-extortion-link-suspected
BCMay 20, 2026

Shooting at Surrey home under investigation, police say extortion link suspected

Surrey Police Service is investigating an early morning shooting at a residence in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood that investigators believe may be connected to an extortion-related file. Police said frontline officers responded at about 4:40 a.m. Wednesday to reports of shots fired near 57 Avenue and 148 Street. According to SPS, officers found damage to a home and evidence of gunfire when they arrived. The residence was occupied at the time of the shooting, but no injuries were reported, police said. SPS said its Extortion Response Team has taken over the investigation. Integrated Forensic
AlbertaMay 20, 2026

Nenshi questions UCP committee meeting on Alberta petition process amid separatism debate

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says he is concerned Premier Danielle Smith’s government could alter or reinterpret a citizen petition process tied to Alberta’s place in Canada. Nenshi made the comments after the United Conservative government scheduled a committee meeting for Thursday to discuss a petition calling for Alberta to remain in Canada. The bipartisan committee is reviewing the petition under provincial rules governing citizen initiatives. According to Nenshi, the timing of the meeting has raised questions after a separate petition backed by Alberta separatists was reportedly l