The British Columbia government says it is accelerating the timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine once again, allowing people who are "extremely clinically vulnerable" and some seniors to book their shots earlier than expected.The Ministry of Health says in a news release that people at higher risk from COVID-19 due to existing medical conditions, including transplant recipients and those with cancer and severe respiratory conditions, will be able to register for their vaccine beginning next Monday.This group of people was originally scheduled to receive their shots in Phase 3 starting in April, b

A newly approved pilot project will allow electric kick scooters to legally cruise the streets and bike paths of six British Columbia municipalities. The Ministry of Transportation says in a statement the pilot project gives the province and the selected local governments a chance to assess the safety of electronic personal transportation. The B.C. Motor Vehicle Act doesn't allow transportation such as electric scooters on roads or sidewalks, but a 2019 amendment permits communities to work with the province on pilot projects. The six participating municipalities where e-scooters will soon be

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal Liberals will table a budget on April 19. It will be the first federal budget in over two years, after the government opted not to introduce one in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Canada. It will also be Freeland's first budget as finance minister. She took on the portfolio last summer following Bill Morneau's resignation. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the budget date in the House of Commons today during question period. The budget is expected to provide a full accounting of all government spending through the pande

To support ongoing COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Fraser Health has opened five mass COVID-19 immunization clinics in Chilliwack, Cloverdale, South Surrey, Delta North and Coquitlam that are now available to book appointments beginning March 29, except for Delta North which is available today. These new clinics will support current immunization plans and will remain open through phases three and four as we work to immunize our communities over the coming months. Fraser Health is grateful for the partnerships with municipalities, business leaders, community organizations and Divisions of Family Prac

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says he's in charge. He's brushing off the idea that a weekend convention vote against a resolution that would have included the line "climate change is real" in the party's official policy document should colour opinions of his party. O'Toole is dismissing concerns that a vote by the party's grassroots on climate change should colour Canadians' opinion of his party. O'Toole says he and his caucus agree they need to take action to address climate change. Over the weekend, delegates to the Conservatives' policy convention voted against a resolution that would h

RCMP are warning drivers in southern British Columbia to be wary after a motorist says he was pulled over by a man impersonating a police officer. A statement from Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says it happened Sunday night on a backcountry provincial highway in the Boundary region south of Kelowna. The motorist reported he was followed for a short distance by a white pickup truck and pulled to the side of the road when the driver of the truck activated a set of red and blue lights in the vehicle's grille. An older man roughly six feet tall, with blond unkempt hair and carrying a flashlight, approach

Police have identified a 21-year-old man as the suspect in the killing of 10 people at a Boulder, Colorado, supermarket. Authorities on Tuesday also identified nine victims after previously identifying a police officer who had been killed. Authorities say the victims were men and women between the ages of 20 and 65. The shooting Monday at the crowded supermarket sent terrorized shoppers and workers scrambling for safety and stunned a state and a nation that has grieved several mass killings. Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said police engaged in a shootout with the suspect inside the super

India reported 40,715 new COVID-19 cases on March 23 and the total tally mounted to 1,16,86,796. Union Health Ministry reported 29,785 recoveries in the last 24 hours. With new numbers, total recoveries reached 1,11,81,253. Currently there are 3,45,377 active cases in the country. With 199 new deaths due to COVID virus, death toll stood at 1,60,166. According to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 23,54,13,233 samples tested for COVID-19 up to 22nd March 2021.

British Columbia's provincial health officer says an increasing number of younger people are becoming infected with COVID-19 and some are dying, just as vaccines are protecting older populations. Dr. Bonnie Henry says younger patients who are ending up in intensive care units need more time there, in part because of clusters of cases in some communities. She says cases are rising among people between the ages of 20 and 39, and up to age 59, sometimes due to crowded housing and transmission in workplaces. The province has recorded 1,785 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, along with 16 deaths.