CanadaOct 19, 2020
Regional airlines reject prospect of government stake in carriers
Regional airlines are demanding immediate action from Ottawa to prop up the beleaguered sector, but reject the idea of a federal stake in carriers. John McKenna, president of the Air Transport Association of Canada, says the government has not responded to requests for cash over the past six months, leaving Canada as the only G7 country to hold off on pledging major financial aid for the industry. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc left the door open to a bailout, including the purchase of airline shares by Ottawa, in an interview with CTV's Question Period on Sunday. LeBlanc
BCOct 19, 2020
Time to end tent cities says Wilkinson, while Horgan focuses on Healthcare
BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson took his campaign to Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows this morning with a pledge to bring highway and health care improvements to the region if a Liberal government is elected. Wilkinson says his party would upgrade two major east-west routes, build a bridge to a northeastern section of the municipality and improve mental health services at Ridge Meadows hospital. The cost for two of the three road projects is estimated at about $101 million shared between governments. But Wilkinson is unsure of the cost for improved mental health services. BC NDP Leader John Hor
BCOct 19, 2020
Drive-by shooting in Cloverdale area was targeted: Surrey RCMP
Two people have been hurt in what Surrey RCMP say is a targeted, drive-by shooting in the Cloverdale area. A statement from police says they were alerted shortly before nine last night and minutes later they learned two victims were already on their way to hospital, suffering from gunshot wounds. The statement also says a vehicle linked to the shooting was found on fire about 16 kilometres away just after 9 p.m. Police have not said if any suspects have been identified, but they say the public is not at risk.
CanadaOct 19, 2020
Trudeaus' speaking fees, expenses disclosed as potential confidence vote still looms
WE Charity covered nearly $24,000 in expenses for Sophie Grégoire Trudeau's attendance at eight events over eight years. The dollar amount was released today as part of several documents published by WE Charity that had been sought by the House of Commons finance committee. At the same time, the minority Liberals have released a list of all paid speaking engagements taken on by Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister. That disclosure had also been sought by the Opposition, and both come as political tensions ratchet up over how deeply MPs can dive into the WE Charity issue and COVID-1
BCOct 19, 2020
B.C. Green, Liberal leaders take aim at NDP with five days before election
British Columbia's election campaign is kicking off its final five days with a full slate of announcements.NDP Leader John Horgan is set to make an announcement at a stop on Vancouver Island this morning before making his way to Saanich North and then heading to the lower mainland, Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson will start off this morning with an announcement in Pitt Meadows, B.C.And Green Leader Sonia Fursetenau is due to discuss her party's plans for B.C. Ferries in Brentwood Bay early this afternoon.Their announcements come after a weekend in which Wilkinson and Furstenau took aim at the
BCOct 19, 2020
Fraser Health reports new COVID-19 outbreaks at care home and meat packing facility
Fraser Health has declared new outbreaks of COVID-19 at a meat processing facility in Surrey, B.C., and two area long-term care homes.
The health authority says evidence of transmission was found among staff at J&L Beef Ltd., where 13 people have tested positive for the illness so far.
It says public health workers first became aware of a potential outbreak 10 days ago, after receiving a positive lab test from an employee on Oct. 8.
Fraser Health says it's working with the facility to strengthen COVID-19 mitigation strategies.
It says one staff member at the The Village, an assiste
CanadaOct 19, 2020
Non-essential travel restrictions at Canada-U.S. border extended to at least Nov. 21
Restrictions on non-essential travel between Canada and the United States are being extended until at least Nov. 21.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair confirmed the news today on Twitter.
Incidental travel, vacations, day trips and cross-border shopping excursions has been forbidden since March in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The restrictions do not apply to those providing essential services in either country, including trade shipments and cross-border workers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the restrictions won't be lifted until there's clear evidence the pandemic is e
BCOct 17, 2020
155 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C.; active cases rise past 1,500
BC has had 155 new cases of COVID-19. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say there are 1,513 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Another 3,713 are being monitored after an identified exposure to known cases. There has been one more COVID-19 related death, for a total of 251 deaths in British Columbia. 155 people have tested positive in the province, bringing B.C.'s total to 11,189. An outbreak of COVID-19 at the main Tim Hortons restaurant in Merritt, B.C., has set off a voluntary closure of the restaurant. The Interior Health authority
BCOct 17, 2020
Former BC Liberal candidate now running as an independent in the same riding
The man who quit as the BC Liberal party candidate in Chilliwack-Kent yesterday is now running as an Independent in the same riding. Laurie Throness lost the Liberal representation after he said during an all-candidates meeting that the NDP plan to offer free birth control had a whiff of past eugenics experiments to stop poor people from having more children. Throness announced on his Facebook page that he has always spoken with his heart and conscience and many people have urged him to stay in the race. Elections BC says his name will remain under the Liberal banner on the ballot, but Throne