BC has recorded 737 cases of COVID-19 today and another community outbreak. A joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix says 11 more people have died, while 342 people are in hospital. The number of actives cases climbed slightly to 9,589 in the province. That includes 87 patients in intensive care. At least 30 people have tested positive after an outbreak at the Regent Christian Academy and the private school has been closed until after the winter break. There are over 12,000 people under active public health monitoring because they were e

Abbotsford police are investigating a case of forcible confinement and aggravated assault. Police say it started when with reports of a bloodied man with his hands tied running from a house. The man was found a short distance away suffering from serious injuries, but police say they aren't believed to be life-threatening. The male was transported by BC Ambulance Service and is receiving medical treatment. AbbyPD patrol officers were called to the 2300 block of Clearbrook Road for reports of man fleeing from a house with his hands tied and covered with blood. When police went into the home lat

North Shore Search and Rescue has been approved for a pilot project using a night-vision imaging system to allow for extended searches in low light and night conditions. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the project is the first of its kind in Canada for a volunteer search group. The group will use helicopter night-vision goggles, helping with aerial searches and transportation in low-light or night-time operations. Up until now, the technology has been restricted to official organizations such as police or military.

One person is dead, two are in serious condition and two others in fair condition after part of a wall collapsed at a construction site in London, Ontario. Officials said the incident happened shortly before noon today, and for a while trapped workers inside the building that's under construction. The City of London previously said five people were taken to hospital, including one person without vital signs. Emergency crews responded to 555 Teeple Terrace around 11:40 a.m. after a report of a partial building collapse.

Fraser Health has declared the COVID-19 outbreak at the Burnaby Hospital over after more than 100 patients and staff contracted the virus. The authority said last week that 10 people connected to the outbreak died. However, Fraser Health has declared an outbreak at the Regent Christian Academy after 30 positive cases were identified at the private school. It says the school will be closing and switching to remote learning until December 18th, when it would have closed for the winter break.

The federal government has released a climate change plan. It includes eight-billion dollars in environmental funding on top of the seven-billion already announced. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says clean technology presents enormous opportunities for economic growth and jobs. He says Canadians aren't alone in realizing that.The government's plan includes steady increases to the carbon tax in each of the next 10 years, eventually reaching 170-dollars per tonne by 2030. The federal government has released a 15 billion dollar plan to meet its climate change commitments that includes steady inc

The border is going to stay closed until at least January 21st. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada and the US agreed to another 30 day extension of the restrictions that went into place back in March. The deal only allows for essential travel, including the trucking industry and health-care workers in border communities. Trudeau made the announcement while talking about the Environment Change Plan in Ottawa during a news conference today.

British Columbia's attorney general says he's heartened that his federal counterpart has pledged to assist in improving Ottawa's responses at the public inquiry into money laundering in the province. David Eby says he called Public Safety Minister Bill Blair to discuss concerns raised by inquiry commissioner Austin Cullen in a report released yesterday. Cullen says Canada's financial intelligence agency, Fintrac, was slow to comply with obligations to provide documents relevant to the inquiry. Eby says Blair told him Ottawa will soon announce changes in federal policing related to dirty money

New research from the University of Victoria says alcohol consumption has increased in BC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers found a 40 per cent jump in alcohol sales in mid-March when COVID-19 measures were put in place. Consumption in bars and restaurants, which historically account for around 15 per cent of alcohol consumed in BC, dropped off in April and May. Researchers say private liquor stores benefited from the increase in purchases.