Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says six single-use plastic items that aren't easily recycled and already have more environmentally friendly alternatives will be the first to go under Canada's new restrictions on plastics. That means the end of next year will be the end of the road for plastic straws, stir sticks, carry-out bags, cutlery, dishes and takeout containers and six-pack rings for cans and bottles. Wilkinson says many of the items that aren't on that list, such as plastic bottles, will be getting new standards to require them to contain a minimum amount of recycled material

Mayor Kennedy Stewart wants councillors to support a multimillion-dollar proposal to help those who are homeless in Vancouver during the pandemic. Stewart has released a recommendation to council seeking as much as $30 million to buy or lease land in the city and pay for other services to provide emergency relief for people without homes. A statement from the mayor's office says the recommendation builds on the findings of a staff report, which concluded that the lease or purchase of vacant apartment complexes, commercial hotels and other buildings is the only viable way to quickly address

B-C health officials are reporting 102 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths. That brings the death toll in the province to 244. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says active cases ticked up to one-thousand-384 with 71 people in hospital, including 16 in intensive care. Henry says the latest modelling data shows individual actions make a difference and B-C is starting to flatten the curve of the pandemic once again as a result of public health measures.

Mayors of BC's largest cities are asking the major provincial political parties to outline their election policies in four key areas. The BC Urban Mayors' Caucus is asking where the parties stand on mental health and addictions, affordable housing, public transit and the fiscal relationship between local governments and the province. It has sent a letter to the leaders of the New Democrats, Liberals, Green party and the Conservatives asking for a response by Monday. The mayors' caucus says it will make the answers public to help voters make an informed choice on October 24th.

Police say a toddler has died after he and his mother were hit by a car while crossing a street in Coquitlam, B.C. The two were hit at about 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Westwood Plateau neighbourhood. A statement from Coquitlam RCMP says the boy was two-years-old and his mother, who was also hurt, is 36. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin says the investigation is just beginning but officers have already gathered clear dash-cam video and independent witness statements. He says neither speed nor impairment appear to be factors. Police said earlier that the driver remained at the scene and was co-operating.

British Columbia's Green party wants to see free child care for children under three and free early childhood education for three- and four-year-olds. Campaigning in Vancouver on Tuesday, Green party Leader Sonia Furstenau says their plan would also have financial support for stay-at-home parents of $350 a month. She says taking care of a child needs to be recognized as a real job that counts as time in the workplace, not as a relaxing time out. Furstenau says parents with young children in B.C. are facing tremendous pressure as costs skyrocket and household income stagnates. She is also prop

The British Columbia Liberals are promising lower vehicle insurance rates by ending the monopoly that the Crown-owned Insurance Corporation of B.C. has on the market. Leader Andrew Wilkinson said Tuesday an elected Liberal government on Oct. 24 will open the vehicle insurance market to competition, resulting in cheaper rates, especially for young drivers.Drivers should have the option of choosing where to take their insurance business, instead of being forced to deal with the single public agency, he said at a news conference."It's time to offer cheaper rates, and the way to get cheaper rates

The NDP is promising a rent freeze in British Columbia until the end of next year, a one-time $1,000 recovery benefit for families and an expansion of $10-a-day daycare in its platform released today. In a news release, the NDP says the plan builds on the work they've done over the past 3 1/2 years to improve health care and affordability, while creating jobs. The platform is based heavily on the NDP record, with the majority of promises stemming from work already underway or expanding on their pledges. The party says of 154 platform promises, 60 are new. It also promises a new Recovery Invest

A former Liberal MP facing charges of fraud and breach of trust related to his time in office has had his case adjourned until early next year. Lawyers for Raj Grewal and the Crown agreed to have the case return to court Jan. 6 during a brief virtual hearing on Tuesday. Grewal's lawyer Zachary Al-Khatib said during the hearing that his team received 10 gigabytes of disclosure materials from investigators. He added that he has made a request for more evidence from the Crown. The RCMP charged Grewal almost one month ago with four counts of breach of trust and one count of fraud over $5,000 stem