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number-of-inmates-who-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19-has-jumped-to-35
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 has jumped to 35

The number of inmates who have tested positive for COVID-19 has jumped to 35, with outbreaks in four federal institutions. There are 11 positive cases at the Mission Institution in British Columbia. Quebec has outbreaks at the Joliette Institution, where 10 prisoners have COVID-19, and at the Port-Cartier prison, where seven are sick. There are also seven positive cases at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Ontario.
people-returning-to-bc-will-be-required-to-present-self-isolation-plans-or-they-will-be-placed-in-quarantine
BCApr 08, 2020

People returning to BC will be required to present self-isolation plans or they will be placed in quarantine

People returning to British Columbia from other countries will be required to present self-isolation plans or they will be placed in quarantine. The government says it will have officials in place starting Friday at Vancouver International Airport and major land border crossings to make sure the plans are complete. Premier John Horgan says forms will be available online to help travellers, and those arriving by air will be given the document. The document can be submitted online or completed on arrival, and must indicate how returning travellers plan to keep themselves in self-isolation for 1
air-canada-says-it-will-apply-for-ottawas-emergency-wage-subsidy-program-and-retain-or-return-affected-employees
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Air Canada says it will apply for Ottawa's emergency wage subsidy program and retain or return affected employees

Air Canada, which has cut roughly half its Canadian workforce, says it will apply for Ottawa's emergency wage subsidy program and retain or return affected employees to its payroll for the program term. The airline announced last month it would cut about 16,500 jobs as part of a cost reduction program due to the COVID-19 pandemic and imposition of global travel restrictions. Air Canada says that depending on wage levels, many employees will receive more under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program than they would from employment insurance plus they will maintain their health insurance and
ontario-reports-biggest-single-day-increase-in-covid-19-so-far
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Ontario reports biggest single-day increase in COVID-19 so far

Ontario is reporting 550 new COVID-19 cases today, the biggest single-day increase so far, including 21 new deaths. The new provincial total of 5,276 includes 174 deaths and 2,074 resolved. The number of people in hospital dropped since Tuesday, from 614 to 605, but more people are now in intensive care and on ventilators. A backlog of pending tests that had nearly been cleared has now grown, and is up to more than 1,100.
chrystia-freeland-canadas-ties-with-the-us-need-constant-gardening-to-keep-supply-lines-open
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Chrystia Freeland: Canada's ties with the US need ``constant gardening'' to keep supply lines open

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada's ties with the US have always required constant upkeep, but are now getting what she calls ``constant gardening'' to keep supply lines open. She says Canadian diplomats are repeating the message that the U-S needs Canada as much as Canada needs the US. This morning, the US issued draft rules stating companies will be allowed to fill existing orders for foreign clients, provided 80 per cent of their domestic production was allocated to the US market over the previous 12 months.
pm-trudeau-will-continue-to-work-from-home-but-will-begin-leaving-his-residence-to-attend-the-occasional-important-meeting
EnglishApr 08, 2020

PM Trudeau will continue to work from home, but will begin leaving his residence to attend the occasional important meeting

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will continue to work at home but will begin leaving his residence to attend the occasional important meeting, including a cabinet session today. Trudeau says he will take ``all proper precautions'' when he does so. The prime minister has been working from home since his wife Sophie tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-March.
number-of-covid-19-cases-in-quebec-go-past-10-000
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Number of COVID-19 cases in Quebec go past 10,000

Quebec has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has added 25 more deaths, bringing the provincial death tally to 175. Premier Francois Legault says the silver lining is that hospitalizations are starting to stabilize, but cautions the province still has a way to go. Of the 10,031 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 632 people are hospitalized and 181 are in intensive care. Legault's message to Quebecers today is that keeping seniors safe is the top priority and extra staff and resources are being deployed to long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
BCApr 08, 2020

BC closes all provincial parks due to COVID-19

The British Columbia government is closing all provincial parks to ensure compliance with recommendations to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.A statement from the Environment and Climate Change Ministry says the closure applies to everyone, from B.C. and out-of-province, who may have been planning a trip to a provincial park.Minister George Heyman says efforts were made to provide spaces for exercise and fresh air in the parks but it ``has proven too challenging'' to maintain safe physical distancing of two metres between visitors.The timing of the decision is aimed at heading off Ea
trudeau-promises-relaxed-standards-for-wage-subsidy
EnglishApr 08, 2020

Trudeau promises 'relaxed' standards for wage subsidy

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal wage-subsidy program for employers hit by COVID-19 will have looser standards than previously announced.Rather than having to show a 30 percent decline in revenues, he says they can show a 15 percent decline in March, and can compare their revenues to previous months rather than the previous year.Charities can also choose whether to include revenues from governments in their calculations when they apply.He says businesses need to survive and workers need to get paid if the economy is to ``come roaring back after this crisis.''

Just In

some-residents-may-remain-in-b-c-landslide-evacuation-zone-after-road-access-cut
BCApr 21, 2026

Some residents may remain in B.C. landslide evacuation zone after road access cut

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District. In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area. The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order
afn-chief-asks-un-to-oppose-b-c-move-to-amend-indigenous-rights-law
BCApr 21, 2026

AFN chief asks UN to oppose B.C. move to amend Indigenous rights law

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called on the United Nations on Tuesday to support First Nations leaders opposing proposed changes to British Columbia’s Indigenous rights law. Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the province’s plan to amend or suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act violates international standards. According to her remarks to the forum, First Nations rights are protected under international human rights law and “cannot be suspended, amended or paused by
drug-package-disguised-as-grass-patch-found-inside-mission-institution-rcmp-investigating
BCApr 21, 2026

Drug package disguised as grass patch found inside Mission Institution, RCMP investigating

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police. The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground. According to police, the package contained more than 30
federal-government-tables-bill-to-regulate-space-launches-from-canada
CanadaApr 21, 2026

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set
surrey-memorial-expands-chemotherapy-capacity-with-six-new-treatment-chairs
BCApr 21, 2026

Surrey Memorial expands chemotherapy capacity with six new treatment chairs

Surrey Memorial Hospital has added six new chemotherapy treatment chairs, bringing the total to 39, in an effort to address growing demand for cancer care in the region. According to health officials, the expansion will allow up to 420 additional patients to receive treatment each month. Dr. Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director at BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, said demand for chemotherapy services in Surrey continues to rise. She said the expanded capacity is expected to help the hospital meet a key target: starting first treatment for more than 90 per cent of patients within two weeks of