British Columbia's fall and winter pandemic battle plan involves ramping up COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and a campaign to administer almost two million flu shots. Health Ministry officials say they have prepared the province for COVID-19 scenarios ranging from low to exceptional outbreaks and they are confident the health system can meet the challenges. The officials say some of the preparations include being able to conduct up to 20,000 daily COVID-19 tests, hiring more than 600 additional contact tracers and purchasing more than 1.9 million doses of flu vaccine. The officials say the

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ducked a question this morning about how he can call Julie Payette an ``excellent'' governor general as she faces allegations of workplace harassment. Trudeau told reporters that Payette, ``has a long and successful role as a scientist and an astronaut.'' He repeated that the federal government has hired a third-party reviewer to follow up on the harassment claims. There are reports that some of the whistleblowers who came forward with the allegations are now reconsidering the external review into Rideau Hall after Trudeau's defense of Payette.

BC Ferries passengers will no longer be allowed to stay in their vehicles starting September 30th. The ferry service says Transport Canada is rescinding the temporary flexibility it granted ferry operators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It says enclosed car decks represent inherent risk to travellers and Transport Canada has determined there's a clear case for ending the practice. Face coverings are still mandatory on BC Ferries vessels and the company says it will reopen certain dining areas for seating only to make more space for physical distancing.

Hours after Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials demolished parts of actor Kangana Ranaut's Mumbai office, the actor hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and film director Karan Johar. The 'Queen' actor who had earlier in the day launched an attack on Thackeray with a video message, took to Twitter and said that she will "expose" both Thackeray and "Karana Johar Gang.""Come Udhav Thakeray and Karan Johar Gang you broke my work place. Come now break my house then break my face and body. I want world to see clearly what you anyway do underhand. Whether I live or d

The Bank of Canada is keeping its key interest rate target on hold at 0.25 per cent and says it will stay there until inflation is back on target. The central bank's key rate has remained at its lower effective bound since March when COVID-19 lockdowns plunged the economy into crisis.In a statement today, the central bank's governing council says that bounce-back activity in the third quarter looks to be faster than it anticipated in July. But it warns of indicators like an uneven rebound in employment and subdued business confidence that points to a slow and choppy recovery process. The bank

The federal government is creating a new national program to help Black Canadians get business loans with national banks. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Black Canadians and put a spotlight on inequality in Canada. The new program will include $53 million for Black business organization to help entrepreneurs access funding, mentorship, financial planning and business training. Another $6.5 million will go to collect data on the state of Black entrepreneurship and identify the barriers preventing Black Canadians from succeeding in b

A British Columbia First Nation has issued a state of emergency after confirmation that four members have COVID-19 and several others are reporting symptoms of the virus.A notice on the Tla'amin Nation website says residents have been ordered to shelter in place to slow the spread of the virus while health officials complete contact tracing.The order affecting the community, which is in the area of Powell River, took effect late Tuesday afternoon and advised members they should stay where the are for the next 72 hours.Access to the First Nation, about 170 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, ha

There are 133,747 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 63,876 confirmed (including 5,770 deaths, 56,162 resolved) Ontario: 43,536 confirmed (including 2,813 deaths, 39,196 resolved) Alberta: 15,093 confirmed (including 247 deaths, 13,154 resolved) British Columbia: 6,591 confirmed (including 213 deaths, 4,978 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,669 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,587 resolved) Manitoba: 1,349 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 940 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,086 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,018 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved) New Bru

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has ordered all night clubs and banquet halls to close effective immediately. Dr. Henry also says alcohol can no longer be served at bars and restaurants after 10 pm and they must close by 11 pm unless serving meals. She says the additional restrictions are being put in place because the venues are a significant source of risk of spreading COVID-19. Dr. Henry also says people need to cut down on their social interactions to stay safe now that they're heading back to work and schools are reopening. She made the comment after reporting BC had 429 new c