Ottawa is imposing strict COVID-19 rules on cruise ship companies, crews and passengers in advance of the first ships docking in Canadian ports next month. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says passengers and crews must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and cruise lines must inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report pre-boarding test results. Alghabra says no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the requirements. Alghabra says passengers will also need to take COVID-19 tests before and after boarding a vessel and won't be allowed off cruise ships u

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced sanctions against 10 more Russian political and business leaders. At a news conference in London, he took a clear jab at President Vladimir Putin, pointing out the 10 were identified by Alexei Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader who is considered Putin's main rival. Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also acknowledged the need to increase defence spending in response to both Russia's actions and growing instability around the world. Trudeau wouldn't say if that would extend to Canada meeting N

The record-high price of gas has the B-C Taxi Association calling on the province for help.Association president Mohan Kang says that unlike people in many jobs, cab drivers can't avoid being on the road but that's getting tough as a litre of gas has shot to nearly two-dollars and 10 cents in parts of Metro Vancouver.Taxi meter prices are regulated by the Passenger Transportation Board, and Kang says it has the power to step in and allow a temporary fuel surcharge on taxi fares.The board says its annual taxi and limo cost index review is underway to identify room for a potential rate hike for

Hundreds of people have gathered for a vigil at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus for a security guard who was fatally assaulted at work last weekend. 24 year old Harmandeep Kaur died in a Kelowna hospital after being attacked early last Saturday morning. RCMP say a suspect who was also working at the university was arrested under the Mental Health Act and could face a murder charge. UBCO deputy vice-chancellor Lesley Cormack says flags at the campus were also being lowered in memory of Kaur.

RCMP say a 13 year old Richmond girl showed a keen instinct for safety when she was approached by a man offering to give her a ride. Police say the girl refused the offer made while she was walking near the Steveston United Church late yesterday afternoon. They say she refused again when man then offered money as an enticement for a ride and immediately notified her mother after she arrived home. Corporal Dennis Hwang says police have launched an investigation and are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

B.C. is reporting 340 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 349,944 cases in the province.There are 484 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 69 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, eight new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,903.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Polson Long Term Care (Interior Health) has been declared over, for a total of 20 facilities with ongoing outbreaks. From Feb. 24 to March 2, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 19.2% of cases and from Feb. 17 to March 2, they acco

Gas prices have broken the $2 per litre mark at some stations around Metro Vancouver. The website GasBuddy says the price for a litre of regular gasoline at some Shell and Chevron stations was just under $2.01 this morning, while PetroCan prices were set at one-dollar and 99-point-nine cents per litre. That's a jump of almost 20 cents per litre in barely one week and Dan McTeague with Canadians for Affordable Energy says the war in Ukraine is a key reason. He predicts prices will fall by one cent tomorrow and then climb by three or four cents a litre on Sunday or Monday _ saying ``things are

Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre says he would repeal a ban on oil tankers off B-C's north coast if becomes the leader of the Conservative party and wins the next federal election. He made the comment during a campaign stop in Regina today. Poilievre also says he would bring in new laws to support the energy sector and protect the environment, and he promises the work will include consultation with First Nations. During a stop in Saskatoon yesterday, Poilievre the only declared candidate so far in the race to replace Erin O'Toole, pledged to axe the federal carbon tax if elected prime minister

Some very well-known names are included on the list of Order of British Columbia recipients. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry received the award in a virtual ceremony last evening at Government House in Victoria. Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chair for the Tsilhqot'in National Government also received the honour _ the highest award B-C can bestow on a resident. Others on the list included former B-C finance minister and chancellor of Simon Fraser University, Carole Taylor, and singer Michael Buble. Recipients being invested this evening are: Chief Joe Alphonse of 150 Mile HouseThe late