A First Nations community on Vancouver Island is fighting to contain a COVID-19 outbreak while facing intolerance from some members of the surrounding community. Cowichan Tribes general manager Derek Thompson says some members of his Duncan-area First Nation have faced discrimination in the community since COVID-19 cases were first reported this month. Thompson says there were no COVID-19 cases among their members for the first 10 months of the pandemic, but that has increased to 73 people since Jan. 1. The First Nation has issued a stay-at-home order for tribal members until Jan. 22 in an ef

Chinese tech executive Meng Wanzhou is back in British Columbia Supreme Court as her lawyers seek to ease bail conditions for the Huawei chief financial officer. Speaking English and aided by an interpreter, her husband Liu Xiaozong testified he believes Meng is at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 given her proximity to multiple security personnel whenever she leaves home. He says his wife is a survivor of thyroid cancer and has hypertension, while their daughter and her son are afraid of being publicly identified during visits to Vancouver due to the presence of private security. Her l

Avalanche Canada is warning of a high danger rating in several coastal BC locations. The forecaster says mountains and slopes on the South Coast, Sea to Sky, South Coast Inland and Northwest Coastal ranges all have high risk of slides in the alpine and treeline. On the southern mountain ranges, it says natural avalanches are expected today with buried weak layers that could produce large slab avalanches. Avalanche Canada says with new snow and extreme winds forecast for the Northwest Coastal ranges, avalanches are expected in many areas. In B.C. 4 people have been killed in snow sports in the

The Ontario government is ordering residents to stay at home starting just after midnight Thursday morning. There are exceptions for essential activities such as accessing health care or shopping for groceries. Premier Doug Ford says he's also declaring another state of emergency effective immediately in response to surging COVID-19 infection rates.Ford announced the restrictions shortly after the province released new projections that show the virus is on track to overwhelm Ontario's health-care system. Ontario releases new modelling New modelling shows that without any changes, Ontario's he

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has reached a deal with Pfizer to buy an extra 20 million doses of the vaccine it produced with its German partner BioNTech. He says that means Canada will receive 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year. He also says that between now and sometime between April and June, Canada will have enough doses to vaccinate up to 20 million people against the deadly coronavirus. Trudeau is also announcing the Canada-U. S. land border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least Feb. 21. It's another 30-day extension to the re

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has conducted a small shuffle of his ministers before holding up later in the day for a cabinet retreat to plot strategy for the resumption of Parliament. The shuffle is due to the departure of Navdeep Bains, who stepped down as innovation minister Tuesday and is not intending to run again in the next election. In the first virtual swearing-in ceremony in Canadian history, Francois-Philippe Champagne shed his title as foreign minister to take up Bains' former role, while ex-transport minister Marc Garneau moved into Champagne's old job. Toronto-area MP Omar Algh

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is planning to suspend the new farm laws, but not indefinitely.Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde said that the Apex Court is also forming a committee to get a clearer picture of the three farm laws. A three-judge bench, headed by the CJI, is hearing a batch of petitions, including those filed by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, RJD MP Manoj K Jha, regarding the constitutional validity of three farm laws, passed by the Central government, and the plea to disperse protesting farmers. "We are forming a committee so that we have a clearer picture. We d

The ongoing farmers' protest against farm laws entered 47th Day on January 11.A sikh museum was set up at the Singhu Border to inspire the protesting farmers and keep their morale high. The museum portrays the story of the sacrifices made by the community. So far, more than 70 farmers have died in the ongoing protest. The museum at the site has been set up by the Sikh Heritage and Culture Society.

British Columbia's top doctor says the first dose of a vaccine for COVID-19 gives "amazing" immunity, so the government's decision to allow for a 35-day gap before the second dose is administered is rooted in science. Dr. Bonnie Henry's statements come as B.C. recorded a grim milestone Monday, reaching 1,000 COVID-19 related deaths. She says the decision to delay the second shot is about maximizing the vaccines' distribution, while balancing the supply and making sure the province has a safe and effective immunization program. Dr. Henry says the first dose primes the immune system while the s