CanadaAug 10, 2020
Opposition MPs question decision to manage rent assistance aid program to M-CAP
Opposition MPs on the Commons finance committee want to know more about an agreement between Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and a company where the husband of the prime minister's chief of staff works.Katie Telford's husband Rob Silver is an executive vice-president at M-CAP, which the government tapped to administer a rent-assistance program for small businesses affected by COVID-19.The Prime Minister's Office says Telford established clear ethical walls between herself and M-CAP back in January. CMHC says it didn't have the internal capacity to quickly get the program running and t
BCAug 09, 2020
Staff member tests positive for COVID-19 at long-term care home: Fraser Health
Fraser Health says a staff member at a long-term care home has tested positive for COVID-19.The health authority says in a statement that the case is at New Vista Care Home, which is operated by New Vista Care Society.A Fraser Health rapid response team is on site, and communication with residents and families is underway.Fraser Health says the outbreak is limited to one unit in the building.It says the staff member is self isolating at home.The health authority says it is working with staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed.
BCAug 09, 2020
Vancouver's Sunset Beach closed to swimmers due to E. coli levels
Vancouver Coastal Health says Sunset Beach is not suitable for swimming because of high E. coli levels.The health authority put an advisory in place Saturday after a water quality test showed 1,375 E. coli per 100 mL.It says the standard is less than 400 E. coli/100mL.Vancouver Coastal Health says high E. coli counts in recreational waters may increase the chances or gastrointestinal issues, upper respiratory illnesses, and skin and eye infection.It says the risk of getting sick is higher if people swallow water or otherwise get it in their nose, eyes, ears or an open wound.Bowen Island's Snug
CanadaAug 09, 2020
Liberals turn over thousands of pages on WE decision
The federal Liberal government has turned over thousands of pages of documents related to the WE controversy to a House of Commons' committee, which lawyers are now vetting for personal information and cabinet secrets.
The finance committee demanded the documents last month as it probes whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's relationship with WE Charity influenced the government's ill-fated decision to have the organization run a $912-million student-volunteer program.
The Liberals handed more than 5,000 pages about the decision to the committee over the weekend, but it isn't clear when they
CanadaAug 08, 2020
Big jump in COVID-19 cases in Alberta, 423 cases reported in Canada
There are 118,984 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 60,241 confirmed (including 5,687 deaths, 50,886 resolved) Ontario: 39,897 confirmed (including 2,783 deaths, 36,024 resolved) Alberta: 11,430 confirmed (including 208 deaths, 10,097 resolved) British Columbia: 3,934 confirmed (including 195 deaths, 3,353 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,409 confirmed (including 20 deaths, 1,221 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,071 confirmed (including 64 deaths, 1,005 resolved) Manitoba: 476 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 351 resolved), 15 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 266 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 263 reso
BCAug 07, 2020
53 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C., number of active cases rises to 386
Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are announcing 53 new cases, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 3,934 cases in British Columbia. "There are 386 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 3,353 people who tested positive have recovered. "There are 11 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19, four of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation
BCAug 07, 2020
17 campers helicoptered from remote Coquitlam site, as weather fouls exit plan
Search and rescue crews in Coquitlam, B.C., say they had to conduct a "non-urgent helicopter evacuation" of 17 campers. Messages posted on social media by the rescue team on Friday say the 17 were stranded at Widgeon Lake. The area is a popular hiking destination west of Pitt Lake, north of Coquitlam. The search team says the campers had chartered a float plane to carry them to an area at the lake that is difficult to access by foot. No one has been hurt but Coquitlam Search and Rescue says poor weather has prevented the plane from picking up the group. It says the campers made the "difficult
BCAug 07, 2020
More COVID-19 warnings posted for U.S. and Canadian flights to B.C.
More flights have been added to the list alerting passengers who arrived at British Columbia airports of potential exposure to COVID-19. The BC Centre for Disease Control says passengers on a Delta flight on July 29 from Seattle to Vancouver and a flight from San Francisco to Vancouver on Aug. 1 may be at risk. All travellers from outside Canada must self-isolate for 14 days, which can limit the possible spread of the illness from international flights.But the centre says passengers on a WestJet flight from Calgary should also self-monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days.It says a person wi
CanadaAug 07, 2020
Canada plans $3.6 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. in aluminium dispute
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says Americans will be the first casualties of President Donald Trump's tariff on Canadian aluminum. Freeland says Canada will strike back with 3.6 billion dollars in tariffs on a list of American products. The government will spend the next 30 days consulting with industry stakeholders to determine which items to target. When the US slapped a tariff on Canadian steel two years ago Canada retaliated with tariffs on American ketchup, ballpoint pens, orange juice, whisky and toilet paper. President Donald Trump accuses Canada of breaking a promise not to