Canada's premiers are again demanding Ottawa increase annual health care transfer payments to provinces and territories. The premiers are unanimous in their call for the federal government to hike the transfers by 28 billion dollars this year, and then by five per cent each year thereafter. They argue the federal government shoulders only 22 per cent of the cost of health care. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that the federal government's share must eventually increase, but he's told premiers that will have to wait until after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Manitoba Premier Bri

Chilliwack RCMP and BC Coroners Service investigating found bodyCriminality is not suspected in the death of a man in his early 20s that was discovered in Chilliwack on Thursday morning.At approximately 0845 am on Thursday, March 4th, Chilliwack RCMP were called to the area of the Hope River bridge on Menzies Street after receiving a report of a found body. The area was cordoned off while police investigators and the BC Coroners Service conducted their preliminary investigation. The death is not being considered suspicious.No criminality is suspected in this death. BC Coroners Service is condu

On March 2nd at approximately 1:00 pm New Westminster Police Department officers responded to a report of a serious assault inside a residence on Princess Street. The victim was transported to hospital, where she remains in critical condition. A nearby school was temporarily sheltering in place as a precaution while NWPD officers secured the scene. That same afternoon, and with the assistance of the Vancouver Police Department, a suspect was safely taken into custody. It is believed the suspect and the victim are known to each other. At this time, Andywele Mullings a 42 year old New Westminste

A panel of experts says up to 80 per cent of Canadians over 16 could get a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of June, if governments extend the interval between the two doses to four months. Deputy federal public health officer Doctor Howard Njoo says the move is based on the most recent data on how vaccines are working.Canada is now on track to receive a total of 6.5 million vaccine doses by the end of this month. That's 500,000 more than originally forecast. Health officials in Alberta, BC and Newfoundland and Labrador have said they are extending that interval to four months, while

The mayor of the small BC village of Pouce Coupe says she won't resign as Indigenous leaders claim her "shocking and unacceptable behavior" makes it impossible for them to work with her in her mayoral role moving forward. Lorraine Michetti has been criticized for social media posts that critics deemed racist and anti-Semitic. Members of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association, which represents six First Nations in northeastern BC, issued a letter denouncing Michetti's actions and comments and demanding her immediate resignation earlier this week. Michetti says she won't resign as she has other projec

Unifor president Jerry Dias says Air Canada is promising to refund passengers whose flights were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.Dias says the airline has made the commitment repeatedly during negotiations with the federal government over an aid package for the battered sector.He says he spoke with Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau last night, confirming the pledge.Dias says roughly 4,000 of the union's 15,000 aviation workers remain fully employed a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, lending urgency to discussions in Ottawa.Air Canada and the Finance Department did not respond immediately

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday asserted that new farm laws will enhance farmers' income adding that agricultural is the backbone of the country's economic growth. "Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) Yojana, about 1.15 lakh crore rupees are deposited in the bank accounts of about 1.75 crore farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the vision to increase the income of farmers and the development of the agricultural sector. We understand that, if we don't have prosperous farmers, we can't develop a good economy of the country." Tomar said while sp

Amid the ongoing protest against the new farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the agitation will continue for long."We will continue our protest until the government agrees to talk to the committee. We are here for long," said Tikait."There must be a minimum and maximum rate for crops in the country," he added.While the Assembly polls of the legislative assemblies of four states -- West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam -- will start from May, farmers will also participate in the political rallies said Tikait.Farmers have been protesting on the differ

After surviving Delhi's harsh winters, farmers agitating at the borders of the national capital against the Centre's contentious farm laws are now gearing up to battle the summer months with portable fans, mosquito nets and other necessities. In light of the rising temperature in Delhi, farmers starting from Amritsar have fitted their tractor trolleys with nets on all sides to keep mosquitoes away and have installed electric mosquito repellants. "Keeping in mind the heat in Delhi, a jatha recently left the Golden Gate in Amritsar with special arrangements for the summer months. Earlier, to pro