1.9°C Vancouver

News

highway-1-reopening-through-the-fraser-valley
BCNov 25, 2021

Highway 1 reopening through the Fraser Valley

Highway 1 will reopen through the Fraser Valley between Chilliwack and Abbotsford at 2 p.m. (Pacific time), Thursday, Nov. 25, following cleanup, repairs and geotechnical assessments of the highway and its structures.This reopening will help connect the Lower Mainland through to Highway 3 and the Interior. While this will help to reduce congestion on Highway 7, travel restrictions will remain in place on Highway 7 to ensure the safe movement of essential goods and services. Although it is not subject to the essential travel order, people are asked to stay off Highway 1 through Abbotsford unles
president-of-the-bc-federation-of-labour-critical-of-five-sick-days-per-year-decision
BCNov 25, 2021

President of the BC Federation of Labour critical of five sick days per year decision

Laird Cronk, the president of the BC Federation of Labour, is critical of the decision, saying provincial data indicates that while workers may take an average of 4.8 sick days annually, countries like New Zealand, Australia, Sweden and Germany have 10 days or more. He says that is what it takes to make sure workers have the economic stability to stay home when they are sick. Workers in British Columbia will be eligible for a minimum of five sick days per year starting January 1st. Labour Minister Harry Bains says the new sick leave policy affects all workers covered by the province's Employ
general-wayne-eyre-officially-appointed-canadas-chief-of-the-defence-staff
CanadaNov 25, 2021

General Wayne Eyre officially appointed Canada's chief of the defence staff

General Wayne Eyre has been officially appointed Canada's next chief of the defence staff. He had been filling in for Admiral Art McDonald, who stepped down in August because of an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct. No charges were laid by police and McDonald wanted to be reinstated as CDS. Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the permanent promotion for Eyre. McDonald has been put on leave for now.
vpd-investigation-leads-to-charges-in-dtes-stranger-attack
BCNov 25, 2021

VPD investigation leads to charges in DTES stranger attack

Vancouver police say they have arrested and charged a woman who allegedly assaulted a senior in the Downtown Eastside last month. Sergeant Steve Addison says the 71 year old victim was confronted by a woman who yelled at her and then assaulted her. He says the victim suffered a broken arm and was hospitalized. Police say the BC Prosecution Service conducted an independent review of the evidence and has now charged a 27-year-old woman with one count of assault causing bodily harm.
BCNov 25, 2021

Line of storms approaches as B.C. works to recover from recent floods

The B-C government says it's making headway on recovery since last week's floods with supply chains stabilizing, gas shortages starting to ease and some evacuees allowed to return to their homes.Officials say the major supply route of Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley is on track to reopen later today, but are warning about a series of storms that have already begun sweeping over areas of the province that are struggling to recover from the floods.Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the government is prepared to close some roads as a precaution as modellers try to predict when and where
b-c-reports-322-new-covid-19-cases-and-9-deaths
BCNov 25, 2021

B.C. reports 322 new COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths

B.C. is reporting 322 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 216,334 cases in the province.There are 3,015 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 210,828 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 318 individuals are in hospital and 109 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 24 hours, nine new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,313.The new deaths include:Vancouver Coastal Health: threeInterior Health: oneNorthern Health: fiveThere have been no new health-care f
one-more-person-might-have-died-in-the-flooding-in-bcs-lower-mainland
BCNov 25, 2021

One more person might have died in the flooding in BC's Lower Mainland

Another person might have died in the flooding in BC's Lower Mainland. RCMP confirm a woman who was unable to get out of her home between Merritt and Spences Bridge has not been seen since last week. Police say the unnamed woman hasn't been seen since November 16th and an investigation by Lillooet RCMP is continuing. This raises to six the number of confirmed or potential victims of recent floods or landslides.
british-columbia-remains-in-uncharted-territory-with-several-destructive-storms-set-to-sweep-over-already-flooded-areas-of-the-province-mike-farnworth
BCNov 25, 2021

British Columbia remains in ``uncharted territory'' with several destructive storms set to sweep over already flooded areas of the province: Mike Farnworth

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says British Columbia remains in ``uncharted territory'' with several destructive storms set to sweep over areas of the province already struggling to recover from devastating flooding. Wind and rainfall warnings blanketed most of the B.C. coast Wednesday and they come after about a dozen so-called atmospheric rivers have saturated land in the province since September. Farnworth says that even routine rainfall may cause already-swollen rivers to rise to dangerous heights and he urged residents to prepare for evacuations and watch for updates. However, he
narrower-aid-package-is-because-the-economy-no-longer-needs-the-same-broad-based-help-it-once-did-chrystia-freeland
CanadaNov 25, 2021

Narrower aid package is because the economy no longer needs the same broad-based help it once did: Chrystia Freeland

The Trudeau Liberals have outlined their latest aid package for an economy recovering from COVID-19. They're proposing targeted support to severely affected businesses, locked-down workers, and extra weeks of benefits that expired just days ago. The legislation introduced in the House of Commons today is one of four bills the government wants MPs to pass before the middle of December ahead of a scheduled winter break. The Liberals are proposing to send $300 per week to workers who find themselves off the job because of a ``COVID-19-related public health lockdown in their region'' between now

Just In

fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms
CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u
worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park
BCDec 12, 2025

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E
alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th
IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a