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b-c-health-officials-confirm-another-travel-related-measles-case-in-lower-mainland
BCMar 07, 2025

B.C. health officials confirm another travel-related measles case in Lower Mainland

British Columbia health officials say another travel-related measles infection has been confirmed in the Lower Mainland, in a resident who visited Southeast Asia. Fraser Health says in a statement that the case is unrelated to an infection last month involving a resident of the Vancouver Coastal Health region who was also infected after a trip to Southeast Asia. It says the new case involves a Fraser Health resident, and health officials are directly following up with people known to have been exposed to the virus. The statement says members of the public might have been exposed to measles if
b-c-signs-670-million-pharmacare-agreement-with-federal-government
BCMar 06, 2025

B.C. signs $670-million pharmacare agreement with federal government

The British Columbia and federal governments have signed a four-year, $670-million pharmacare agreement, giving universal access to contraceptive and diabetes medications. The plan will support nearly 550,000 B.C. residents with diabetes and provide 1.3 million people with a range of contraceptives. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne and federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced the agreement will also mean free public coverage of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause symptoms.
eby-says-b-c-making-contingency-plans-to-reduce-reliance-on-u-s-electricity
BCMar 06, 2025

Eby says B.C. making contingency plans to reduce reliance on U.S. electricity

British Columbia Premier David Eby says the government is making contingency plans to reduce the province's reliance on electricity from the United States after the start of the continental trade war. He says similar planning happens in the event of natural disasters and now it's due to a "man-made disaster" created by U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports on Tuesday. Eby says uncertainty and potential instability coming from south of the border mean the province needs backup plans so B.C. will never again be "so dependent on the United States." The prem
more-families-in-b-c-to-benefit-from-rental-assistance-program
BCMar 05, 2025

More Families in B.C. to Benefit from Rental Assistance Program

More families in the province will benefit from B.C.’s Rental Assistance Program following an increase in the annual income limit for low-income working families. In Budget 2025, the David Eby government raised the income limit from $40,000 to $60,000. The provincial government anticipates that this change will increase the number of families receiving the rental supplement from 3,200 to around 6,000. Additionally, the amount of the rental supplement will rise by approximately 75%, from $400 per month to $700 per month. Furthermore, the income limit and average supplement amount for the She
b-c-budget-to-buffer-province-against-trumps-uncertainty-and-disorder-minister
BCMar 04, 2025

B.C. budget to buffer province against Trump's 'uncertainty and disorder': minister

British Columbia's finance minister is preparing to deliver a budget today that she says will brace the province against four years of "uncertainty and disorder" amid the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump. Brenda Bailey's budget is being handed down on the same day that Trump says a 25 per cent U.S. tariff will be placed on Canadian goods, while Canadian energy will face 10 per cent tariffs. Bailey says Trump's tariffs came "completely out of nowhere" when he announced them last November and they've already changed B.C.'s financial circumstances. The NDP government has cancelled its election pro
bc-finance-minister-brenda-bailey-to-unveil-provincial-budget-tomorrow
BCMar 03, 2025

BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey to Unveil Provincial Budget Tomorrow

BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is set to present the provincial budget tomorrow, a significant event coinciding with the anticipated implementation of Trump’s 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods. The budget will also serve as a major test for Premier David Eby, who made ambitious campaign promises during the election. Eby pledged that his BC NDP government would build new hospitals, expand rapid transit, and invest in schools if re-elected. However, the looming tariffs and the pressure to address the province’s $9.4 billion deficit suggest that these promises may not feature prominentl
another-earthquake-shakes-awake-some-british-columbians
BCMar 03, 2025

Another earthquake shakes awake some British Columbians

An earthquake has shaken awake some B.C. residents, the latest in a series of tremors for the province. Earthquakes Canada says the 4.1 magnitude earthquake was detected at 5:02 a.m. PST roughly 44 kilometres northeast of Victoria, B.C., and 75 kilometres southeast of Vancouver but it isn't believed to have caused any damage. The agency says the quake would have been lightly felt around Victoria and Vancouver, and by 6 a.m. more than 1,500 people had reported feeling the quake to the agency. Many people also took to social media to report being shaken awake by the tremor. The U.S. National Tsu
b-c-government-to-present-2025-26-provincial-budget-amid-economic-challenges
BCFeb 28, 2025

B.C. Government to Present 2025-26 Provincial Budget Amid Economic Challenges

The B.C. government, led by Premier David Eby, will present the provincial budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year on March 4. This budget will mark the first presented by the new Finance Minister, Brenda Bailey. Minister Bailey faces the challenge of balancing the budget as tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump continue to threaten the province’s businesses and jobs. The provincial government has already projected a $9 billion deficit for the current fiscal year, the largest budget deficit in Canadian history relative to the size of a provincial economy. In December, Finance Minister B
b-c-to-require-canadian-made-biofuels-to-meet-standards-for-gas-diesel
BCFeb 28, 2025

B.C. to require Canadian-made biofuels to meet standards for gas, diesel

British Columbia's energy minister says the province will soon require Canadian-made products to fulfil renewable fuel standards for gasoline and diesel. Adrian Dix says B.C.'s requirement of five-per-cent renewable fuel content for gasoline must be met with Canadian-made fuel starting Jan. 1, 2026. He says the province is also boosting the minimum renewable requirement for diesel from four to eight per cent effective immediately, and that percentage must be Canadian-made starting April 1. Dix says the United States provides "dramatic subsidies" for its own biofuel industry to a degree that cu

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BCJul 10, 2026

B.C. adds 7,800 jobs in June as unemployment rate falls to 6.5%

British Columbia's labour market added 7,800 jobs in June, while the province's unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey released Friday. Statistics Canada reported that the health care sector led job growth with 8,500 new positions, followed by transportation and warehousing, which added approximately 7,300 jobs. At the same time, the accommodation and food services sector lost about 9,000 jobs, while professional, scientific and technical services shed 3,100 positions. The report also showed gains in both full-time
CanadaJul 10, 2026

Canadian Punjabi man sentenced to 20 years in U.S. for leading cross-border drug trafficking operation

A Canadian man of Punjabi origin has been sentenced to 20 years in a U.S. federal prison after admitting to leading an international drug trafficking organization that smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from the United States into Canada. According to U.S. court documents, 63-year-old Guramrit Sidhu pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, to charges related to his role in the trafficking operation. He had been in U.S. custody since October 2024. Prosecutors said Sidhu led the criminal organization between September 2020 and February 2023. Investigators determined that between S
BCJul 10, 2026

Wildfire rages out of control near Boston Bar in B.C., Highway 1 closed

Wildfire activity near Boston Bar in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon continues to pose a significant threat, with Highway 1 closed due to uncontrolled fires burning on both sides of the Fraser River. According to authorities, the closure is in place to protect public safety. Many residents have already left for safer locations, while others remain on alert as conditions continue to evolve. Amid the emergency, Jagdeep Singh Bahl, owner of JB's Drive-In Restaurant near Highway 1, has opened his restaurant earlier than usual to provide meals for wildfire crews battling the blazes. Bahl said he i
amber-alert-issued-after-alleged-abduction-of-six-year-old-near-b-c-alberta-border
BCJul 10, 2026

Amber Alert issued after alleged abduction of six-year-old near B.C.–Alberta border

Alberta RCMP have issued an Amber Alert after the alleged abduction of a six-year-old child from northern Alberta, with investigators believing the child may now be in British Columbia, the Northwest Territories or Yukon. According to RCMP, Lanakai Morrison was allegedly taken Tuesday from Valhalla Centre, a hamlet about 63 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie. Police said the child was last seen at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Fort St. John, B.C. Investigators believe Lanakai may be with the child's 35-year-old mother, Krista Morrison, and her 35-year-old partner, Daniel Ludwig. Police also
canada-adds-18-200-jobs-in-june-as-unemployment-rate-falls-to-6-5
CanadaJul 10, 2026

Canada adds 18,200 jobs in June as unemployment rate falls to 6.5%

Canada's labour market posted a net gain of 18,200 jobs in June, while the national unemployment rate declined to 6.5 per cent, according to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey released Friday. The increase follows a stronger gain of 87,800 jobs recorded in May. According to Statistics Canada, employment growth in June was driven primarily by the services sector and part-time work. The largest job gains were reported in wholesale and retail trade, as well as accommodation and food services, with younger workers benefiting the most from the hiring. Manufacturing continued to face pressure a