British Columbia has announced a new three-year action plan that includes building more housing for those fleeing violence, adding 75 new sexual assault support programs, establishing new free virtual counselling as well as new 24/7 crisis lines and new policing standards. Amy FitzGerald, executive director of the BC Society of Transition Houses, says the organization welcomes the investments, but it is still not enough. She says the society's research shows that only four per cent of the 80-thousand women and children who access their services move on to long-term, safe and affordable housi

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the death toll has risen to five in a salmonella outbreak linked to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes. It says 129 people have been confirmed with salmonella linked to the outbreak, almost double the number at the last update on December 1st, when a single death had been recorded. There are also 17 cases in Ontario, 15 in British Columbia, and two each in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. The agency issued food recall warnings three times in November for Malichita cantaloupes sold between October 11th and November 14

British Columbia's Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe has announced she is leaving her post after 13 years, deeply saddened the province has been unable to reduce the "tragic impacts" of toxic drugs on thousands of people. Lapointe says in a statement today the coroners service has been forever altered by the public health emergency that continues to take the lives of people of all ages in communities throughout B.C., including more than 2,000 people so far this year. Lapointe says recommendations by coroners service death-review panels, including providing a safe supply of drugs without prescription

Mayor Ken Sim says he's moving to abolish Vancouver's elected Park Board, which is the only such body in any British Columbia city. Sim says at a news conference at City Hall that he'll be moving a motion next week to ask the province to amend the Vancouver Charter to bring its parks under city council control. He says this would involve eliminating the requirement for an elected Park Board, calling it a ``long overdue'' step representing a ``new level of accountability.'' He says the move will ensure long-term viability and growth of parks and recreation services, and the current system ``ju

Health Canada has authorized an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax that targets the XBB.1.5 variant. The new vaccine is called Nuvaxovid and is approved for people 12 years of age and over. Nuvaxovid is a protein subunit vaccine, meaning it contains harmless pieces of virus. The other two XBB vaccines currently authorized in Canada are mRNA vaccines, manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The mRNA options remain the only XBB vaccines approved for children under 12. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that everyone six months of age and older get the XBB.1.5 vacc

Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province's coast Monday, bringing ample rain and high winds while disrupting roads and utilities. Environment Canada says the weather system brought as much as 132 millimetres of rain in the last 24 hours, reported at the Kennedy Lake on Vancouver Island.The highest precipitation recorded in the Lower Mainland and southwestern B.C. was in Port Mellon on the Sunshine Coast with 102 millimetres, followed by Mission, Porteau Cove and Pitt Meadows with 97, 91 and 90 millimet

Angus Reid conducted a survey on the performance of Canadian premiers. According to this survey, Newly minted Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew tops the poll with an approval rating of 57 per cent and is Canada's most popular premier. BC Premier David Eb is sixth in a survey of 9 premiers. His approval rating has been recorded at 46%. Currently, Quebec's Francois Legault is ending the year as the country's most unpopular premier, with an approval rating of just 31 per cent. The Angus Reid poll suggests New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs is in eighth place, with a 33 per cent approval rating. Prince

Much of British Columbia's south coast is bracing for stormy weather as Environment Canada says a "potent and impactful" storm will bring heavy rain to Metro Vancouver. Environment Canada is also warning drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish to Whistler to exercise caution due to heavy rains raising the risk of flooding and landslides along the route. The rainfall warning says an atmospheric river is set to make landfall on the province's southern coast today, bringing as much as 150 millimetres of rain to Western Vancouver Island. Meanwhile, Inland Vancouver Island, the Howe Sound r

British Columbia's solicitor general says the government has filed the first-ever application to secure an unexplained wealth order in Canada. Mike Farnworth says the notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court is the start of a series of similar applications, which are powerful tools that "put those engaging in illegal activity on notice." A statement from Farnworth says the province "will not tolerate criminals prospering in our communities" and it will pursue illegally acquired properties, luxury vehicles, money laundering schemes and businesses operating as fronts. The minister say