Health Minister Mark Holland announced today that British Columbia is the first province to sign the $196-billion Individual Health Agreement introduced by the Prime Minister.In February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced that the federal government is ready to spend $196-billion dollars to revitalize Canada's health system, as a result of which all provinces except Quebec have agreed to this deal.BC will receive $1.2 billion over the next three years from the federal government.Federal Health Minister Mark Holland made the announcement Tuesday morning at Vancouver General Hospital.H

BC Ferries CEO and President Nicolas Jimenez said the company has realigned to focus on meeting customer needs and an affordable, safe and reliable future.As part of realignment, three new operating divisions have been created and four new vice presidents have been hired to oversee the same.The new divisions are engineering, marine operations and customer experience."I believe the company is now better positioned to address the short and longer term challenges we face," said Jimenez. The changes will be effective from October 16 to allow for the transition of duties.

An award-winning travel magazine says British Columbia's capital city tops its 2023 list of the world's best cities.Condé Nast Traveller, a luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, says Victoria captured top marks in its annual Readers' Choice Awards of top cities.Victoria and Mexico's San Miguel de Allende, which ranked sixth, were the only cities in North America to make the list.Condé Nast Traveller says Victoria's restaurant and nightlife scene is "something to be celebrated," while the city "embraces adventure," and "draws outdoorsy types."Readers gave Victoria, San Sebastián in Spain, an

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has lifted the state of local emergency in West Kelowna, B.C., more than a month after the McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the area.It says it has also rescinded all remaining evacuation orders stemming from the blaze.West Kelowna was put under the state of emergency on Aug. 16 as the 139 square kilometre McDougall Creek fire destroyed or damaged nearly 190 properties.The wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 properties and put another 10,000 homes on alert, with about 50,000 residents impacted by various orders and advisories.In a stateme

As of Jan. 1, 2024, employers performing asbestos abatement work must be licensed to operate in B.C. and anyone performing this work must be trained and certified.These new requirements were part of amendments to the Workers Compensation Act made in spring 2022.The legislative amendments also gave WorkSafeBC the authority to develop and administer the licensing and certification regime. In addition to being required to have a licence requirement, asbestos abatement employers will need to ensure their workers are appropriately trained and certified by Jan. 1, 2024.Any individual performing asbe

The B.C. gurdwara where a Sikh separatist leader was gunned down has launched an investigation into how an American newspaper was able to view security camera footage of the June killing.Gurkeerat Singh, who said he is a spokesman for the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, said it's unclear how The Washington Post was able to see the video of Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death."We've been told by the temple that the video is not for the media, the public, because it's an ongoing investigation. That video won't be released to anyone."It's an "ongoing investigation," he said in an interview on Wednes

Forest products firm Canfor says hired contractors on their way to conduct field survey work for the company were on board a helicopter that crashed outside Prince George, B.C., killing two and injuring four.Emergency crews were called just before 8 a.m. Tuesday after the helicopter crashed near Purden Lake off Highway 16, with six people on board.Canfor says in a statement issued Wednesday that the survey crew, the helicopter and its pilot were contracted for field work, but the company would not reveal the contracting firm nor the helicopter's owner.Michelle Ward, Canfor's vice-president of

Premier David Eby says federal ministers have assured him British Columbia will get the information it needs to ensure the safety of its residents after a Sikh leader was killed in June.His statement came on the same day that gurdwara councils in B.C. and Ontario called for the immediate suspension of all security and intelligence agreements with India and repeated their calls for a public inquiry into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C.The British Columbia Gurdwaras Council and Ontario Gurdwaras Committee say it is clear, based on public reports, that intelligence agencies were

Two people are dead and four are injured after a helicopter crashed in Prince George. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has shared this information. A team of investigators has been deployed following the horrific helicopter crash, the board said in a statement. The federal agency says a Bell 206L helicopter has crashed. The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. near Purden Lake, east of Prince George. Six ambulances were dispatched to the scene, according to BC Emergency Health Services. The agency said the cause of the helicopter crash was not yet known, but the TSB would gather informa