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free-covid-19-rapid-tests-to-be-made-available-in-b-c-for-70-and-up-starting-friday
BCFeb 24, 2022

Free COVID-19 rapid tests to be made available in B.C. for 70 and up starting Friday

Rapid tests and the option for a new vaccine will be available soon for British Columbia residents. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says one rapid test box containing five tests will be available at pharmacies at no cost starting Friday for those 70 years and older. She says the tests should be picked up when people are asymptomatic and be used one test at a time when they have symptoms. Dr. Henry says the tests will be made available to all age groups over the next month as additional shipments of 12 million tests are sent to the province. Dr. Henry says Novavax, the new protein-b
search-continues-for-high-risk-missing-youth-lia-barker-victoria-police
BCFeb 23, 2022

Search continues for high-risk missing youth Lia Barker: Victoria police

Patrol officers are asking for your help to locate high-risk missing youth Lia Barker.Lia is described as a 16-year-old Caucasian girl standing five feet, seven inches tall, with a slim build. Lia has shoulder-length dyed blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black jacket, black sweater, black sweatpants, and grey boots. Recent photographs of Lia are below.Lia was last seen in Victoria on the morning of February 1st, and investigators are concerned about the length of time that Lia has been missing. Lia may have travelled to Vancouver. Patrol officers are working to locate Lia and ensure th
two-vancouver-island-new-democrat-mps-say-constituency-offices-vandalized
BCFeb 23, 2022

Two Vancouver Island New Democrat MP's say constituency offices vandalized

Two Vancouver Island New Democrat members of Parliament report their constituency offices have been vandalized. A photo from North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney's office shows graffiti scrawled on windows while RCMP confirm the glass front door and two exterior windows of Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord John's Parksville office were smashed early yesterday but no one entered the office. Blaney calls the incident Sunday night at her Campbell River office ``scary'' and ``illegal,'' saying it's not how Canadians express differences of opinion over policy issues while Johns says his staff should
calgary-man-faces-fraud-charges-for-running-romance-scams-that-trapped-several-bc-women
BCFeb 23, 2022

Calgary man faces fraud charges for running romance scams that trapped several BC women

A Calgary man faces fraud charges in that city for running romance scams that trapped several BC women. Police in Calgary say 36-year-old Bryan Syryda faces more than a dozen fraud and theft charges related to complaints from Langley, Surrey, Delta, Calgary and Cochrane, Alberta. Scams identified in 2020 found unwary purchasers had ordered discounted electronics but never received them while further investigation found women who met a man online were treated to lavish outings that helped them decide to order items, and convince family and friends to order, as well. None of the electronics mat
BCFeb 23, 2022

VPD reports 60 assaults during the Family Day weekend

Vancouver police has shared information about some of the 60 attacks during the long weekend. Following is the information shared through various tweets by VPD: The #VPD has made significant progress with investigations into the large number of unprovoked stranger attacks. Still, violence remains a problem. #VPD is investigating 60 assaults over the #FamilyDay long weekend with 22 cases being investigated as possible stranger assaults.On Saturday night, a staff member of a West Hastings hotel asked an unruly guest to leave, who responded by punching him in the face, and then became confrontati
kamloops-b-c-child-honoured-for-bravery-after-acting-to-help-injured-grandmother
BCFeb 23, 2022

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for bravery after acting to help injured grandmother

A 6 year old girl has been honoured by RCMP in Kamloops, B.C., after she managed to get out of a crashed car, cross a busy highway and summon help for her injured grandmother. A post on the City of Kamloops Facebook page says Jane Deelstra received a certificate from Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky on Tuesday, recognizing her ``great bravery and perseverance.'' The social media post says Deelstra's grandmother suffered a medical emergency while driving on the weekend and crashed at an exit along Highway 1, east of Kamloops. Deelstra was not hurt but her grandmother needed help, so the post says
b-c-reports-2-103-new-covid-19-cases-and-44-deaths
BCFeb 23, 2022

B.C. reports 2,103 new COVID-19 cases and 44 deaths

Over a four-day period, B.C. is reporting 2,103 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 345,734 cases in the province:Feb. 18-19: 631 new casesFeb. 19-20: 571 new casesFeb. 20-21: 424 new casesFeb. 21-22: 477 new casesThere are 688 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 108 are in intensive care.In the past 96 hours, 44 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,830.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: 11Vancouver Coastal Health: 17Interior Health: sevenNorthern Health: fourIsland Health: fiveThere have been four new health-care facility outbreaks at Hillside Village, Polson L
highlights-of-british-columbia-budget-for-the-2022-23-fiscal-year
BCFeb 23, 2022

Highlights of British Columbia budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year

Here are highlights from the B.C. budget tabled Tuesday:— The government is earmarking $2.1 billion to fund disaster recovery efforts and future response to the threats from wildfires, floods and heat waves.— The deficit is forecast to be $5.5 billion for the 2022-23 fiscal year.— Average child-care fees will drop to about $20 per day after the NDP promised $10-a-day child care.— $22 million will be spent to support survivors and restore funding for 50 sexual assault centres.— A new Declaration Act Secretariat will ensure legislation is consistent with United Nations Declaration on t
one-teen-arrested-after-two-teenajers-injured-in-an-assault-in-a-surrey-school
BCFeb 23, 2022

One teen arrested after two teenajers injured in an assault in a Surrey school

Surrey RCMP is informing the public of an assault with a weapon that has left two teens with injuries at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary. The suspect, also a teen, has been taken into custody. On February 22, 2022 at 2:39 p.m., Surrey RCMP Frontline officers responded to a report of a stabbing at the school grounds of Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary school located in the 6100-block of 180 Street. Two victims were located and taken to hospital in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect remained on scene and was taken into custody. Early indications are that this incident stemmed fr

Just In

CanadaOct 21, 2026

Canada Says Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s Is Constitutional

The Canadian government has defended proposed Bill C-34, which would ban children under 16 from using social media, arguing that it is consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a statement issued by Justice Minister Sean Fraser, the government acknowledged that the proposed digital safety legislation could affect freedom of expression but maintained that it falls within constitutional limits. The government argued that age-based restrictions are already in place for activities such as voting and driving, and said similar measures are justified to protect children from the
danielle-smith-warns-ucp-members-support-canada-or-leave-the-party
AlbertaOct 21, 2026

Danielle Smith Warns UCP Members: Support Canada or Leave the Party

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has issued a strong warning to members of her United Conservative Party (UCP), saying those who cannot support a pro-Canada position should return their party memberships and find another party. In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Smith made it clear that the UCP cannot afford divisions over the issue, warning that internal disagreements could put the party at risk of losing the next provincial election to the opposition NDP. Her comments came after Monday’s referendum, in which Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. Smith acknowledged
psac-announces-strike-vote-for-120-000-federal-workers
CanadaOct 21, 2026

PSAC Announces Strike Vote for 120,000 Federal Workers

Canada’s largest federal public service union has announced a nationwide strike vote after contract negotiations with the government stalled. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents approximately 120,000 workers, including wildfire firefighters, passport officers, fisheries officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative staff. The strike vote will run from November 16, 2026, to January 22, 2027. The union and the Treasury Board have been in a dispute over a new collective agreement for the past 18 months. PSAC alleges that the federal government has repeatedly dela
IndiaOct 21, 2026

CBI Takes Over Jhota Murder Probe, Post-Mortem Decision Still Pending

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun investigating the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab. The central agency has registered an FIR in Chandigarh in connection with the case. CBI officials met Jhota’s family and recorded their statements. The team also collected evidence from the shop of the accused, Ashwani Kumar, and other locations linked to the case. The agency is reportedly trying to persuade the family to agree to a post-mortem examination. The CBI has assured them that a medical board of doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Educatio
carney-says-federal-government-wont-back-down-on-immigration-targets
CanadaOct 21, 2026

Carney Says Federal Government Won’t Back Down on Immigration Targets

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has assured that the federal government will maintain sustainable immigration levels and will not back away from its targets. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday morning, Carney said his government is consulting provincial governments on bringing immigration to appropriate levels and distributing newcomers more effectively across the country based on economic needs. His remarks came after Alberta’s referendum, in which approximately 53 per cent of voters supported giving the province greater control over immigration policies to reduce the number o