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b-c-reports-1-618-covid-19-cases-and-20-deaths
BCOct 26, 2021

B.C. reports 1,618 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths

In addition, 90.0% (3,893,775) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 85.0% (3,676,200) have received their second dose.Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,618 new cases of COVID-19, including 21 epi-linked cases, for a total of 202,516 cases in the province:Oct. 22-23: 613 new casesOct. 23-24: 529 new casesOct. 24-25: 476 new casesThere are 4,966 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 195,055 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 366 individuals are in hospital and 149 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recoveri
vpd-releases-video-of-west-side-kidnapping-victim
BCOct 26, 2021

VPD releases video of west-side kidnapping victim

Vancouver Police have released surveillance video of a man they believe was kidnapped while walking on a quiet west-side street last month, and hope someone has information that can help solve the troubling case."We believe Jeffrey Lee was abducted by force and taken to an unknown location," says Sergeant Steve Addison. "We don’t know exactly why he was kidnapped, but we know there are people out there who have information, and we’re asking them to come forward now."Lee, 33, was last seen by his girlfriend around 10 p.m. on September 23, as he left her downtown apartment to go gambling in
man-charged-in-crofton-double-homicide
BCOct 25, 2021

Man charged in Crofton double homicide

The RCMP say second-degree murder charges have been laid against a man for the deaths of two people in the Vancouver Island community of Crofton. They say 33 year old Justin Dodd was arrested early Saturday morning without incident. Officers from the nearby city of Duncan responded just after midnight on Saturday to a report of suspicious circumstances at a house in Crofton. The Mounties say when they arrived they found two people dead in the home. Dodd, who is a Duncan resident, is expected to appear in court to face the charges on Nov. 2. The names of the victims are not being released.
new-westminster-victim-of-fatal-stabbing-identified
BCOct 25, 2021

New Westminster: Victim of fatal stabbing identified

New Westminster police have identified the man killed in a stabbing late Friday. They say 23 year old Lionel Lawrence was killed in an altercation on a city street. Police say Lawrence is known to them and his death may be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict. The service says in a news release that it's believed two suspects were involved, and they'd like to speak to a key person who was at the scene and likely has valuable information.
BCOct 25, 2021

BC Federation of Labour organizing rallies in Victoria, Burnaby and Surrey in support of 10 days of paid sick leave to BC employees

The BC Federation of Labour is sponsoring rallies in Victoria and at two locations in Metro Vancouver today as it urges workers to speak out in support of legislation providing 10 days of paid sick leave to BC employees. Today marks the final day of consultation over whether the province should require employers to provide three, five or 10 days of paid sick leave annually. The federation supports 10 paid sick days, saying that is the best way to ensure workers stay home when they are ill and don't share infections on the job. The rallies take place at 4 pm in Burnaby and Surrey, while suppor
tentative-agreement-reached-to-avert-a-strike-by-nearly-1-600-members-of-lifelabs-in-b-c
BCOct 25, 2021

Tentative agreement reached to avert a strike by nearly 1,600 members of LifeLabs in B.C.

The union representing workers at LifeLabs says a tentative agreement has been reached to avert a strike by nearly 1,600 members. The BC General Employees' Union says it expects to present members with details today before they vote on whether to accept the deal. It says a ban on overtime and work-to-rule job action began on Saturday and was expected to continue until November 1st but will be discontinued until the vote is held. Workers voted 98 per cent to strike in July and over 200 of them rallied outside a lab on Saturday before the union and the company met at the bargaining table that e
capacity-limits-lifted-in-bc-as-bc-vaccine-card-now-required
BCOct 25, 2021

Capacity limits lifted in BC as BC Vaccine card now required

Capacity limits have been lifted in BC as of today for organized events like sports games and movie theatres as well as gatherings like weddings. But 50 per cent capacity limits will remain at venues and gatherings in some areas of the province where vaccination rates remain low, including parts of the Fraser, Interior and Northern regions. Masks must still be worn and anyone attending an event will be required to show their BC Vaccine card, at least until January. Meanwhile, all health-care workers in the province will have to be fully vaccinated by tomorrow as a condition of their employmen
bc-ferries-cancels-nearly-two-dozen-sailings-amid-high-winds
BCOct 25, 2021

BC Ferries cancels nearly two dozen sailings amid high winds

Anyone hoping to board a BC ferry this morning will be out of luck thanks to a forecast calling for high winds. BC Ferries has cancelled nearly two dozen sailings, starting at 5:15 a.m. in Tsawwassen and Duke Point, and customers who made an advance booking will get a full refund. It says service will resume as soon as it's safe to do so. Environment Canada has forecast gusts as high as 100 kilometres an hour for parts of Vancouver Island. BC Ferries on Twitter: Sailings across multiple routes have been cancelled due to strong winds. Impacted customers will be advised of cancellations & r
powerful-storm-hits-b-c-south-coast-thousands-without-power-but-no-reported-damage
BCOct 25, 2021

Powerful storm hits B.C. south coast, thousands without power but no reported damage

Wind warnings and special weather statements remain posted for Vancouver Island and British Columbia's inner south coast, but it appears the region has dodged significant damage from a powerful storm. Environment Canada says a rapidly deepening cyclone approached waters off the coast Saturday night and peak wind speeds of at least 100 km/h were reported at three locations off Vancouver Island on Sunday. Winds have eased slightly, but the weather office says gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are still possible in many areas as the storm tracks northeast and is expected to pass over northern Vancouver Is

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b-c-government-takes-legal-action-against-openai-tough-step-over-tumbler-ridge-school-shooting
BCSep 21, 2026

B.C. Government Takes Legal Action Against OpenAI, Tough Step Over Tumbler Ridge School Shooting

British Columbia’s government has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company OpenAI in a California court, alleging that the company failed to alert law enforcement about concerning activity linked to the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge school shooting. B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the legal action at a news conference Monday. The case is connected to the Feb. 10 mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge School, in which an 18-year-old gunman killed eight people, including six children. The provincial government alleges that OpenAI’s safety team became aware months before the
BCSep 21, 2026

B.C. NDP Faces Setback as Lana Popham Steps Away from Next Election

Political activity in British Columbia has intensified after Agriculture Minister Lana Popham announced that she will not seek re-election for the B.C. NDP in Saanich South. Popham’s decision comes amid growing speculation about the possibility of an early provincial election. Political observers say her announcement could add to the speculation, although it does not by itself confirm that an early election will be called. The announcement also comes as the opposition B.C. Conservative Party faces internal turmoil, while the B.C. NDP has been making preparations for a potential election camp
john-rustad-says-he-was-invited-back-to-b-c-conservative-caucus
BCSep 21, 2026

John Rustad Says He Was Invited Back to B.C. Conservative Caucus

Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad says he has been invited to rejoin the party’s caucus, just days after he was expelled by former leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. Speaking at a press conference in Victoria on Monday, Rustad said interim party leader Lorne Doerkson personally contacted him by text message and invited him to return to the caucus. Rustad said he is considering the offer, but added that he believes his time in politics may have passed. Rustad also commented on speculation surrounding former premiers Christy Clark and Gordon Campbell, saying that former leaders should now s
nearly-1-in-4-canadian-households-struggle-with-unaffordable-housing-costs
CanadaSep 21, 2026

Nearly 1 in 4 Canadian Households Struggle With Unaffordable Housing Costs

According to the latest report from Statistics Canada, about 23.2% of Canadian households-nearly one in four- are living in homes considered unaffordable, as housing and living costs continue to rise. Statistics Canada defines housing as unaffordable when a household spends 30% or more of its total income on housing costs. The report found that renters are significantly more likely to face unaffordable housing than homeowners. About 33.7% of renters were living in unaffordable homes, compared with 17.4% of homeowners. In 2024, 36.6% of households had a mortgage, and among them, 26.1% were cons
canada-india-trade-talks-show-progress-sidhu-eyes-new-asia-pacific-trade-deals
BCSep 21, 2026

Canada-India Trade Talks Show Progress, Sidhu Eyes New Asia-Pacific Trade Deals

Canada’s International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu has confirmed progress in trade discussions with India following his two-day visit to the country. Sidhu has now travelled to the Philippines to attend a meeting of economic ministers from Southeast Asian countries. He said Canada will work to advance free trade agreement negotiations with both ASEAN and the Philippines. According to figures shared by Sidhu, Canada’s trade with Asian countries increased by 23.4 per cent last year, reaching $52.3 billion. If a new agreement is finalized, it is expected to create 14,000 well-paying jobs in