The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are intruding into inflation calculations as Statistics Canada says the cost of living rose to its highest level in nearly a decade in April. Economists blame a record increase in the price of gasoline last month, compared with last April when gas prices plunged due to the pandemic, saying the jump pushed Canada's inflation rate up to 3.4 per cent from its 2.2 per cent setting in March. When compared with last April, gas prices soared 62.5 per cent, but number crunchers say if gas were removed from the equation, the national inflation rate would be 1.9 per

The latest person to be outed by police as a member of a Metro Vancouver-area gang is 22-year-old Naseem Mohammed. Surrey RCMP say Mohammed is a member of the Brother's Keepers gang and is wanted on multiple warrants but police don't know where he is and say he may have entered the United States illegally. In an effort to slow Metro Vancouver's deadly gang conflict, police have begun releasing photos of people they say are gang members who could be targeted by rival gangs putting anyone near them at risk. Vancouver police released six photos on Monday and yesterday the region's integrated gan

Vancouver Police are encouraging construction companies to take extra precautions to prevent crime, following a spike in thefts on the city’s west side. "As lumber prices have continued to rise, VPD has seen a significant increase in break and enters to construction sites this year," says Sergeant Steve Addison, VPD. "In many cases, the thieves have made off with thousands of dollars in plywood and other building materials. We’re encouraging site managers to take precautions to avoid future thefts." The most recent theft was reported May 10 at a construction site in Kerrisdale, when three

Patrol officers arrested a man after he stabbed a loss prevention officer (LPO) at a Victoria mall yesterday evening.Shortly before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18th, Patrol officers were called to a mall in the 1600-block of Hillside Avenue for a report that an LPO was in a struggle with a theft suspect. As officers were on their way to the call they learned that the LPO had been stabbed by the suspect while apprehending him for theft. After apprehending the suspect, the LPO recognized the extent of his injuries and applied a makeshift tourniquet on himself.Officers arrived and took custody of the

Two men found dead near a small community in British Columbia's southern Interior last week were brothers and police say they are hoping the public can help in solving the homicides.The RCMP say they are releasing the names of 29-year-old Erick Fryer and 31-year-old Carlos Fryer in an effort to help their investigation.They say the bodies of the two men from Kamloops, B.C., were found by a couple walking in a remote area around Naramata Creek north of Penticton. Investigators believe the "unexpected deaths" were isolated and not a random act.Police say they have not uncovered any information

British Columbia health officials say second doses of COVID-19 vaccines may be given sooner than previously expected. The province says officials are closely monitoring the supply of vaccines and more information will be released in early June. In a statement, the province says with a large and steady vaccine supply after most people have had their first jab, officials will be able to consider how they might be able to accelerate the delivery of second shots. The province implemented a four-month gap between doses in order to get more people vaccinated with their first shot. B.C. reported 411

For the second time in two days, a police agency in British Columbia has issued a public safety warning about potential gang violence. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit named 11 men ranging in age from 21 to 40 who are allegedly connected to an ongoing spike in gang conflict and violence in the province's Lower Mainland. Manny Mann, the chief officer of the special enforcement unit, says the warning follows a similar decision by the Vancouver Police Department on Monday to publicly name six alleged gang members. Three of the men listed in the warning by the anti-gang unit were also

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is aligning the Emergency Program Act (EPA) order on face coverings with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) recently updated guidance on mask use in fitness facilities. As outlined in the PHO’s indoor individual exercise document, masks are now required to be worn at all times in fitness facilities, including during workouts. The change to the EPA order allows police and other officials to enforce this new guidance at their discretion.This updated ministerial order on masks ensures a co-ordinated response to COVID-19. For

Victoria police are looking for the Good Samaritan who was attacked while trying to help a youth in the city's downtown area. Police say it happened last Monday night when the teen was assaulted by two other people. Officers were called to reports of four people fighting and arrived to find only the youth, who was taken to hospital for treatment, but a check of surveillance videos shows the fourth person was a bystander who stepped in to help the young victim. The Good Samaritan was kicked, punched and hit with a skateboard and police are appealing for any witnesses to the assault as they exp