The strength of B.C.'s economy and the resilience of British Columbians has helped to keep provincial finances on more stable ground during one of the most challenging times in the province's history.As the provincial government responded to people's need for income support, business grants, tax breaks and crucial services during the pandemic, British Columbia ended the 2020-21 fiscal year with continued strong credit ratings and a lower-than-projected deficit of $5.5 billion."We are on solid fiscal ground because British Columbians have done the right thing - protecting all of us by getting v

The BC government is encouraging people to take precautions as Environment Canada forecasts the return of unseasonably hot temperatures this week. A statement from the Ministry of Health urges people to follow guidelines for staying cool during ``extreme heat'' that's predicted to last until this weekend. Health Minister Adrian Dix says health authorities and B-C Emergency Health Services are preparing to assist people in need during the latest heat wave. Heat in the mid to high 30s is expected with the highest temperatures slated for Thompson-Okanagan, the southern Kootenays and Fraser Canyo

B.C. is reporting 150 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 149,259 cases in the province.There are 783 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 146,700 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 44 individuals are in hospital and 22 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the last 24 hours, no new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,768. Since December 2020, the Province has administered 6,637,241 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. As of

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Monday, July 26, 2021.For real-time updates on evacuation alerts and orders, visit: https://twitter.com/EmergencyInfoBCFor the latest wildfire information, visit: www.bcwildfire.caFires:Wildfires burning in B.C.: 250Since April 1:1,226 wildfires417,694 hectares burntActive fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 37Coastal: 6Kamloops: 88Northwest: 4Prince George: 48Southeast: 68Crews and equipment:Firefighters and other personnel fighting the fires: 3,558 (total, includes out-of-province an

Working with health authorities throughout British Columbia, the Province is making it easier than ever for people to get vaccinated with the launch of Vax for BC, the next step in the Province's campaign to help as many eligible people as possible get vaccinated."With more than 80% of eligible people in B.C. vaccinated with their first dose and more than 60% fully vaccinated, we have made tremendous progress in our vaccine rollout," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. "The next few weeks is a great opportunity for everyone not yet fully vaccinated to take advantage of the number of Vax for B

On July 21, 2021, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Langley RCMP responded to the 8200 block of 197 Street for a vehicle fire. After the fire was extinguished, a deceased victim was located inside the burned vehicle. The victim has now been identified as 36-year old Christopher Roy, from Vancouver. Mr Roy’s next of kin have been notified. IHIT investigators are able to confirm that Christopher Roy was known to police, had a criminal record, and was connected to the current Lower Mainland gang conflict. This is believed to be a targeted incident. IHIT is working closely with its partners in the In

A Nicola Valley man accused of setting fire to several Merritt-area churches in early 2019, including the historic Murray Church, has pleaded guilty. RCMP Sergeant Josh Roda says August Caprian got a two-year conditional sentence after pleading guilty to three counts of arson and one count of break and enter with intent. Built in 1876, the Murray Church was the oldest building in the Nicola Valley when it burned down January 2019, while two other churches were also damaged. The Murray Church was being rebuilt after a fundraising campaign.

Thirty-four Australian firefighting personnel are set to arrive in B-C today, joining hundreds from Mexico, Quebec, Alberta, Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces as they help battle some 250 wildfires burning across the province.The B-C government says the group from Australia will include one nine-person incident management team, various specialized leadership roles and technical specialists who will be deployed under the direction of the B-C Wildfire Service.It says out-of-province personnel are working under strict COVID-19 protocols.More than 35-hundred people in total are involved i

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 267 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 149,109 cases in the province:July 23-24: 94 new casesJuly 24-25: 79 new casesJuly 25-26: 94 new casesThere are currently 695 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 146,636 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 43 individuals are in hospital and 17 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 72 hours, one new death (Northern Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,768. Since December