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b-c-reports-lowest-daily-rate-since-last-august-277-covid-19-cases-reported-over-the-weekend
BCJun 15, 2021

B.C. reports lowest daily rate since last August; 277 COVID-19 cases reported over the weekend

BC is reporting 68 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest daily rate since last August, as the province prepares to enter the second stage of its restart plan tomorrow. The new cases announced are among 277 diagnosed since Friday for a total of one-thousand-537 active infections, including 136 people who are in hospital. Another four people have died, pushing the death toll in BC to 1,734. Just over 74 per cent of all eligible residents aged 12 and up have now had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine out of more than four million shots administered overall. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provinci
date-set-for-pandemic-delayed-inquest-into-2016-in-custody-death-of-b-c-teen
BCJun 14, 2021

Date set for pandemic-delayed inquest into 2016 in-custody death of B.C. teen

An inquest begins next week to examine the death in police custody of an 18 year old Indigenous woman just hours after she was airlifted to hospital from RCMP cells in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. Jocelyn George died in June 2016 and a report by the Independent Investigations Office cleared RCMP of wrongdoing, finding her death was due to inflammation of the lining around her heart following toxic drug use. The mother of two young children was held in custody because she seemed intoxicated and, at one point, appeared well enough to be released, but deteriorated after being picked up agai
BCJun 14, 2021

British Columbians can hit the road again; Cinema halls and outdoor gatherings allowed in certain numbers

British Columbians can hit the road again, Premier John Horgan says restrictions are being lifted on travel within the province. Horgan announced the change as he, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and several cabinet ministers confirmed BC is moving to Step Two of its restart plan. That means non-essential travel within the province is allowed, but travel elsewhere in Canada is still not recommended. Starting tomorrow groups of up to 50 can gather outdoors, movie theatres can re-open and sports fans can watch events in person, while masks remain mandatory in indoor public places. Ba
woman-seriously-injured-in-traffic-stop-in-british-columbia-iio
BCJun 14, 2021

Woman seriously injured in traffic stop in British Columbia: IIO

British Columbia's police watchdog says a woman suffered potentially life-threatening injuries after she was pulled over in a traffic stop in Castlegar on Saturday. The Independent Investigations Office says an officer ordered the woman who was riding an electric scooter to pull over late Saturday. The office, which investigates all cases of serious injury or death involving the police, says in a statement that a check turned up an outstanding warrant for the woman's arrest. The office says it has been told an ``interaction'' occurred as the RCMP officer attempted to take the woman into custo
opponents-of-old-growth-logging-have-begun-a-hunger-strike-in-downtown-vancouver
BCJun 14, 2021

Opponents of old-growth logging have begun a hunger strike in downtown Vancouver

Opponents of old-growth logging on southern Vancouver Island say they've begun a hunger strike in downtown Vancouver. Extinction Rebellion spokesman Zain Haq says the hunger strike is in support of protesters camped near old-growth forest logging areas west of Victoria, which have been the scene of more than 220 arrests in recent weeks at Fairy Creek. Haq says the hunger strikers will refuse food until they can meet with Premier John Horgan, Forests Minister Katrine Conroy and Jonathan Wilkinson, the federal minister of environment and climate change. Last week, the BC government approved the
b-c-reports-180-new-covid-19-cases-and-1-death-province-crosses-the-75-mark-for-1st-dose-of-vaccinations-administered
BCJun 11, 2021

B.C. reports 180 new COVID-19 cases and 1 death; province crosses the 75% mark for 1st dose of vaccinations administered

Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the COVID-19 response in British Columbia:"Today, we are reporting that 75.1% of all adults in B.C. and 73.1% of those 12 and older have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 3,893,581 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 497,932 of which are second doses."We have had 180 new cases of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 146,176 cases in British Columb
b-c-mayors-back-vancouvers-bid-to-decriminalize-drugs-urge-federal-support
BCJun 11, 2021

B.C. mayors back Vancouver's bid to decriminalize drugs, urge federal support

Seven BC mayors have added their support for Vancouver's application to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs. They say it's time Ottawa stepped up. The mayors say the ongoing opioid crisis also has harsh effects in their cities and decriminalization could encourage users to seek help. Vancouver has applied to Health Canada for decriminalization of simple possession of 15 different drugs, and has the support of a broad coalition, including Vancouver police, the province, chief coroner and provincial health officer. The mayors of Victoria, Nanaimo, Saanich, Kamloops, New Westminster, Bu
BCJun 11, 2021

VPD seizes guns in illegal marijuana store bust

Vancouver Police are investigating after firearms were located during an inspection of an unlicensed marijuana store by the Province’s Community Safety Unit (CSU). "The Community Safety Unit has the authority to enter premises where cannabis is being sold without a provincial retail store licence and take enforcement action, including seizing cannabis," says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. "Legislation states that a seller must be licensed by the provincial government and that product for sale must be sourced through the provincial government to ensure the safety of the product, and ultimatel
BCJun 11, 2021

Fire claims life of 18 year old woman who alerted others

RCMP in Shawnigan Lake are investigating a fire that claimed a young woman's life in Mill Bay. Police say officers responded to the early-morning blaze yesterday after a report by the Malahat Nation. The residence was completely engulfed and four people who were outside were taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. But an 18 year old woman who alerted others to the fire did not make it out of the house, and firefighters found her body inside after extinguishing the blaze.

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mark-carney-announces-november-tour-of-europe-and-asia-to-boost-trade-and-investment
CanadaNov 04, 2026

Mark Carney Announces November Tour of Europe and Asia to Boost Trade and Investment

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced an international tour of Europe and Asia from November 11 to 19, aimed at expanding trade and attracting new investment. During the visit, Carney will travel to Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China. He will begin his tour in Dublin, where he will attend the European Political Community Summit. Discussions are expected to advance efforts to make Canada the European Union’s first associate member. Carney will then travel to Manila to attend the ASEAN Summit as a guest, where the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement is expected to be finali
alberta-premier-danielle-smiths-popularity-declines-following-referendum
AlbertaNov 04, 2026

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s Popularity Declines Following Referendum

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s popularity has taken a hit following the province’s recent referendum, although she continues to enjoy strong support among her party’s voters. According to a survey, 59 per cent of Albertans are dissatisfied with Smith’s performance, while 39 per cent approve of her leadership. Experts believe the referendum debate over the past 18 months has diverted attention from issues that could have benefited the government. Her approval rating has reportedly dropped by around six percentage points. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has a slightly higher approval rating,
CanadaNov 04, 2026

China Extends Tariff Relief on Canadian Lobster, Crab and Canola Meal Until 2028

Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has announced that China will extend tariff relief on Canadian lobster, crab, peas and canola meal for another two years, until 2028. Sidhu said the agreement was originally set to expire at the end of this year but has now been extended for an additional two years. The announcement follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing in January. In March, China reduced tariffs on Canadian canola meal, while Canada lowered tariffs on certain Chinese steel and aluminum products, allowing them to enter the Canadian market. Sidhu is c
canadas-trade-diversification-agenda-unchanged-despite-u-s-election-results
CanadaNov 04, 2026

Canada’s Trade Diversification Agenda Unchanged Despite U.S. Election Results

Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc has reaffirmed that Ottawa’s trade diversification agenda will not be derailed by the results of the U.S. midterm elections. He said only Americans have the right to explain what issues influenced voters’ decisions, adding that Canada has no say in the matter. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned against assuming that the Democratic Party’s clean sweep means the trade war is over. He stressed that U.S. President Donald Trump still has full powers to impose tariffs and make trade-related decisions. However, Ford described the Democratic vic
carney-confirms-trade-talks-with-u-s-underway-since-weekend
CanadaNov 04, 2026

Carney Confirms Trade Talks With U.S. Underway Since Weekend

Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that trade talks with the United States have been underway since the weekend, following a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump last week. Speaking to reporters during his visit to Antigua and Barbuda, Carney said negotiations on a potential trade deal began after the call. He added that Washington had scaled back some of its demands, removing several key Canadian red lines from the discussions. These include Canada's laws protecting the French language and its right to independently negotiate free trade agreements with other countries. Me