COVID-19 restrictions in British Columbia have been extended to Jan. 8 as the province continues to experience high levels of transmission and community spread of the virus. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, says restrictions on gatherings are being extended. All worship services and community and social events remain suspended, along with high-intensity group fitness, such as interval training, hot yoga and spin classes. The latest order includes an exemption for drive-thru events like light festivals and drop-off toy drives. Dr. Henry says 2,020 new cases of the illness have

The newly re-elected NDP government says it will strive to ensure that people work together to fight the second wave of COVID-19 and to mount a strong economic recovery. In a throne speech read by Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin, the government says vaccines herald better days ahead but the virus still poses urgent challenges in the short term. It says a tax-free pandemic recovery payment of one-thousand dollars to eligible families and 500-dollars to individuals will help people during a hard time, while benefiting the local economy. The plan was to deliver the benefit in time for Christmas

Victoria police say they issued a 230 dollar fine this weekend to a man in a restaurant who refused to wear a mask. Police didn't name the restaurant where the fine was issued, but they say officers were called to the business on Saturday evening. They say the man allegedly became belligerent and repeatedly swore at staff when he was asked to wear a mask. Police say they found the man as he was leaving the restaurant and issued the ticket.

New Democrat Raj Chouhan is the new Speaker at the BC legislature. He was first elected as the member of the legislature for Burnaby-Edmonds in 2005 and previously served as deputy Speaker. Chouhan was acclaimed Speaker this morning. The office of the Speaker says he is the first person of South Asian heritage to be elected to the post in British Columbia or in any Canadian parliamentary jurisdiction. Premier John Horgan paid tribute to Chouhan's achievement, saying his election today to serve as the Speaker of the B-C legislature makes history.

Vancouver police say the body of a man was found on the athletic track at Strathcona Park on Sunday. The park is the site of a large homeless camp. Vancouver Constable Tania Visintin says they don't yet know the cause of death. She says investigators won't speculate on that if the death is suspicious.

Politicians get back to work today at the BC legislature with one main goal in mind after the NDP won a majority government. Premier John Horgan says this short session before Christmas will be used to start the process of getting out the COVID relief benefit of one-thousand dollars for eligible families and 500 dollars for individuals. The session will start with a throne speech with some members in the house while others attend virtually because of COVID-19 restrictions. Interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond says she'd like to see an update on the province's finances after the government esti

Today's the day that provincewide COVID-19 restrictions are supposed to be lifted, but BC's top doctor has hinted there may be an extension of the controls. Dr. Bonnie Henry said last week that it was clear transmissions were not dropping as health officials had hoped. The daily case counts ranged from near 600 to over 800 last week, while the death toll didn't go below 11 each day. Dr. Henry even introduced more restrictions late last week on adult sports and indoor fitness classes.

Lawyers for Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou are back in a Vancouver court today amid a swirl of speculation over a proposed plea agreement with the United States. A Wall Street Journal report said US officials were discussing an agreement that would see Meng admit some guilt over allegations she violated American sanctions against Iran, charges she's always denied. Today's BC Supreme Court hearing was scheduled to gather evidence based on her lawyer's claims of an abuse of process by police and Canada Border Services agents when she was arrested two years ago. Meng's arrest at the Vancouver air

British Columbia's top doctor and the health minister are urging the public to slow the spread of COVID-19 this weekend by limiting any festive gatherings to immediate households. Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix say 711 new infections have been recorded in the province and 11 more people have died, for a total of 492 fatalities. British Columbia is recording 711 new cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 9,050. They say in a joint statement that B.C. is continuing to see a significant surge in community transmission so all public health orders must be followed as more than 36,000