The provincial deficit is predicted to hit a record this year with billions of dollars in new spending promised for infrastructure and supports for families and businesses. Finance Minister Selina Robinson forecasts a 9.7-billion-dollar deficit this fiscal year and says it may take seven to nine years to balance the books. She says the province will help the recovery with 8.7 billion dollars in infrastructure spending over three years that will create 85 thousand jobs. Another 1.6 billion dollars is promised for poverty reduction strategies and an extra 3.1 billion for the health-care and men

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says details are still being arranged, but travel restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 will not include random stops. A statement from Farnworth's office says the restrictions are meant to discourage recreational travel and will include checks at ferry terminals and along major highways out of Metro Vancouver. He says the rules are not meant as punishment and his ministry is also working to ensure racialized communities are not unfairly affected. Travel regulations were announced for the province yesterday and will remain in effect until

The Fraser Health authority says it will be vaccinating residents 40 years and older in a variety of neighbourhoods it has deemed to be high-risk for COVID-19. Dr. Victoria Lee, president and CEO of the health authority, says vaccinating residents in certain neighbourhoods in Surrey, North Delta and Langley will help reduce the burden being placed on hospitals due to COVID-19. Lee estimates 50 to 70 non-essential surgeries have been cancelled and hospitals in the region are at 96 per cent capacity. As of this morning, there were an estimated 229 COVID-19 patients in Fraser Health hospitals. D

Former BC premier Christy Clark spent the morning testifying before BC's money laundering inquiry. Clark led the Liberal government between 2011 and 2017, a period when several NDP reports say a rapid growth in money laundering occurred in BC's casinos, real estate and luxury car industries. Clark testified she first heard about a spike in suspicious cash through BC casinos in 2015 and says her government acted quickly to implement a report recommending changes to anti-money laundering strategies. The NDP ordered inquiry is examining how money laundering flourished, and Clark says confirmatio

Multiple firearms and pre-packaged drugs were recently seized by the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team (SGET) during a vehicle stop in Newton, as the Surrey RCMP continues to target individuals associated with gang and drug trafficking activity.Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2021, SGET conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle in the area of Woodland Place and 99 Avenue. During their interactions with the driver, the officer observed a weapon inside the vehicle and subsequently detained the driver for weapons possession.Further investigation of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of s

One person has been shot and killed in an attack at a park in Coquitlam, B.C.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says it happened at about 6:30 p.m. at the Town Centre skate park. It says the critically injured man died in hospital.The homicide team says no arrests have been made.The park was crowded with people enjoying a summer-like evening when the attack occurred.Police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting and hasn't yet spoken with investigators to contact the homicide team or RCMP.

British Columbia will impose travel restrictions to prevent movement outside of health regions as police set up roadside checks similar to those seen during the Christmas season. Premier John Horgan says the government has been working with the tourism industry and B.C. Ferries to deter people from booking accommodation if they live outside their intended destination. Horgan says Public Safety Minster Mike Farnworth is expected to provide more details about the travel restrictions on Friday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the COVID-19-related death of a child under the a

People in BC 18 years and older are invited this week to register to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry of Health says more than 1.8 million people are eligible to register for vaccines this week through the province's Get Vaccinated program. The ministry says people 40 years old and older are invited to register today, with those 35 and older signing up Tuesday and 30 and older Wednesday. Those 25 and older can register Thursday and 18 and above can sign up Friday. BC Government News on Twitter: NEW: Updated COVID-19 vaccine registration schedule. Find out when it's your turn to re

A wildfire burning near homes in British Columbia's southern interior has prompted the first evacuation alert of B.C.'s barely three-week-old wildfire season. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued the alert for the small community of Canford and for homes in a subdivision about 12 kilometres northwest of Merritt. The BC Wildfire Service says the suspected human-caused blaze was fanned by winds after being sparked on Sunday and now covers an estimated one square kilometre. It is one of about a dozen wildfires reported Sunday from southern Vancouver Island to the Prince George and Cranbr