The B.C. government is more than doubling the fines for those promoting and attending events against COVID-19 health rules in an effort to crack down on "selfish behaviour." The fine has increased to $575 from $230, although the penalty for those caught hosting such an event remains at $2,300. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says it's become clear in the last few months that the risk of paying the ticket isn't enough of a deterrence. The $230 fine will continue to apply to a range of other COVID-19 violations, such as not wearing a mask. The ministry says in a news release that the incre

Elders in British Columbia care homes will soon be able to socialize and receive visits from loved ones after being locked down by COVID-19 for more than a year. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the benefits of lifting some of the restrictions outweigh the risks to the elderly, who have had little interaction with family or friends since the pandemic began. Starting April 1st, residents in long-term care and assisted-living facilities will be able to have frequent and routine visits. The rule changes include allowing two visitors, plus a child, at one time -- and they're allowe

Burnaby RCMP are investigating an altercation at the Metrotown Mall in which a West Vancouver man allegedly spat on someone after being asked to wear a mask. Police say the incident happened outside the mall's McDonald's restaurant around 11 am on Monday when a bystander asked the man to wear a mask, and he refused. The man has been issued a $230 fine and police are investigating the allegations as a possible assault. Mounties say people should call police instead of trying to enforce COVID-19 guidelines. Burnaby RCMP on Twitter: Unmasked man arrested by #BurnabyFrontline officers for assault

A lawyer for Canada's attorney general says there's no evidence that the RCMP shared serial numbers with U.S. investigators for the devices of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou. John Gibb-Carsley told the B.C. Supreme Court that the burden of proof is on Meng's legal team to show the numbers were shared, but they can't do it. The court has seen email evidence that the Federal Bureau of Investigation asked for the serial numbers and RCMP collected them, but the email chain goes cold before confirming if they were sent or not. Meng's legal team is arguing that proceedings in her extradition case sh

Delta police say a fully loaded dump truck was pulled off the road earlier this month after officers discovered its brakes were completely inoperable during an enforcement blitz. Police says officers inspected 59 vehicles during a safety campaign on March 16, handing out 33 tickets, while drivers of 31 vehicles were given orders or had their vehicle placed out of service immediately. Officers also pulled over a commercial cargo van where the tread on two of its tires was gone and the wear was into the inner structure of the tires. Thirty inspections of taxis and ride-sharing vehicles were als

RCMP in Alberta say a BC woman is responsible for more than 250,000 dollars in fraud connected to a scheme involving fake travel vouchers. Airdrie RCMP say they have arrested and charged 40 year old Alexandra Beckow.Beckow is from Surrey and has been arrested following an 18 month long fraud investigation. Officials say the victims reported they had purchased travel vouchers from Beckow or had fraudulent charges on their credit cards. Police say they have identified 47 victims from Alberta, BC and Ontario who were allegedly defrauded of more than 250,000 dollars.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says a woman whose burned body was found in a Burnaby park was a recent immigrant from the Philippines and mother with a loving family.Ma Cecilia Loreto was 49 years old and two people, aged 21 and 15, have been charged with first-degree murder and indignity to human remains after her death.Corporal Frank Jang says it is ``incredible'' that Carlo Tobias and the youth are facing the most serious murder charges in the book, but he cannot say much about the case as it's before the courts.He did say that the three knew each other, the alleged killing was

BC is reporting 716 more cases of COVID-19 just as the province sets out new plans to have laid-off tourism and hospitality workers help with the immunization rollout. Today's additions bring BC's case count to 93 thousand 969 since the pandemic began. The province also reported three new deaths, for a toll of one thousand 441. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that there has been "much progress" in BC's vaccine program. However, they urged residents to continue working together to help combat the pandemic. They say people who r

New financial data shows operating revenues for the City of Vancouver dropped by 90 million dollars, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Kennedy Stewart says the city was able to save some money through more than 1,800 layoffs and the deferral of expensive capital projects as well as city council taking a 10 per cent pay cut. Stewart says the city is in much better shape than this time last year. A report on the city's budget says it expects the pandemic to continue to negatively affect non-tax revenues in to 2021. City of Vancouver on Twitter: Today the City released its 2020 S