The jobless rate across Canada dipped sharply in March to 7.5 per cent, its lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic began, but the numbers in British Columbia didn't budge. Statistics Canada says more than 300,000 jobs were added countrywide last month, pushing the unemployment rate down from 8.2 per cent in February. BC's Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation says the latest unemployment numbers show more people are working now in the province than before the pandemic hit. Ravi Kahlon says, counting the 35,000 jobs created in BC last month, the province now has 11 consecutive

The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers, liquor servers, are getting a pay boost to match the general minimum wage that's also set to increase in June. Labour Minister Harry Bains says he's proud to put an end to the discriminatory lower minimum wage for liquor servers, 80 per cent of whom are women. The province says liquor servers earning minimum wage will make $15.20 an hour, up from $13.95, effective June 1. The general minimum wage is increasing by 60 cents from $14.60 an hour, and the minimum rates for live-in camp leaders and resident caretakers are also

ICBC is on track to mail out all 2.86 million cheques by the end of this month to customers eligible for a share of $600 million in COVID-19-related rebates. Two weeks ago, ICBC began mailing small batches of COVID-19 rebate cheques directly to eligible customers. Large-scale distribution through the vendor started April 6 and, as of Thursday, April 8, approximately 940,000 cheques have been issued. ICBC is proceeding with its third-party vendor, with extra security measures in place, to print and distribute the vast majority of the remaining COVID-19 rebate cheques. This large mailout, origin

Police say a two-year investigation into an organized crime group has led to charges linked to drugs and firearms against a pair of men, one from Burnaby, and another from Surrey. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says investigators executed two search warrants leading to the seizure of items including a loaded semi-automatic handgun, a rifle, 200 rounds of ammunition and drugs such as cocaine and heroin, along with over 100,000 dollars in cash. The unit says the money, as well as three vehicles and jewelry from a home have been referred to the province's civil forfeiture office. A

BC's education minister says she understands that rising COVID-19 case numbers have parents anxious about potential spread to schools but she believes there's no need to close them because the province's comprehensive safety plans are working. Jennifer Whiteside says health authorities and school districts are working together to keep students in school because it's important for them to maintain connections there. But teachers in the Fraser Health region are calling for a hybrid in-class and online learning model as variants rise, and they want masks to be mandatory for all students, not jus

New funding will be available to businesses in British Columbia affected by the latest measures to fight the spread of COVID-19, but the economic recovery minister says those who break the health orders need not apply. The B.C. government has established a $50-million fund for about 14,000 businesses, such as restaurants, bars and breweries, that have been affected by the provincial health officer's orders, which end April 19. Businesses are eligible for up to $10,000 in a one-time payment to cover expenses like perishables, rent or employee wages. Economic Recovery Minister Ravi Kahlon says t

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is putting a new expedited workplace order in place to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Henry says the order will allow WorkSafe B-C to issue temporary closure notices to workplaces where three or more workers are sick. The orders lasting at least 10 days will only be issued when transmission has been proven to have occurred in the workplace. Dr. Henry says the aim is to control and prevent outbreaks so she doesn't have to shut down all non-essential workplaces. British Columbia is reporting 1,293 new COVID-19 cases, smashing previous daily rec

RCMP in Nanaimo hope dash cam video can provide some clues about the death of a man found last Wednesday in bushes near a busy highway. The 58 year old victim was badly hurt when he was discovered just east of the Nanaimo Parkway on the city's northwest side and died later that night. Police say he had several injuries that haven't been explained and investigators hope anyone driving on the Nanaimo Parkway or nearby Tamara Drive, between 4 and 6:45 pm on March 31st may have dash cam video or details that could help solve the case. Officers are also conducting a ground search of the area today

A 12-year-old boy is not physically hurt after what officers say was an unprovoked attack in Esquimalt, B.C. Victoria police say the youth was on his way to school just after 8 a.m. Wednesday when he was grabbed and pulled from his bike by a man he did not know. The police statement says the boy lay on the ground and shielded his face as the man tried to take his backpack. The youngster told police a second person, believed to be a man, stepped in and pushed the attacker away before urging the boy to get back on his bike and leave. The boy continued to school and the incident was not reported