Premier John Horgan says the latest unemployment data shows his NDP government is focused on measures to help BC overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Horgan says October's employment numbers show BC led the country by creating more than 33,000 jobs. At eight per cent, he says the province's unemployment rate is well below the national average of 8.9 per cent. Horgan says employment in BC now stands at 97.6 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in February.

The federal government says authorities have seized 380 shipments of counterfeit or unauthorized COVID-19-related goods along the BC border with the US. Officials says the seizures by the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada and the RCMP happened between March 20 and June 30, 2020. The seized goods include 4.5 million units of personal protective equipment, 48,000 COVID-19 test kits and 33,000 prescription pills and tablets. Border officials seized the mislabelled or improperly declared goods, referring others to Health Canada. The unauthorized or counterfeit goods were referred to th

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant escaped from custody on Wednesday night. Police say they checked a man in the area of Surrey Central Station on Wednesday, discovering that he was wanted for break-and-enter. During the attempt to arrest him, the suspect was able to break free and left behind a hockey bag containing a handgun and ammunition. Transit police are asking for the public's help in tracking down Sean Cuddeford, saying they anticipate recommending several more charges to add to the original charge of break-and-enter.

A former RCMP officer testified that a British Columbia cabinet minister told him in 2009 that the gaming minister knew about organized crime at casinos but was more focused on the revenue generated by gambling. Fred Pinnock who was formerly in charge of the now-defunct illegal gambling enforcement team, made the comments yesterday at the provincial inquiry into money laundering. Pinnock says he met with then solicitor general Kash Heed, who told him his concerns were legitimate but that gaming minister Rich Coleman was ``all about the money.'' The inquiry also heard that the arrests of sever

British Columbia reported a record of 425 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to 16,560 across the province. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says a rise in cases was anticipated as people moved indoors during colder months. The request to temporarily end open houses follows an order last week by Henry to limit the size of gatherings in private residences to the immediate household plus their so-called "safe six." The bulk of the cases are in the Fraser Health region at 268 with another 126 in Vancouver Coastal health. The province now has 3,389 acti

New Westminster police say a 47 year old man has been charged with three counts of violating the Quarantine Act. A statement from police says Makhan Singh Parhar was arrested after the city resident refused to comply with a mandatory 14 day self-isolation period following a trip to the United States last month. Police say a violation ticket was first issued but when the man repeatedly left his home, he was arrested November 2nd. Parhar is being held in custody and his next court date is set for November 16th in New Westminster.

A Metro Vancouver Transit officer has been seriously hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Surrey. RCMP say the unnamed officer suffered undetermined injuries and a person from the second car was also taken to hospital. The crash occurred at about 11 last night in the Whalley neighbourhood. At least one of the vehicles careened through a section of fence along the back of a private home but there are few details about the cause of the crash and police say the investigation continues.

An inquiry into money laundering in BC has been told that efforts in 2017 to control the illegal practice at casinos across the province created a ``ghost town effect'' but only for a few weeks. Daryl Tottenham, manager of anti-money laundering programs for the BC Lottery Corporation testified this morning that the crackdown led to a dramatic reduction in casino revenues for two or three weeks. He says all gamblers, not just the high-end players stayed away, but the chill lifted quickly. Commissioner Austin Cullen is leading the inquiry which was launched by the NDP government after reports t

City council will wait until early 2021 before deciding whether Vancouver should make a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics. In a message posted on social media, Coun. Melissa De Genova says she successfully delayed her motion until sometime in March 2021. She says the delay will allow time for a staff report on the merits of hosting the Games, and give the public a chance to register to speak on the issue. Council voted seven to four in favour of the referral request. De Genova put forward her original motion earlier this year calling on council to explore the merits of an Olympic bid but the e