Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair says it is well past the time for the protest in Ottawa to come to an end. He is one of six federal cabinet ministers who held a news conference this afternoon to address the protests that have paralyzed the area around Parliament Hill for more than a week. Protesters and some MPs are urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to meet the protest organizers but he has been adamant that he has no intention of meeting with what he calls a ``fringe minority'' that holds ``unacceptable views.'' NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is calling for an emergency debate in Par

Crowdfunding site GoFundMe will reimburse or redirect to charities the vast majority of the more than $10 million raised by demonstrators protesting COVID-19 measures in Ottawa, saying the event has become an occupation. The move could deny participants a vital source of funds as Ottawa braces for a new wave of protesters slated to arrive in the national capital this weekend. GoFundMe says it supports peaceful protest and that it believes that was the initial intention of the Ottawa event. The crowdfunding site says it now has evidence from law enforcement that the demonstration ``has become

Premier John Horgan shared a message on twitter to share his views about the growing problem of cancer on the occasion of world cancer day. Premier John Horgan wrote: It’s #WorldCancerDay. About 85 British Columbians will get a cancer diagnosis today. Another 85 tomorrow.My family knows this feeling. Like so many other patients battling cancer, I was impressed & deeply touched by the care I received from doctors & other health care workers.BC has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in cancer treatment. We’re ensuring more people get the care needed.Our 10-year plan makes us a

Police in Essex, England, say a 19-year-old British Columbia woman has been murdered and a man is under arrest. A statement from Essex Police says 19 year old Ashley Wadsworth of Vernon died Tuesday, shortly after officers were called to a disturbance at a home in Chelmsford, northeast of London. A 23 year old man was arrested at the scene and police say he has been charged with murder. Jack Sepple, who lived at the address where Wadsworth died, was charged Thursday. Police said he was expected to appear in Colchester Magistrates' Court later in the day. Detectives in Essex have released littl

Erin O'Toole says it's been the honour of a lifetime to lead the party of Sir John A. MacDonald and Confederation. Speaking this evening he says he believes the Conservative party needs to be both an intellectual force and a governing force. Erin O'Toole was ousted today by his caucus in a strong vote against his leadership. But he intends to remain as a sitting MP, saying, ``there is not a bad seat in the House of Commons, from the back corner where he first sat, to the front rows.'' Erin O'Toole has headed the party since August of 2020 after Andrew Scheer was pushed out as leader. Click th

Erin O'Toole has been ousted as Conservative Party of Canada leader after 73 members of the Tory caucus voted to replace him. 45 endorsed O'Toole's leadership. Caucus members are now going to choose an interim leader and New Brunswick MP John Williamson was quick to post on social media that he'd like to have the job. The party's members of Parliament met virtually today to cast secret ballots after about one-third of them signed a notice that triggered a leadership review. Quebec MP Pierre Paul-Hus says the party is more united than ever after this morning's vote and want to move forward so

Coquitlam RCMP is informing the public of an investigation by Coquitlam RCMP Drugs and Organized Crime Section that resulted in the crucial seizure of firearms, drugs, cash and luxury vehicles.In September 2020, Coquitlam RCMP received information about an alleged drug trafficking network that prompted the Coquitlam Drugs and Organized Crime Section to start an intensive, in-depth investigation. After a thorough multi-jurisdictional investigation, police obtained seven search warrants that were executed between April and December of 2021.Coquitlam RCMP would like to thank the Vancouver Police

British Columbia's top doctor says COVID-19 hospitalizations are at their highest level and over 60 per cent of patients since December have tested positive for the virus after being admitted for other reasons. Dr. Bonnie Henry says 706 people have been hospitalized in the last week, but the numbers appear to be peaking. She says patients who contracted the dominant Omicron variant are going home in about half the time compared with those who are sickened with the Delta variant. Dr. Henry says 16 per cent of people hospitalized since Dec. 1 have needed critical care, a much smaller proportion

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says he is abandoning his threat to tax the unvaccinated. Legault told a news conference today he is worried about dividing Quebecers and is backtracking in order to maintain social peace in the province. The premier announced on Jan. 11 he planned to make the unvaccinated pay a significant financial penalty because they were overrepresented in the health-care system. About 10 per cent of the province's eligible population are unvaccinated. Legault is also announcing that gyms and spas will be allowed to reopen on Feb. 14.