Workers in British Columbia will be eligible for a minimum of five paid sick days a year starting in January. The new sick leave policy goes into effect Jan. 1 and affects all workers covered by the province's Employment Standards Act. Labour Minister Harry Bains says the five paid days are fair and were determined following a consultation period that generated 60,000 responses. Bains says the government heard from some who suggested three paid days was an appropriate amount while others wanted 10 days or more. The government says more than one million workers in B.C. don't have paid sick lea

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,052 new cases of COVID-19, including three epi-linked cases, for a total of 215,688 cases in the province:Nov. 19-20: 390 new casesNov. 20-21: 332 new casesNov. 21-22: 330 new casesThere are 3,132 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 210,070 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 337 individuals are in hospital and 115 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 72 hours, 10 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,303.The new deaths include:Fraser

The federal government says BC residents displaced or left jobless due to extreme flooding should immediately apply for employment insurance benefits. Federal employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the federal government is waiving the requirement for applicants to show a record of employment, recognizing that it may be difficult for many to obtain the proper documentation right now. She says the government is looking at the possibility that people may have exhausted their EI due to receiving pandemic benefits. Qualtrough says the government will figure out a solution and Ottawa will help

B.C. is reporting 468 new cases of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 214,150 cases in the province.There are 3,345 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 208,284 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 355 individuals are currently in hospital and 110 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the last 24 hours, nine new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,290.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: fiveInterior Health: oneNorthern Health: twoIsland Health: oneFrom Nov. 10-16, peo

The BC government is offering aid to eligible BC residents whose homes, properties or businesses have been affected by recent floods or landslides. The Public Safety Ministry says disaster financial assistance is available for residents in the southwest, central and southeastern parts of the province. The ministry says homeowners, residential tenants, business owners, local governments, Indigenous communities, farmers and charitable organizations that could not get insurance to cover disaster-related losses can receive up to 80 per cent of eligible damage, to a maximum of 300,000 dollars. Cla

British Columbia Premier John Horgan has declared a state of emergency after flooding and landslides devastated the southern part of the province. Horgan says the declaration will preserve basic access to service and supplies for communities across the province. He says the government will bring in travel restrictions to ensure that essential goods and medical and emergency services are able to reach the communities that need them. He has also asked the British Columbians to avoid hoarding and said "what you need is needed by your neighbors too."

British Columbia's provincial health officer says officials are considering the "harmonization" of COVID-19 restrictions across the province heading into winter.Dr. Bonnie Henry says the basics will be the same for everyone heading into a challenging period when "we don't want this virus to take off again."Henry told a news conference Tuesday she expects there will be some additional restrictions in areas where transmission remains high and immunization rates are low, such as the Northern Health region, parts of the Interior and the eastern Fraser Valley.She says colder weather is pushing peop

Statement issued by City of Merritt: An Evacuation Order has been issued for the entire City of Merritt.Our staff have been working diligently throughout these changing circumstances with one main priority in mind: the safety and wellbeing of our residents. The flood waters have now inundated two bridges across the Coldwater River, and flood waters prevent access to the third.High flood waters have rendered the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant inoperable for an indefinite period. Continued habitation of the community without sanitary services presents risk of mass sewage back-up and persona

Over a two-day period, B.C. is reporting 992 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 211,750 cases in the province:Nov. 10-11: 519 new casesNov. 11-12: 473 new casesThere are currently 4,265 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 204,963 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 384 individuals are currently in hospital and 124 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 48 hours, 23 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,257.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: eig