Erin O'Toole says he believes doctors have the right to refuse some services if they object for reasons of conscience. But the federal Conservative leader told reporters in Winnipeg today that those doctors must then refer patients seeking services like abortion or medical assistance in dying to another provider. O'Toole had faced questions about his position on conscience rights for health professionals after a promise to uphold them appeared in his party's election platform. He accused Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau of trying to divide Canadians because of his attack on Conservatives over th

B.C. is reporting 689 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 158,256 cases in the province.There are 5,982 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 150,377 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 121 individuals are in hospital and 56 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, two new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 1,784. The new deaths include:Interior Health: oneNorthern Health: oneThere is one new long-term care facility outbreak at Heritage Village (Fraser Health). The outbreak a

B.C. is reporting 553 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 157,567 cases in the province.There are currently 5,580 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 150,102 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 107 individuals are in hospital and 53 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 24 hours, one new death (Fraser Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,782.There is one new assisted living outbreak at Nicola Meadows (Interior Health), for a total of 11 active outbre

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Fires:Wildfires currently burning in B.C.: 264Since April 1, 2021:1, 518 wildfires846,144 hectares of area burnedActive fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 32Coastal: 18Kamloops: 85Northwest: 5Prince George: 57Southeast: 67Resources:Firefighters and other personnel currently fighting the fires: 3,830Out-of-province firefighters: 490Helicopters and planes supporting ground crews: 210Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 80 (-6)Evacuation alerts: 123 (-2)Properties:Numbe

B.C. is reporting 501 new cases of COVID-19, including nine epi-linked cases, for a total of 157,014 cases in the province.There are 5,296 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 149,847 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 111 individuals are in hospital and 51 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, one new death (Island Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,781.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. There are 10 active outbreaks:long-term care: Kin Village West

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021.Fires:Since April 1, 2021:1,513 wildfires805,500 hectaresCurrently burning: 264Active fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 33Coastal: 20Kamloops: 84Northwest: 5Prince George: 58Southeast: 64Resources:Total personnel: 3,627Contract firefighters: 1,185Out-of-province personnel: 519Aircraft (rotary and fixed-wing): 209Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 86 (+12)Evacuation alerts: 125 (+6)Properties:Number of properties on order: 8,262 (+1,655)Number of properties on alert:

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,434 new cases of COVID-19, including four epi-linked cases, for a total of 156,513 cases in the province:Aug. 13-14: 532 new casesAug. 14-15: 441 new casesAug. 15-16: 461 new casesThere are 5,090 active cases of COVID-19 in the province and 149,553 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 104 individuals are in hospital and 47 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.In the past 72 hours, one new death (Fraser Health) has been reported, for an overall total of 1,780.There are 10 acti

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Canada plans to send military aircraft back into Afghanistan to evacuate Canada-connected Afghans. But Trudeau says the airport in the capital, Kabul, must be secured to combat the chaos that currently exists there. Trudeau says Canadian military aircraft are on standby in Kuwait, waiting until the Kabul airport can be secured so they can extract Afghan citizens who helped the Canadian mission there. Afghans have been flocking to the Kabul airport, desperately trying to get out of the country. Several people are reported to have been killed as they frantical

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.Fires:Since April 1, 2021:1,511 wildfires766,709 hectaresCurrently burning: 268Active fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 32Coastal: 21Kamloops: 86Northwest: 5Prince George: 60Southeast: 64Resources:Total personnel: 3,701Contract firefighters: 1,236Out-of-province personnel: 480Aircraft (rotary and fixed-wing): 213Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 74 (+13)Evacuation alerts: 119 (-1)Properties:Number of properties on order: 6,607 (+717)Number of properties on alert: 1