CanadaApr 19, 2021
Federal Budget 2021: Highlights from Chrystia Freeland's speech and reaction
Highlights from the federal Liberal budget tabled Monday by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland: $30 billion over the next five years, and $8.3 billion ongoing for early learning and child care and Indigenous early learning and child care. The plan would aim to see an average drop in fees next year by 50 per cent for preschooler daycare spaces and an average of $10-a-day care by 2026. $3 billion over five years, starting in 2022-23, to Health Canada to support provinces and territories in improving standards for long-term care. The government says this funding will keep seniors safe and improv
BCApr 19, 2021
Police investigate shooting death of man outside downtown Vancouver restaurant
Vancouver police say one man was killed in what they believe was a targeted shooting in a downtown neighbourhood.They say there have been no arrests.Police say they were called to the Coal Harbour area Saturday night after numerous 9-1-1 calls about shots fired.Const. Tania Visintin says the shooting occurred in a public area at about 8:30 p.m. outside Cardero's restaurant near the Coal Harbour Quay.She says the victim died despite efforts by police and emergency officials to save him.Visintin says the popular location of the shooting put innocent people at risk. She says the man's death is V
BCApr 17, 2021
B.C. reports 1,005 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths as hospitalizations reach new high
BC is reporting 1,005 new cases of COVID-19 today. Six more people have died after contracting the illness, bringing the death toll in the province to 1,530. There are 10,081 active infections in BC, another new high. 425 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, including 127 in intensive care. BC's health minister says he appreciates efforts by the federal government to boost COVID-19 vaccine supplies despite a shortage from Moderna. Adrian Dix says he's disappointed the company has announced it would slash its vaccine shipments in half through the rest of April. But he says Ottawa is promisin
BCApr 16, 2021
Police urge Vaisakhi celebrants and Kissan supporters to keep Public Health Orders in mind
Surrey RCMP is urging Vaisakhi celebrants and Kissan supporters to keep Public Health Orders in mind this weekend. Unfortunately, large-scale Vaisakhi celebrations have been canceled again this year in Surrey due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is anticipated that many community members will participate in small COVID-friendly celebrations. Surrey RCMP is also aware of Kissan rallies and a Sikh motorcycle event set to take place this weekend. Surrey RCMP is urging the public to abide by current Public Health Orders which have placed restrictions on outdoor gatherings and prohibit indoo
CanadaApr 16, 2021
Government has signed an agreement with Pfizer for another eight-million doses of vaccine: PM Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government has now signed an agreement with Pfizer for another eight-million doses of its vaccine. The news follows word earlier today that Canada's incoming vaccine supply from Moderna will be slashed in half through the rest of April. Trudeau says for next month alone, the number of Pfizer doses will be double what we were expecting. He says it means more Canadians can be vaccinated more quickly. Trudeau says Pfizer will deliver four-million additional doses in May, two-million additional doses in June and two-million more in July. Trudeau says the bott
CanadaApr 16, 2021
Canada's incoming supply of Moderna vaccine slashed in half through end of April
Procurement Minister Anita Anand says Canada's incoming vaccine supply from Moderna will be slashed in half through the rest of April.
Anand says in a statement that Moderna will ship 650,000 doses of its vaccine to Canada by the end of the month, instead of the expected 1.2 million.
Moderna said the limited supply is due to a ``slower than anticipated ramp up'' of their production capacity.
Anand says the company also told Canada that one to two million doses of the 12.3 million scheduled for delivery in the second quarter may be delayed until the third quarter.
Anand adds the federal gover
BCApr 16, 2021
P.1 variant likely highest in B.C. due to more testing for it: Dr. Bonnie Henry
British Columbia's provincial health officer says the province likely has the largest proportion of COVID-19 cases involving the variant first identified in Brazil, but that's partly because it is testing more for that strain. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the Vancouver Coastal region is leading all other health authorities with about 70 per cent of P.1 variant cases because of a large number of cases linked to the resort town of Whistler. She says that overall, just under 60 per cent of daily cases involve variants, including the one first associated with South Africa, though those cases are negligi
CanadaApr 15, 2021
Conservatives plan to introduce $20-per-tonne carbon price in climate plan
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is pitching a $20-per-tonne carbon price for consumers in his party's $5-billion plan to tackle climate change.The move represents a major policy shift for the party, which has long campaigned to scrap the carbon price introduced by the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.The 15-page document, obtained by The Canadian Press, is set to be announced by O'Toole later this morning and outlines how carbon pricing would work under the Conservatives.It says the price would start at $20 per tonne and rise to no higher than $50 per tonne.The party, which did n
BCApr 15, 2021
Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 reach new record of 397 in B.C.
British Columbia health officials are strongly encouraging everyone who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine to get one as hospitalizations linked to the disease reached a new record. The province confirmed 1,168 new cases and six more deaths Wednesday. There are 397 people in hospital, 120 of whom are in intensive care. Almost 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 87,820 of which are second doses. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that everyone 55 and older is now eligible to get a shot. They also