Canada’s military ombudsman is demanding the federal Liberal government immediately grant his office true independence and oversight powers over the Canadian Armed Forces.Ombudsman Greg Lick says numerous scandals and crises over the past 30-plus years have resulted in calls for external oversight of Canada’s military to protect troops and others.That includes the current sexual misconduct scandal that is ripping through the senior ranks.While governments and leaders within the Armed Forces and Defence Department have publicly agreed to such recommendations each time, Lick alleges such ag

British Columbia is reporting a one-day total of COVID-19 cases not seen since last August, but health officials are encouraging more people to get vaccinated as the virus continues to circulate in the province and neighbouring jurisdictions. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say 45 cases were recorded on Monday, part of the 229 cases B.C. has had over the last three days. Three more people have died of COVID-19, for a total of 1,743 deaths in the province, which currently has 1,204 active cases of the virus. Dr. Henry and Dix say in a joint news releas

Fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will soon be able to return to Canada without a mandatory quarantine.The first stage in loosening the border restrictions that have been in place for 15 months will begin at 11:59 p.m. eastern time on July 5.It will apply only to people already eligible to travel to Canada, including citizens, permanent residents, and people registered under the Indian Act.Those travellers must have two doses of a vaccine approved by Health Canada, provide a negative COVID-19 test from 72 hours before arrival, take a second test upon arrival, and have a quara

BC health officials say more than three-quarters of eligible adults have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, as the province reports 109 new cases. There are 1,389 active cases of COVID-19.There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 1,740 deaths in British Columbia. 76.7% of all adults in B.C. and 75.1% of those 12 and older have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 4,296,151 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in B.C., 823,371 of which are second doses. The total for B.C.'s COVID-19

A motion was passed in the House of Commons last night targeting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.Sajjan has been under heavy criticism since former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne revealed that he first flagged an allegation of sexual misconduct involving then-defence chief Jonathan Vance to the minister in March 2018.While Sajjan and the Liberal government say he followed all proper procedures, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole accuses the minister of consistently failing victims of sexual misconduct in the military.He also alleges Sajjan misled Canadians about his military service and the n

Travel restrictions at the Canada-U.S. border will remain in place for at least another month.Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the American and Canadian governments are extending restrictions on non-essential international travel until July 21.He adds in a tweet that the government will provide details on Monday about plans to let fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents enter the country.The measures at the border have been in place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The pressure to relax the restrictions has been building from businesses on both sides of

British Columbia's top doctor says there is no wrong choice for a second COVID-19 vaccine dose despite recommendations from a federal panel that those who first got Oxford-AstraZeneca should choose Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for a second shot. New guidance from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization says Pfizer or Moderna is preferred as the second dose based on growing evidence that the combination produces a stronger immune response. Previously, the committee said AstraZeneca recipients could choose to get a second dose of the same vaccine or a different shot. Henry says the recomme

Elections BC has approved a petition launched bythe widow of a Surrey, B.C., murder victim that could set off abinding referendum over policing in the city.Darlene Bennett, with the group Surrey Police Vote, launched thecampaign over concerns about rising costs associated with startingup a new municipal police force that will replace the RCMP.In order for the petition to succeed, setting off the referendum,signatures from at least 10 per cent of the registered voters ineach of British Columbia's 87 electoral districts must be collectedwithin 90 days of the petition's start.Bennett's husband wa

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says his party will force the House of Commons to vote on a motion targeting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Sajjan has been under heavy criticism since former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne revealed that he first flagged an allegation of sexual misconduct involving then-defence chief Jonathan Vance to the minister in March 2018.While Sajjan and the Liberal government say he followed all proper procedures, O'Toole says the minister has consistently failed victims of sexual misconduct in the military.O'Toole alleges Sajjan has also misled Canadians about his