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b-c-records-nearly-500-toxic-drug-deaths-since-jan-1-coroner
BCApr 29, 2021

B.C. records nearly 500 toxic drug deaths since Jan. 1: Coroner

Toxic drug deaths killed 158 people in British Columbia last month, pushing the total number of deaths linked in the province's overdose crisis to 498 since the start of the year. A statement releasing the figures from the BC Coroners Service and the Public Safety Ministry says the deaths in March are a 41 per cent increase over the 112 fatalities recorded in the same period last year. The deaths also mark the third consecutive month that more than five people died every day from illicit drug use in the province. The coroners service says carfentanil, which is 100 times stronger than the opio
louise-arbour-tapped-to-review-military-sexual-misconduct
CanadaApr 29, 2021

Louise Arbour tapped to review military sexual misconduct

The Liberal government is tapping former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour to lead what it says is an independent review of the military's handling of sexual assault, harassment and other misconduct. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan announced Arbour's appointment today, nearly three months after the government and Canadian Armed Forces were rocked by allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by the military's top commanders.Arbour, the former UN high commissioner for human rights, is being asked to help set up an independent system for victims and others to report incidents and also to re
b-c-hits-new-record-for-covid-19-hospitalizations-at-515-five-more-deaths
BCApr 29, 2021

B.C. hits new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations at 515, five more deaths

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in British Columbia has ticked up to 515, breaking a previous record set last week. Among those hospitalized, 171 people are in intensive care. Five more people have died after contracting the illness, pushing the death toll in the province to 1,576. The number of active infections was down to just over 8,000 as health officials reported 841 new cases on Wednesday. A joint statement from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix says B.C. has now administered more than 1.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, of whi
b-c-judge-says-mans-covid-rule-breaking-was-like-dealing-fentanyl-on-the-street
BCApr 28, 2021

B.C. judge says man's COVID rule breaking was like dealing fentanyl on the street

A British Columbia provincial court judge compared a man's actions breaking COVID-19 rules to selling the powerful opioid fentanyl on the street as she sentenced him. Mohammad Movassaghi was handed one day in jail, a $5,000 fine and 18 months' probation after previously pleading guilty to disobeying a court order, failing to comply with a health officer's order and unlawfully purchasing grain alcohol. Vancouver police used a search warrant in January to enter what they described as a makeshift nightclub and more than $17,000 in fines were issued against Movassaghi and his guests in the home.
canadas-first-300-000-doses-of-j-j-covid-19-vaccine-arriving-today-650-000-doses-of-moderna-vaccine-arrive-in-toronto
CanadaApr 28, 2021

Canada's first 300,000 doses of J&J COVID-19 vaccine arrive; 650,000 doses of Moderna vaccine also arrive in Toronto

Canada's first 300,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are arriving today, a federal official tells The Canadian Press. The official, granted anonymity to discuss matters not made public yet, said that where the doses are coming from is not being disclosed because the government needs to ``protect this new vaccine supply chain.'' J&J has struggled with production problems and has been able to deliver very few doses, even in the United States. Canada purchased 10 million doses, and has the option to buy 28 million more. The doses are expected to be distributed to provin
former-liberal-gaming-minister-deputy-premier-to-testify-at-money-laundering-inquiry
BCApr 28, 2021

Former Liberal gaming minister, deputy premier to testify at money laundering inquiry

A former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister who was responsible for gaming for more than a decade is scheduled to testify today at the public inquiry into money laundering.Rich Coleman, a six-term former member of the B.C. legislature and deputy premier, is the latest of several high-profile past and current politicians to appear before the Cullen Commission in recent days.Former premier Christy Clark recently testified at the inquiry, as did current Opposition Liberal MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike de Jong, both of whom were previous ministers in charge of gaming.B.C. Attorney General David Eby, who
b-c-offers-oxford-astrazeneca-vaccine-to-people-age-30-and-up
BCApr 28, 2021

B.C. offers Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to people age 30 and up

People age 30 and older may now receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in British Columbia, starting with hot spots for transmission. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a statement on Tuesday the vaccine will be made available across the province as B.C. receives enough doses to add more pharmacy appointments. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommended last week that the vaccine may be offered to people 30 and up who don't want to wait for an approved mRNA vaccine, and if certain other conditions are met. Those condi
quebec-reports-blood-clot-death-after-astrazeneca-vaccine
CanadaApr 27, 2021

Quebec reports blood clot death after AstraZeneca vaccine

A Quebec woman in her 50s has died of a blood clot that occurred after she received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The province's public health director says officials always knew that rare complications were possible with vaccines. Dr. Horacio Arruda says the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine still far outweigh the risks. Arruda notes there have been four reports of complications out of 400,000 people who have received the vaccines. He says Quebec will continue to offer the vaccine to residents between the ages of 45 and 79. Health Minister Christian Dube a told a news conference that any de
trustees-vote-to-end-program-assigning-uniformed-police-officers-to-vancouver-schools
BCApr 27, 2021

Trustees vote to end program assigning uniformed police officers to Vancouver schools

Uniformed police officers will no longer be assigned to Vancouver public schools after trustees voted to end its school liaison officer program.The program has been under review for almost a year due to concerns that uniformed officers make some students anxious or upset, including many identifying as Black, Indigenous or people of colour.Trustees voted eight to one Monday in favour of a motion to halt the program at the end of June.The decision is supported by several groups, including the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council and associations representingelementary and secondary school

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alberta-to-unveil-next-phase-of-proposed-west-coast-oil-pipeline-on-july-2
AlbertaJun 30, 2026

Alberta to unveil next phase of proposed West Coast oil pipeline on July 2

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to announce new details Thursday about a proposed oil pipeline that would transport crude from Alberta to Canada's West Coast. Samuel Blackett, the premier's press secretary, confirmed Monday that Smith will outline the next steps for the project, which is being proposed with a capacity of one million barrels of oil per day. The proposal falls under an Energy Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached last year between the Alberta and federal governments. Under the agreement, the province had until July 1 to submit its proposal to the Major Projects Of
immigration-department-says-unclear-guidance-led-to-recall-of-some-citizenship-certificates
CanadaJun 30, 2026

Immigration department says unclear guidance led to recall of some citizenship certificates

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says unclear departmental guidance on applications for citizenship by descent may have resulted in some people receiving proof of Canadian citizenship without sufficient supporting evidence. The department said 100 people were asked to surrender their citizenship certificates after a routine review identified cases issued under Bill C-3 that had "potentially insufficient supporting documentation." The explanation and the number of affected cases were released 17 days after the initial notices were sent to certificate holders. Federal officials said
carney-to-attend-nato-summit-in-turkey-then-visit-saudi-arabia-for-trade-talks
CanadaJun 30, 2026

Carney to attend NATO summit in Turkey, then visit Saudi Arabia for trade talks

Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Turkey next week to attend the NATO summit before making an official visit to Saudi Arabia, marking his first trips to both countries as prime minister. NATO leaders are scheduled to meet in Ankara on July 7 and 8 as alliance members discuss increased defence spending and plans to meet a target of spending five per cent of gross domestic product on defence and security by 2035. The benchmark follows years of pressure from the United States for member countries to increase military spending. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Carney has been urgi
b-c-premier-invites-petrochina-to-consider-investment-in-lng-canada-phase-2-during-beijing-visit
BCJun 30, 2026

B.C. premier invites PetroChina to consider investment in LNG Canada Phase 2 during Beijing visit

British Columbia Premier David Eby met with senior executives of PetroChina in Beijing during his first official visit to China and invited the company to consider investing in a potential second phase of the LNG Canada project in Kitimat. According to the B.C. government, PetroChina is China's largest oil and gas producer and supplier and is already one of five partners involved in LNG Canada's Phase 1 project. Eby said the first phase became the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history. The premier said a second phase of the liquefied natural gas facility could become another ma
poilievre-reshuffles-conservative-shadow-cabinet-jasraj-singh-hallan-moved-to-national-revenue-role
CanadaJun 30, 2026

Poilievre reshuffles Conservative shadow cabinet, Jasraj Singh Hallan moved to national revenue role

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has reshuffled his party's opposition front bench and shadow cabinet, removing Calgary MP Jasraj Singh Hallan from the finance critic portfolio and appointing Ontario MP Michael Chong to the role. According to the Conservative Party's updated shadow cabinet list, Chong, one of the party's senior MPs, had served as the Conservatives' foreign affairs critic for the past six years before taking on the finance file. Poilievre has assigned Hallan, who is of Punjabi origin and represents Calgary Forest Lawn, as the party's new shadow minister for national revenue