BCOct 05, 2020
Liberal leader's promise to put hold on Surrey police move away from RCMP criticized
An election promise by British Columbia Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson to intervene in the city of Surrey's transition away from the RCMP is drawing fire.
Wilkinson has promised an elected Liberal government would freeze the transition to the independent police force and hold a referendum to put the final choice in the hands of Surrey residents.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum was elected on the promise of changing the police force and says in a statement he's appalled the Liberal leader would stoop to this level of desperation to garner votes.
McCallum says the B.C. Liberals decision to interfer
CanadaOct 02, 2020
PM Trudeau offering his family's best wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is offering his family's best wishes to U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady. Trudeau says he and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, hope the president and Melania Trump recover fully from COVID-19. Trump announced early this morning that both he and his wife have tested positive for the coronavirus. Gregoire Trudeau tested positive for COVID-19 in March after returning from a trip to England. She recovered within weeks, and the prime minister never contracted the virus. But Trudeau points out it's the same news many Canadians are getting. British Prime
WorldOct 02, 2020
Donald Trump, Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19
US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19.Trump tweeted the update early this morning. Trump's positive test comes just hours after the White House announced that senior aide Hope Hicks came down with the virus after travelling with the president several times this week.It also comes after he spent much of the last year downplaying the threat of COVID-19.Trump's White House doctor has issued a statement saying the president will continue carrying out his duties ``without disruption'' after contracting COVID-19.Dr. Sean Conley, the physician to th
CanadaOct 01, 2020
Federal Liberals revive bill that seeks to outlaw forced LGBTQ conversion therapy
The federal Liberals have re-introduced a bill that would ban forcing children or adults to undergo therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation or gender identity. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today called on the opposition parties to support the legislation. Justice Minister David Lametti says conversion therapy is based on a false premise that being gay, bisexual or trans is wrong and the legislation will prevent it from happening. The Conservative opposition has already indicated it's prepared to back the bill. PM concerned about the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in QuebecPrime Min
CanadaOct 01, 2020
Federal government announces $10 billion infrastructure plan
The Canada Infrastructure Bank plans to invest $10 billion in projects that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calls a win-win.
The investments are expected to create 60 thousand jobs while contributing to the fight against climate change.
The bank will invest $1.5 billion in agricultural infrastructure in Western Canada, $2.5 billion in clean power projects and $1.5 billion to buy zero-emission buses.
Another $2 billion will be spent to expand access to high-speed Internet service across the country.
BCOct 01, 2020
B.C. reports 125 new cases of COVID-19, no new deaths or outbreaks
British Columbia has confirmed 125 new cases of COVID-19 in the past day. The number of active cases ticked up by 16 to 1,284, including 72 people who are in hospital. In a joint statement, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say public health workers are monitoring more than 3,200 people who were exposed to a known case. They say outbreaks are ongoing at 14 long-term care or assisted-living homes and three acute-care facilities. B.C. has recorded 9,138 cases of COVID-19 so far and 7,591 people who tested positive for the illness have recovered.
CanadaSep 30, 2020
COVID-19 aid bill passes unanimously in the House of Commons
The vote was unanimous, 306 for and none against, as MP's passed legislation authorizing new pandemic benefits for workers still struggling in the COVID-19 era.Bill C-4 includes a replacement program for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit reworking the existing employment insurance program to be more flexible and generous.The Senate is expected to gather today to debate and pass the emergency aid legislation swiftly. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet says Parliament unanimously passed a COVID-19 aid bill for workers in what he calls a ``shut up'' procedure.Blanchet says M-Ps wer
CanadaSep 29, 2020
Federal government strikes agreement with Abbott to buy 7.9 million rapid-test devices
The federal government has reached an agreement with American company Abbott to buy 7.9 million rapid-test devices once they are approved by Health Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, is pushing back against calls for Ottawa to quickly approve rapid tests for COVID-19, saying the decision is ultimately up to federal scientists. Canada's chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says rolling out inaccurate COVID-19 tests can lead to further infections if there is a large number of false negatives. Public Procurement Minister Anita Anand says with the numbers of COVID-19 cases r
CanadaSep 29, 2020
Trudeau pledges additional $400 million in humanitarian aid to fight COVID-19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will commit an additional $400 million in development and humanitarian spending to combat COVID-19. Trudeau says the new money will go to trusted partners that are fighting COVID-19 around the world.Trudeau made the pledge during a videoconference at the United Nations that he co-hosted with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness.It was the second time since the spring the three held a meeting of the UN’s High-Level Event on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond.Trudeau says Canada will i