15.21°C Vancouver

News

CanadaFeb 19, 2021

Extra weeks to be added to COVID-19 benefits for workers, parents, Trudeau says

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is adding 12 weeks of eligibility to two key benefits for unemployed workers and parents at home with children. The extra life for the Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will raise the maximum number of weeks available to 38 from 26. Trudeau also says the federal sickness benefit will be expanded to four weeks from two so workers can stay home if they're feeling ill, or have to isolate because of COVID-19. And employment insurance eligibility is also getting stretched, allowing people who qualify to clai
b-c-records-uptick-in-covid-19-cases-as-officials-issue-reminder-about-precautions
BCFeb 19, 2021

B.C. records uptick in COVID-19 cases as officials issue reminder about precautions

Health officials in British Columbia are reminding residents to follow public health orders and restrictions after a significant rise in cases from earlier this week. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say 617 new cases have been recorded, for a total of 75,327 infections. B.C. had 348 cases between Sunday and Monday, and the average has been under 500 daily infections in the last month. Dr. Henry and Dix say in a joint statement that much of the uptick in cases has been in the Lower Mainland and the northern region. They also reported four more deaths,
liberals-propose-federal-criminal-reforms-aimed-at-systemic-racism-in-justice-system
CanadaFeb 18, 2021

Liberals propose federal criminal reforms aimed at systemic racism in justice system

The Trudeau government has tabled legislation to repeal mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug offences, saying they do not deter crime and unfairly affect Indigenous and Black offenders. The bill introduced today would also allow for greater use of conditional sentences, such as house arrest, counselling or treatment, for people who do not pose a threat to public safety. In addition, it would require police and prosecutors to consider alternative measures for cases of simple possession of drugs, such as diversion to addiction-treatment programs. The office of Justice Minister David Lam
homicide-team-called-to-surrey-b-c-after-assault-leads-to-death-of-man
BCFeb 18, 2021

Homicide team called to Surrey, after assault leads to death of man

RCMP say they were called Wednesday night to a report of an assault at a home in the Panorama Ridge area of south Surrey. The critically injured man was found outside the home. He was given CPR and other emergency treatment but police say he died at the scene. Officers believe the victim and his attacker knew each other, but details are still being gathered. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has joined the case and will handle the release of any further information.
427-new-covid-19-cases-and-3-deaths-reported-in-b-c
BCFeb 18, 2021

427 new COVID-19 cases and 3 deaths reported in B.C.

British Columbia is recording 427 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total number of active cases in the province to 4,150. Health officials say three more people have died and the death toll now sits at 1,317. There are 232 people in hospital, 63 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say in a joint statement that chains of transmission are broken when everyone works together. To date, 176,015 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.
police-say-latest-targeted-shooting-in-surrey-b-c-sends-one-man-to-hospital
BCFeb 17, 2021

Police say latest targeted shooting in Surrey, sends one man to hospital

One man is recovering from injuries linked to the latest targeted shooting in Surrey, B.C. RCMP say officers, including members of the gang enforcement squad, responded to reports of shots fired just after 10 p.m., Tuesday. The injured man was found in a residential area of central Surrey suffering from a gunshot wound. He has not been named but investigators say the attack was aimed at him and was not random. There have been more than half a dozen fatal, targeted or gang-related shootings across Metro Vancouver since last December. No arrests have been made in any of those cases and police
dr-bonnie-henry-says-the-seven-day-average-of-cases-in-b-c-is-creeping-up
BCFeb 17, 2021

Dr. Bonnie Henry says the seven-day average of cases in B.C. is creeping up

British Columbia's provincial health officer is warning that COVID-19 cases and test positivity rates are ticking up in some jurisdictions due to increased interactions. Dr. Bonnie Henry says that while the overall number of cases has slowly been coming down across B.C., the seven-day rolling average is starting to creep up. She says this is particularly true in the Fraser Health region, where the viral reproductive rate has risen above one, meaning each infected person is passing the virus on to at least one other person on average. Dr. Henry says that over the past four days, 1,533 new case
freeland-appeals-to-tories-to-hurry-passage-of-covid-19-relief-bill
CanadaFeb 16, 2021

Freeland appeals to Tories to hurry passage of COVID-19 relief bill

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is appealing to the official Opposition Conservatives to hasten passage of a COVID-19 relief bill through the House of Commons.The appeal is in a letter from Freeland to Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole in which the deputy prime minister says the Tories are dragging their feet on the proposed legislation for no good reason.Freeland goes on to say the bill should not be "a political football," and asks O'Toole to support its passage to help Canadians struggling during the pandemic.The Liberal government introduced the proposed legislation at the beginnin
senate-acquits-trump-of-inciting-capitol-attack
WorldFeb 13, 2021

Senate acquits Trump of inciting Capitol attack

The Senate has acquitted Donald Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, bringing his trial to a close and giving the former president a historic second victory in the court of impeachment.Trump is the first president to be impeached twice, and he is also now twice acquitted as the majority of Republicans defended his actions. The Senate voted 57-43 that Trump is “not guilty” of incitement. Two thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, was needed for conviction.House Democrats argued that Trump caused the violent attack by repeating for months the false claims that the election wa

Just In

rustad-backs-alberta-pipeline-project-criticizes-b-c-governments-opposition
BCJun 26, 2026

Rustad Backs Alberta Pipeline Project, Criticizes B.C. Government's Opposition

Former B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad has thrown his support behind Alberta's proposed pipeline project, which is expected to submit its application by July 1. He said the British Columbia government should support the project instead of standing in its way. Criticizing Premier David Eby, Rustad argued that the pipeline is not just an Alberta project but one that would benefit all of Canada and could help address British Columbia's economic challenges. According to Rustad, the project would create real jobs, particularly in northern B.C., where the forestry sector has been struggling in
rcmp-investigating-stabbing-near-port-place-mall-in-nanaimo
BCJun 26, 2026

RCMP Investigating Stabbing Near Port Place Mall in Nanaimo

The Nanaimo RCMP are investigating a stabbing that occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at a bus stop near Port Place Mall. Police, firefighters and BC Emergency Health Services responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers found an adult male suffering from a stab wound to his arm. Bystanders and frontline officers provided emergency first aid before the victim was transported to hospital for treatment. Investigators have determined that the incident took place near a row of benches on the south side of Port Place Mall, across from the downtown bus exchange on Fro
CanadaJun 26, 2026

Ontario Announces Major Changes to Immigrant Nominee Program

The Ontario government has announced major reforms to its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Under the new changes, the existing eight immigration streams will be consolidated into four, making the process clearer and easier for both applicants and employers. The first new pathway, the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, is being launched to provide eligible foreign workers with a new route to permanent residency (PR). A key feature of the new stream is greater flexibility for applicants to work in related occupations. For example, a nurse will be able to work as a Personal Support Worke
indo-pacific-key-to-canadas-trade-diversification-strategy-maninder-sidhu
CanadaJun 26, 2026

Indo-Pacific Key to Canada's Trade Diversification Strategy: Maninder Sidhu

Canada's International Trade Minister, Maninder Sidhu, says the Indo-Pacific region is critical to the country's efforts to increase exports beyond the United States and diversify its trade markets. Sidhu recently led a 300-member business delegation on a four-day visit to Japan, marking Canada's largest-ever trade mission to the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific is home to Canada's three largest trading partners in the region-China, Japan and South Korea. However, Canada's efforts to expand trade and investment ties there have not always achieved the desired results. Sidhu noted that pre
japanese-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-to-visit-india-from-july-1-to-3
IndiaJun 26, 2026

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Visit India from July 1 to 3

At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will pay an official visit to New Delhi from July 1 to July 3. During the visit, she and Prime Minister Modi will jointly chair the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit. This will be Prime Minister Takaichi's first official visit to India and is being seen as an important step in further strengthening ties between the two countries. The meeting comes at a significant time, amid indications of possible changes in the U.S. administration's policy toward the Indo-Pacific region. According to India's Minist