The Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent in response to what it calls the ``extremely uncertain'' economic outlook from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to keep it there until the picture improves.In its updated outlook, the bank expects the economy to contract by 7.8 per cent this year.The central bank's report pegs the annual inflation rate at 0.6 per cent this year, rising to 1.2 per cent in 2021 and 1.7 per cent in 2022.Its inflation target is 2 per cent, and the bank says it will maintain the current rate until that target is achieved.The forecasts come with a

British Columbia's top doctor says she's pleased a travel ban between Canada and the United States has been extended but anyone seeing American licence plates north of the crossing should not be quick to judge. Dr. Bonnie Henry says some Canadians living in the US may be returning to care for family members and given the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases south of the border it's not surprising they're in BC. The border closure has been extended by another 30 days for a fourth time, to Aug. 21, but Henry says considerations may need to be made for students who contribute to research programs at uni

BC Finance Minister Carole James is forecasting the province will run up a 12.5 billion dollar deficit this fiscal year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's a sharp reversal from the balanced budget James predicted before COVID-19 hit. She says the province has lost more than 230,000 jobs and seen a staggering decline in economic growth since February. That includes a 15.9 per cent drop in retail sales due to lockdowns ordered in March to flatten the curve of the pandemic that are now being gradually lifted.

Federal opposition parties are demanding to know why the Liberal government created a $900-million program to help students find volunteer positions rather than putting the money into an existing summer jobs program.The government says the new Canada Student Services Grant is intended to reward tens of thousands of students who are having a hard time finding work and want to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.Opposition parties say the Liberals could have accomplished the same task by putting the money into the existing Canada Summer Jobs program, through which thousands of jobs for students are

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, have issued a joint statement regarding updates on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) response in British Columbia. "Today, we are providing case updates for three 24-hour reporting periods. In the first reporting period from July 10 to July 11, we had 21 new cases. From July 11 to July 12, we had 20 new cases and in the last 24 hours, we have had a further 21 new cases."This represents 62 new cases since we reported on Friday, for a total of 3,115 cases in British Columbia."There are 208 active cases of CO

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's very sorry he didn't recuse himself from the government's decision to award a contract to WE Charity to manage a major student-volunteering program.He says his and his family's longtime involvement with the WE organization should have kept him out of the discussions.And he says he's particularly sorry that the delay in the program caused by WE's eventual decision to withdraw will harm students looking for ways to help in the COVID-19 pandemic.Trudeau has faced accusations of cronyism and allegations of a conflict of interest over his past connections wit

A Quebec man charged last December in connection with alleged online threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Muslims is facing two new charges.The RCMP said 62-year-old Andre Audet of Boucherville, Que., will appear in court south of Montreal today to face charges of intimidating a justice system participant and advocating genocide.Cpl. Charles Poirier says the justice system participant Audet is accused of intimidating the prime minister.The RCMP says the investigation that began last year found about 100 online posts containing hate, threats or incitement to violence, allegedly ma

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, his son and two other family members have tested positive for the coronavirus in Mumbai. In a tweet on Saturday, the 77-year-old Bachchan said his family and staff have also undergone tests. His 44-year-old son and fellow actor, Abhishek Bachchan, tweeted Saturday night that he also has tested positive for the virus and is hospitalized. He described their symptoms as mild. Maharashtra state Health Minister Rajesh Tope tweeted on Sunday that Abhishek Bachchan's wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their eight-year-old daughter too have tested coronavirus posit

BC health officials are reporting 25 new cases of COVID-19 today, as well as one new death. That brings the death toll to 187 among 3,053 people who have tested positive for the disease so far. In a joint statement, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say 187 cases are active, with 16 people in hospital. There are ongoing outbreaks at two long-term care or assisted living facilities and one acute care facility. And while there are no active community outbreaks, Dix and Henry say exposure is still happening. The health officials are reminding people to con