Environment Canada says air quality advisories posted across most of British Columbia since last week should spread east across Alberta due to wildfire smoke from the United States. Air quality statements have been issued for four regions of southwestern Alberta along the Rockies but the weather office says alerts will likely expand before smoke exits that province tonight. Relief will not come as quickly for B.C. residents, with the air quality index showing smoky conditions will improve only marginally by Tuesday. The index uses a scale of one to 10 to rank risk from stagnant or smoky air a

British Columbia is reporting an additional 132 cases of COVID-19 and one new outbreak at a health-care facility. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry say the outbreak at Evergreen Hamlets in Surrey is the 14th long-term care or assisted-living facility to have an active outbreak. Three acute-care facilities also have outbreaks. The Fraser Health Authority says a staff member at Evergreen Hamlets tested positive for the virus and is in self-isolation at home. In a joint statement, Dix and Henry say there were no additional deaths. There have been a total o

Ministry of Health in B.C. has issued a statement in regards to the closure of Banquet Halls. The decision to close stand alone banquet halls and nightclubs was made by the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.Dr. Henry made the decision to take action to address the risks of COVID-19 transmission at a number of types of venues, including also closing nightclubs and limiting late night alcohol sales in all bars, pubs and restaurants.She made this decision because public health officials have seen exposure and transmission events happen repeatedly at standalone banquet halls, bars and ni

Gang leader Jamie Bacon has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, less time served, for his part in six fatal shootings in a Surrey highrise 13 years ago. It means the 35 year old client will spend a further five years and seven months behind bars. Bacon pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to murder Corey Lal in the so-called Surrey Six case and one count of counselling to commit murder related to a separate, non-fatal shooting in December, 2008. The slaying and attempted murder were related to drug trafficking conducted while Bacon was one of the leaders of a gang known as the Red Scor

British Columbia reached a record of daily COVID-19 cases today as schools reopened across the province. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 139 new cases for a provincial total of 6,830 since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations also rose to 42, with 14 of those people in intensive care. There are no new deaths and the total number of fatalities remains at 213. Dr. Henry says she understands the first day of school can be an anxious event, especially this year during a global pandemic. She says public health teams are ready to support schools, which will be alerted as soon a

Canada's election watchdog says former finance minister Bill Morneau broke the law when he promoted Liberal candidates at events he attended while in charge of the finance portfolio.The commissioner of Canada elections says before the last federal election, Morneau pumped up two prospective candidates who were attending separate events he headlined as finance minister.One candidate, Anita Anand, has since gone on to become a cabinet minister herself.Ministers aren't allowed to use taxpayer funds for partisan gain, but there are also provisions in election law that bar anyone but individuals fr

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 announcing 100 new cases, and no new epi-linked cases, for a total of 6,691 cases in British Columbia. "There are 1,378 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 3,101 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 5,086 people who tested positive have recovered. "Currently, 37 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19

WE Charity says it is closing its Canadian operations, as the organization is in dire financial straits. Co-founders Craig and Marc Kielburger will also step down once the transition to a new board of governors is complete. WE has lost many of its corporate sponsors since the controversy over the Liberal government's plans to have the youth organization run a multi million dollar student-volunteer program. WE plans to lay off its Canadian staff in the coming months and sell all of its property in Canada. It will create an endowment fund that will pay for the completion of several projects in

A British Columbia First Nation has issued a state of emergency after confirmation that four members have COVID-19 and several others are reporting symptoms of the virus.A notice on the Tla'amin Nation website says residents have been ordered to shelter in place to slow the spread of the virus while health officials complete contact tracing.The order affecting the community, which is in the area of Powell River, took effect late Tuesday afternoon and advised members they should stay where the are for the next 72 hours.Access to the First Nation, about 170 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, ha