Provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, says there is no need for the ``heavy hand'' of a mask mandate as respiratory illnesses climb in many areas of BC. Dr. Henry made the comment during a news conference this morning where she noted that 90 per cent of BC residents have some COVID-19 immunity through vaccination, infection or both. She and Health Minister Adrian Dix confirm the province is seeing an expected increase in flu cases while COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus or RSV are also becoming more common, but not at rates seen in other parts of Canada. Henry and Dix recommend

Poland says it was a Russian-made missile that fell in a village in the eastern part of the country and killed two people. Its foreign minister summoned the Russian ambassador and demanded an immediate detailed explanation. The confirmation means this is the first time in the war that a Russian weapon has come down in a NATO member country. Canada and other NATO members on both sides of the Atlantic are scrambling over how to respond to a potential escalation of the war in Ukraine. Canada and other NATO members on both sides of the Atlantic are scrambling over how to respond to a potential es

Vancouver police say they've identified the suspects who threw maple syrup on an Emily Carr painting and glued themselves to a wall at the Vancouver Art Gallery over the weekend. Sgt. Steve Addison says an investigation is underway and officers will be speaking to witnesses, reviewing security video and assessing the cost of the damage.The Vancouver Art Gallery says in a statement that Carr's "Stumps and Sky" painting suffered no permanent harm.It quotes director and CEO Anthony Kiendl as saying the gallery "condemns acts of vandalism" towards works of cultural significance in its care, or in

The union representing members of the fledgling Surrey Police Service says its officers and civilian workers have "no intention" of joining the RCMP, should the municipal force be scrapped.A statement from the Surrey Police Union says 94 per cent of its members have signed a pledge to refuse to apply to, or join, the Mounties, if newly elected Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke makes good on a campaign promise to cancel the city's switch from the national police force to a municipal one.The union says it issued the statement after a media interview quoted Locke as saying she is working on a plan with t

The City of Surrey is encouraging residents to take part in one of the various Remembrance Day ceremonies taking place across the city this Friday. Services will be held at Veteran’s Square at 17610 56A Avenue; at Surrey Centre Cemetery at 16671 Old McLellan Road; at the Whalley Cenotaph at 13633 Grosvenor Road and at the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch at 2643 128th Street. They will occur between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. with the traditional two-minute silent tribute taking place at 11 a.m. Residents are encouraged to arrive early to find parking, or consider walking, biking or taking tran

Federal health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos says the federal government will add more money to health care, if provinces and territories contribute information to a national database on health information. Ministers are meeting in Vancouver this week, and host Minister Adrian Dix says they are pleased the federal government has had a change of heart on extra funding, but their governments have long been keeping track of their health systems.Dix says they have asked that health transfers be increased to about 35 per cent of the health budget, up from the current 22 per cent.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's fall economic statement creates two new federal tax credits for clean technology and low-emitting hydrogen production. The statement is Freeland's first big push to keep Canada in the clean-tech economy race in the shadow of the massive Inflation Reduction Act south of the border. But she leaves to next year's budget a lot of the heavy lifting to respond to the U.S. government's massive investments in everything from critical minerals to electric cars and battery parts. The fiscal update says the specifics of the promised tax credit for clean hydrogen produ

The funeral service for RCMP Constable Shaelyn Yang has been told it's ``profoundly tragic'' that she didn't get the chance to fulfil her potential within the police service. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki was among those who spoke at the service at the Richmond Oval, saying Yang was admired and respected for her work, resilience and dedication. The 31 year old's cousin said in his eulogy that everything Yang did was defined by her empathy and compassion, and her belief that she could change the world. Thousands of emergency responders from across the province and the country attended the ser

The federal government is planning a massive increase in the number of immigrants entering Canada, with a goal of seeing 500,000 people arrive each year by 2025. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser revealed the new targets today, saying the move is necessary to ensure Canada's economic prosperity. Canadian industries are facing a significant labour shortage, with about 1 million job vacancies across the country. The new plan puts an emphasis on increasing the number immigrants who will be admitted based on their work skills or experience over the next three years. Ottawa is planning a more moder