Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is expanding the COVID-19 travel ban and ordering new border testing rules as Canada tries to keep the new Omicron variant from spreading. Duclos is adding Malawi, Egypt and Nigeria to the banned travellers country list, and stepping up testing for air travellers who fly into Canada from anywhere but the United States. At least six cases of the new variant are now confirmed in Canada, so far all in people who had recently travelled from Nigeria. Duclos says we still don't know very much about the threat this new variant poses. The federal government is bannin

Officials are warning against non-essential travel as the forecast calls for heavy rainfall across large sections of southern and coastal British Columbia, including areas devastated by flooding and mudslides earlier this month. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the storm expected to hit later today and last into tomorrow could be the most intense yet for the central coast. Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says BC's central coast and the west coast of Vancouver Island could see up to 150 millimetres of rain. Castellan says the flood-soaked Fraser Valley east of Abbots

British Columbia has become the fourth province to identify its first case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says the affected person recently returned from Nigeria and lives in an area covered by the Fraser Health authority. Dr. Henry says 204 people who recently returned from parts of southern African with outbreaks of the variant are undergoing testing while in quarantine. The federal government has announced that all air travellers, except those coming from the United States, will now be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at Canadian airports, r

Container truck drivers at Aheer Transportation and Prudential Transportation could be on strike as soon as December 3, 2021 after 72-hours notice was served today by Unifor."Unifor will not let Aheer and Prudential escape their responsibilities to workers," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "The pattern collective agreement negotiated this summer is fair and reasonable. There will be no exemptions for greedy employers."On November 21 truckers at the two companies voted overwhelmingly to strike if their employers refused the industry pattern agreement set earlier this year with Harbou

Surrey RCMP are seeking the public's help after three separate shootings were reported over the weekend. They say one of the victims is in critical condition and two others were injured. Police say it's too early to determine a motive but they believe all three shootings were targeted. They say investigators are exploring links to criminal activity and the drug trade, and are asking anyone who may have information or dash camera footage of the incidents to come forward.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada may need to do more at the border to protect against the Omicron variant of COVID-19 coming to Canada. The government has already banned foreign nationals who have recently travelled to several southern African countries. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters public health advice will guide their actions.The World Health Organization warned against the potentially dangerous impact of the Omicron variant again today, though there are still many questions about its transmissibility and the severity of illness it causes.

Unvaccinated travellers over the age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or train in Canada beginning today, and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most people. The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers who could board as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before their trip. The stringent new requirement comes into effect as Canada reacts to the emergence of the new, highly mutated Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Coldwater, Coquihalla, Nicola and Tulameen rivers as the third rainstorm in less than a week is set to bring heavy rain to southern and coastal B-C. Rising waters on the rivers caused serious flood damage earlier this month to cities and towns along their banks, including Merritt, Spences Bridge, Princeton and Hope. A flood warning also remains in effect for the Sumas River through Abbotsford, where crews set up a portable dam last night to protect a key stretch of Highway 1, which remains closed between McCallum Road in Abbotsford and Yale Road in Chill

Ontario has reported two more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus. Ontario had earlier reported Canada's first two cases of the Omicron variant of concern on the weekend. The total number of cases detected in Ontario has now reached 4. The province said today the two infected people were recently in Nigeria and were tested for the virus in Montreal before travelling on to Ottawa. Quebec health officials have also confirmed a case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Health Minister Christian Dubé made the announcement today at a news conference. Dubé says 115 people who recently tr