Statistics Canada says the cost of living just keeps climbing, with the annual inflation rate reaching 4.4 per cent in September, up three-tenths of a point from its August setting. Economists say the 4.4 per cent jump since September of last year has pushed inflation to its highest level since February 2003, with soaring gas prices and a rebound from last year's pandemic lows blamed for a hefty chunk of the increase. Year-over-year inflation in BC was a little more modest as Stats Can says the September rate in the province didn't budge from its 3.5 per cent setting. Prices in Vancouver edge

Vancouver Police are investigating after two replica pipe bombs were found inside toilets at a safe injection site on the Downtown Eastside."Pipe bombs are extremely dangerous. They can eject pieces of shrapnel in all directions causing serious injuries or death," says Constable Tania Visintin. "At a glance, replica pipe bombs can appear very real. As such, we take these calls very seriously and must investigate them thoroughly."On October 16 just before 3 p.m., cleaning staff at the safe injection site near Pender and Abbott streets found what are now known as two replica pipe bombs inside th

The union representing some workers at LifeLabs, the largest provider of medical laboratory services in British Columbia, has issued strike notice on behalf of its members. The B.C. General Employees' Union says notice was issued Tuesday, putting its roughly 1,500 members in a legal strike position by Friday night. A statement from the union says the action comes after a 98 per cent strike mandate in July, followed by several months of negotiations, bargaining and mediation. Workers have been without a contract since April and the union says wages are the main issue, although LifeLabs says on

A motorcyclist has been killed in a crash in Richmond. It happened late yesterday afternoon on the Westminster Highway just west of the Alex Fraser Bridge. RCMP say a truck and the motorcycle collided but a cause of the crash is still under investigation. Police want to speak to witnesses or anyone with dashcam video.

Conservatives say they disagree with a committee of federal representatives deciding who is allowed to enter the House of Commons based on their vaccination status against COVID-19. The position presents the first challenge to the all-party board of internal economy ruling only people who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to enter the House of Commons precinct. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois agree members of Parliament should be fully vaccinated to take their seat, and made it a rule for their candidates who ran in the recent federal election. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole did not

The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is taking over operations of a Vancouver care home where dozens of residents died during a COVID-19 outbreak that began last November and took months to contain. A statement from the health authority says the Ministry of Health has approved the transfer of operations and assets from Little Mountain Residential Care and Housing Society. The transfer includes Little Mountain Place, a 116-bed long-term care home for seniors, where 41 deaths and many more COVID-19 illnesses were reported last winter. The statement says the transition, which also includes a 9

Inflation hit an 18-year high in September, rising to 4.4 per cent.On top of a 32.8 per cent year-over-year jump in gas prices, it's costing a lot more to put food on the table.Food prices rose 3.9 per cent last month, with meat prices rising 9.5 per cent -- the fastest pace since April 2015.Statistics Canada reports dairy products cost 5.1 per cent more, while prices for edible fats and oils rose 18.5 per cent, which was the largest year-over-year increase since January 2009.The cost of fresh vegetables fell 3.2 per cent, largely due to a 26.1 per cent drop in tomato prices.

B.C. is reporting 560 new cases of COVID-19, including eight epi-linked cases, for a total of 198,838 cases in the province.There are 4,913 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 191,476 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 382 individuals are in hospital and 146 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 24 hours, five new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,086.The new deaths include:Fraser Health: twoNorthern Health: twoIsland Health: oneThere has been one new health-care facility outbr

On October 18th at approximately 11:45 pm the New Westminster Police Department received multiple calls about shots fired in the area of Hendry Place in Queensborough. Members responded to the scene and confirmed that shots had been fired at a residence. The occupants of the home were sleeping at the time of the shooting, and fortunately, no one was injured.The New Westminster Police Department Major Crime Unit assumed conduct of this investigation, with support from the Forensic Identification Section and other units. Officers continue to work in the Queensborough area, collecting evidence, C