Tamara Lich, one of the principal organizers of the so-called ``Freedom Convoy'' protest that gridlocked downtown Ottawa for three weeks, has been granted bail on a $25,000 bond. Lich was initially denied bail on Feb. 22 after Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois deemed her detention was ``necessary for the protection and safety of the public.'' Lich's lawyer launched a bail review, arguing that decision may have been tainted by the fact that Bourgeois ran as a federal Liberal candidates in the 2011 election and expressed that her own community had been affected by the protest. On Monday, Su

The group Dying With Dignity wants BC residents to join a campaign to stop some public health care facilities from transferring patients out -- if those patients seek a medically assisted death. Three BC chapters of the group say some taxpayer-funded health care facilities covered by the Denominational Health Association agreement refuse to provide certain procedures such as assisted deaths and instead transfer frail patients to hospitals that will provide the service. Alex Muir, chair of the Metro Vancouver chapter, says patients have a constitutionally protected right to access a medically

The Okanagan Sikh Temple will be holding a prayer service today for a 24-year-old woman who died after being attacked at the University of British Columbia's campus in Kelowna, where she worked as a security guard. Temple president Amarjit Lalli says he remotely attended Harmandeep Kaur's ``gut wrenching'' funeral in Squamish on Saturday, and that her family is awaiting more information about a suspect who was arrested under the Mental Health Act. Kaur's cousin, Kirinjot Kaur, says the young woman was funny, smart and always willing to help anyone. She says Kaur had recently celebrated her pe

Ottawa is imposing strict COVID-19 rules on cruise ship companies, crews and passengers in advance of the first ships docking in Canadian ports next month. Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says passengers and crews must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and cruise lines must inspect proof of vaccination and monitor and report pre-boarding test results. Alghabra says no passenger will be allowed off a cruise ship unless they meet the requirements. Alghabra says passengers will also need to take COVID-19 tests before and after boarding a vessel and won't be allowed off cruise ships u

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced sanctions against 10 more Russian political and business leaders. At a news conference in London, he took a clear jab at President Vladimir Putin, pointing out the 10 were identified by Alexei Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader who is considered Putin's main rival. Trudeau, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also acknowledged the need to increase defence spending in response to both Russia's actions and growing instability around the world. Trudeau wouldn't say if that would extend to Canada meeting N

The record-high price of gas has the B-C Taxi Association calling on the province for help.Association president Mohan Kang says that unlike people in many jobs, cab drivers can't avoid being on the road but that's getting tough as a litre of gas has shot to nearly two-dollars and 10 cents in parts of Metro Vancouver.Taxi meter prices are regulated by the Passenger Transportation Board, and Kang says it has the power to step in and allow a temporary fuel surcharge on taxi fares.The board says its annual taxi and limo cost index review is underway to identify room for a potential rate hike for

Hundreds of people have gathered for a vigil at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus for a security guard who was fatally assaulted at work last weekend. 24 year old Harmandeep Kaur died in a Kelowna hospital after being attacked early last Saturday morning. RCMP say a suspect who was also working at the university was arrested under the Mental Health Act and could face a murder charge. UBCO deputy vice-chancellor Lesley Cormack says flags at the campus were also being lowered in memory of Kaur.

RCMP say a 13 year old Richmond girl showed a keen instinct for safety when she was approached by a man offering to give her a ride. Police say the girl refused the offer made while she was walking near the Steveston United Church late yesterday afternoon. They say she refused again when man then offered money as an enticement for a ride and immediately notified her mother after she arrived home. Corporal Dennis Hwang says police have launched an investigation and are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

B.C. is reporting 340 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 349,944 cases in the province.There are 484 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 69 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, eight new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,903.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Polson Long Term Care (Interior Health) has been declared over, for a total of 20 facilities with ongoing outbreaks. From Feb. 24 to March 2, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 19.2% of cases and from Feb. 17 to March 2, they acco