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BCApr 21, 2021

Wildfire in the southern Interior in B.C. is still burning out of control

The BC Wildfire Service says a wildfire in the southern Interior is still burning out of control. The service says 42 firefighters were at the scene yesterday, 18 kilometres northwest of Merritt. Two helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment are also being used to bring the one-square-kilometre fire under control. An evacuation alert issued Sunday by the Thompson Nicola Regional District remains in place, affecting 54 properties in Canford and the Miller Estates Subdivision. BC Wildfire Service on Twitter: The #BCWildfire Service continues to respond to the Petit Creek wildfire (K60293).
judge-to-deliver-decision-today-on-request-to-delay-meng-extradition-case
BCApr 21, 2021

Judge grants Meng's request to delay extradition hearings

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has granted Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's request to delay the final leg in her extradition hearings, days before they were set to begin. Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says she will deliver reasons for her decision in writing in the next week or so and a date to resume proceedings will be determined later. The hearings were scheduled to begin Monday but Meng's lawyers said they needed more time to review documents related to the case obtained through a Hong Kong court. They asked Holmes on Monday to adjourn proceedings until Aug. 3, a delay they argued wo
inflation-rose-2-2-per-cent-in-march-compared-to-the-same-month-last-year-statistics-canada
CanadaApr 21, 2021

Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year: Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada says inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, riding mostly on the back of 35.3 per cent year-over-year increase in gasoline prices. TD senior economist James Marple says headline inflation only hit a pandemic-era high because it was compared to very weak prices at the onset of the pandemic last year. He says the country may see stronger price growth later this year if high-contact services re-open and bring back displaced workers. Marple also says inflation may feel higher for many Canadians who have shifted spending towards larger homes, fo
three-confidence-votes-to-determine-fate-of-minority-liberal-government
CanadaApr 21, 2021

Three confidence votes to determine fate of minority Liberal government

A pair of proposed changes to the federal budget put forward by opposition parties will determine whether the minority Liberal government will fall, which could trigger an election.The government says it has informed opposition parties that two votes in the House of Commons — on a Bloc Québécois sub-amendment today and on a Conservative amendment Thursday — are considered confidence votes.A third opportunity to pass judgment on the massive budget comes Monday, when the House votes on the main motion to approve the government's budget policy.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal govern
covid-19-haryana-govt-to-vaccinate-and-test-protesting-farmers
IndiaApr 21, 2021

COVID-19: Haryana govt to vaccinate and test protesting farmers

Amid growing cases of coronavirus, Haryana government decided has decided to vaccinate protesting farmers and also test them for coronavirus. "It is my duty to worry about everyone in Haryana. Farmers are protesting here in large numbers. We have decided to vaccinate them and get them tested for COVID-19,"said Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.
849-new-covid-19-cases-reported-in-b-c-as-hospitalizations-break-new-record
BCApr 21, 2021

849 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C. as hospitalizations break new record

Health officials are urging eligible British Columbians to register online for a vaccine in order to reduce growing pressure on health-care workers getting "pushed to the limits" at hospitals. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say those aged 35 and up can now register for a vaccine as part of the province's age-based vaccination stream. Dix and Dr. Henry say 849 more people have become infected with COVID-19 and one more person has died for a total of 1,539 fatalities since the pandemic began. They say 456 people are in hospital and 148 of them are i
millions-for-addiction-and-mental-health-in-b-c-s-budget-for-unprecedented-need-people-give-mixed-reviews-on-the-budget
BCApr 21, 2021

Millions for addiction and mental health in B.C.'s budget for 'unprecedented need'; People give mixed reviews on the budget

The provincial deficit is predicted to hit a record this year with billions of dollars in new spending promised for infrastructure and supports for families and businesses. Finance Minister Selina Robinson forecasts a 9.7-billion-dollar deficit this fiscal year and says it may take seven to nine years to balance the books. She says the province will help the recovery with 8.7 billion dollars in infrastructure spending over three years that will create 85 thousand jobs. Another 1.6 billion dollars is promised for poverty reduction strategies and an extra 3.1 billion for the health-care and men
pm-trudeau-and-deputy-pm-both-say-they-are-seeking-appointments-at-a-pharmacy-to-get-vaccinated
CanadaApr 20, 2021

PM Trudeau and Deputy PM both say they are seeking appointments at a pharmacy to get vaccinated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland both say they are seeking appointments at a pharmacy to get vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19. Both Trudeau, 49, and Freeland, 52, became eligible today when Ontario dropped the age to get that vaccine to 40 and above. Trudeau says he is still working out the details for getting his shot. Freeland says she has her children online trying to get her an appointment and is now on a waitlist. Extension of hotel quarantines in Canada Canada is extending the use of quarantine hotels for international
ex-cop-guilty-of-all-three-charges-of-murder-and-manslaughter-in-floyd-case
WorldApr 20, 2021

Ex-cop guilty of all three charges of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case

More than 3,000 National Guard soldiers, along with police officers, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement personnel have flooded Minneapolis in the wake of a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murder in the death last year of George Floyd. The jury on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But in the city that has come to epitomize America's debate over police killings, there remain places where Minneapolis can feel almost like a police state. Concret

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some-residents-may-remain-in-b-c-landslide-evacuation-zone-after-road-access-cut
BCApr 21, 2026

Some residents may remain in B.C. landslide evacuation zone after road access cut

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District. In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area. The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order
afn-chief-asks-un-to-oppose-b-c-move-to-amend-indigenous-rights-law
BCApr 21, 2026

AFN chief asks UN to oppose B.C. move to amend Indigenous rights law

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called on the United Nations on Tuesday to support First Nations leaders opposing proposed changes to British Columbia’s Indigenous rights law. Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the province’s plan to amend or suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act violates international standards. According to her remarks to the forum, First Nations rights are protected under international human rights law and “cannot be suspended, amended or paused by
drug-package-disguised-as-grass-patch-found-inside-mission-institution-rcmp-investigating
BCApr 21, 2026

Drug package disguised as grass patch found inside Mission Institution, RCMP investigating

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police. The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground. According to police, the package contained more than 30
federal-government-tables-bill-to-regulate-space-launches-from-canada
CanadaApr 21, 2026

Federal government tables bill to regulate space launches from Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set
surrey-memorial-expands-chemotherapy-capacity-with-six-new-treatment-chairs
BCApr 21, 2026

Surrey Memorial expands chemotherapy capacity with six new treatment chairs

Surrey Memorial Hospital has added six new chemotherapy treatment chairs, bringing the total to 39, in an effort to address growing demand for cancer care in the region. According to health officials, the expansion will allow up to 420 additional patients to receive treatment each month. Dr. Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director at BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, said demand for chemotherapy services in Surrey continues to rise. She said the expanded capacity is expected to help the hospital meet a key target: starting first treatment for more than 90 per cent of patients within two weeks of