Several federal Conservative party members from BC have been named to the Tory's newly announced shadow cabinet. Party leader Erin O'Toole released his critics list this morning, including Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas as environment and climate change critic. Former Conservative minister and Abbotsford MP Ed Fast is critic for Innovation, Science and Industry and another former minister. South Surrey-White Rock's Kerry-Lynne Findlay, has been named critic for national defence. In all, eight of 13 BC MP's have a place in O'Toole's shadow cabinet.

Police in Vancouver say three suspects brandished guns in the attempted theft of 21-dollars worth of ice cream from a grocery store last night. They say a 40 year old suspect flashed a gun while attempting to steal three tubs of ice cream, and two accomplices did the same thing to allow him to flee when staff tried to stop him. Sergeant Steve Addison says such a level of violence in a petty crime is shocking and unacceptable. Addison says the ice-cream thief and his alleged accomplices, a 27 year old man and a 31 year old woman were each arrested for robbery.

BC Hydro says storm-related outages are more frequent in British Columbia due to climate change but when it comes to preparing for a blackout, a new report shows Lower Mainland residents are in the dark. The report from the Crown utility says more than half of Lower Mainland residents think their region is the most prepared for storm-related power outages, but fewer than half have an outage plan or emergency kit at home. Hydro spokesman Kyle Donaldson says people in areas such as northern B.C., where outages are more frequent, are less confident in their region's preparedness, but 62 per cent

Just as Fraser Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak over at Chilliwack General Hospital, it has declared a new outbreak at Burnaby Hospital. The health authority says two patients have tested positive in the outbreak limited to one medicine unit, which has been closed to admissions. It says infection control measures are in place and other areas of the hospital have not been affected, with the emergency department remaining open. There are 33 active COVID-19 outbreaks in health-care facilities across BC, including nine in acute care facilities.

The RCMP say BC's police watchdog has been called to investigate an incident in Surrey last Friday night that resulted in one woman being hospitalized. The Mounties say the woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant and taken to their Surrey detachment after medical personnel cleared her for incarceration. In the early hours of Sunday morning, they say a guard noticed the woman had fallen from the bunk in her cell to the floor, where she was found unresponsive. The RCMP say a nurse began life saving efforts before she was taken to hospital in serious condition, and the Independent Investiga

Vancouver Police are investigating a brazen car theft from the Downtown Eastside, which occurred while a mother and her baby were sleeping in the vehicle."For a suspect to steal a car while it was occupied with people is exceptionally bold," says Constable Tania Visintin. "Thankfully, the woman and her child were physically uninjured and none of their belongings were taken."On November 5, just before 3:30 p.m., a man parked his vehicle near Keefer and Abbott streets while he went to a nearby grocery store. His wife and three month old baby remained in the vehicle while napping. It was during t

Mounties say a child abducted when a vehicle was stolen in Surrey, B.C., is safe after a 45-minute disappearance on Tuesday. Police say the baby was strapped into a car seat in the back of a parked vehicle that was left running in the driveway of a home. RCMP say multiple resources were issued in search for the vehicle, but it was a bystander who found the baby. That person spotted the vehicle abandoned just blocks away from where it was taken and the baby was still strapped inside. The child was checked over by paramedics and police say it wasn't physically hurt. RCMP say the family involved

The latest numbers from British Columbia's coroner show suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths set new records in August and September, pushing total overdose deaths to another record for the first nine months of a calendar year. The BC Coroners Service says 181 people died in August and 152 in September, record figures for both months, and it brings the number of fatalities since the start of the year to 1,534. A coroner's statement says September marked the 12th consecutive month in which there were at least 150 deaths due to toxic illicit drugs. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says the toll is

Alberta's Opposition is calling for help for childcare program operators, saying some may have to shut down as COVID-19 support programs end and parents remain hesitant to return children to care centres. NDP critic Rakhi Pancholi (RACK'-ee pan-CHOE'-lee) estimates the Children's Services Department has about 70-million dollars in surplus funds because lower subsidies are going to care centres as a result of reduced capacity due to COVID-19.Children's Services Minister Rebecca Schulz's office says in a statement that enrolment numbers are going up, which means more parents will be accessing th