Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is tapping the former procurement minister to become Canada’s next defence minister.Anita Anand’s arrival in the position follows months of controversy surrounding the Liberal government’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations involving some of the military’s most senior officers.Opposition parties, experts and victims’ support groups had been calling for Trudeau to replace Harjit Sajjan, who was accused of having lost all credibility when it came to leading the fight against military sexual misconduct.Anand is only the second woman to serve as Canad

In addition, 90.0% (3,893,775) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 85.0% (3,676,200) have received their second dose.Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,618 new cases of COVID-19, including 21 epi-linked cases, for a total of 202,516 cases in the province:Oct. 22-23: 613 new casesOct. 23-24: 529 new casesOct. 24-25: 476 new casesThere are 4,966 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 195,055 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 366 individuals are in hospital and 149 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recoveri

Vancouver Police have released surveillance video of a man they believe was kidnapped while walking on a quiet west-side street last month, and hope someone has information that can help solve the troubling case."We believe Jeffrey Lee was abducted by force and taken to an unknown location," says Sergeant Steve Addison. "We don’t know exactly why he was kidnapped, but we know there are people out there who have information, and we’re asking them to come forward now."Lee, 33, was last seen by his girlfriend around 10 p.m. on September 23, as he left her downtown apartment to go gambling in

The RCMP say second-degree murder charges have been laid against a man for the deaths of two people in the Vancouver Island community of Crofton. They say 33 year old Justin Dodd was arrested early Saturday morning without incident. Officers from the nearby city of Duncan responded just after midnight on Saturday to a report of suspicious circumstances at a house in Crofton. The Mounties say when they arrived they found two people dead in the home. Dodd, who is a Duncan resident, is expected to appear in court to face the charges on Nov. 2. The names of the victims are not being released.

Police say a teen has serious injuries after she was hit by a school bus while she was crossing a road this morning. The 14-year-old was on a marked crosswalk when she was struck by the bus making a left turn in the west Edmonton neighbourhood of Glenwood.Police did not say if there were any students on the bus or whether anyone else was injured.No charges have been laid yet.

Alberta's COVID-19 passport program now requires two doses of vaccine. Starting today, businesses and venues taking part in the program must require proof of both doses or a negative test before allowing people inside.Previously, only one dose of the vaccine was required. Scott Krebes, who owns Kelly's Pub in Edmonton, says the program has been seamless and customers show up ready with their passports out.

Calgary's first female mayor has been officially sworn in amid a controversy over an incoming councillor who has refused to resign. Jyoti Gondek was sworn in by Court of Queen's Bench Associate Chief Justice John Rooke. He also had to swear in councillor Sean Chu because the new mayor refused to perform the duty as she had for other members of council.Gondek is among those who called for Chu to resign after allegations of sexual assault involving a 16-year-old girl resurfaced from when he served as a Calgary police officer 24 years ago.

New Westminster police have identified the man killed in a stabbing late Friday. They say 23 year old Lionel Lawrence was killed in an altercation on a city street. Police say Lawrence is known to them and his death may be linked to the Lower Mainland gang conflict. The service says in a news release that it's believed two suspects were involved, and they'd like to speak to a key person who was at the scene and likely has valuable information.

The BC Federation of Labour is sponsoring rallies in Victoria and at two locations in Metro Vancouver today as it urges workers to speak out in support of legislation providing 10 days of paid sick leave to BC employees. Today marks the final day of consultation over whether the province should require employers to provide three, five or 10 days of paid sick leave annually. The federation supports 10 paid sick days, saying that is the best way to ensure workers stay home when they are ill and don't share infections on the job. The rallies take place at 4 pm in Burnaby and Surrey, while suppor