Air Canada and Ottawa have agreed to financing deals that would allow the airline to access as much as $5.9 billion through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program. As part of the package, Air Canada has agreed to a number of commitments, including refunds for some customers who did not travel due to COVID-19 and a promise to resume service at some regional airports. Other restrictions include limits on executive compensation and maintaining a minimum number of staff. Travel restrictions introduced through the beginning of the pandemic have been catastrophic for the airline in

Lt. Gov. Janet Austin has delivered the speech from the throne outlining government's commitment to supporting people, businesses and communities, while working to put the pandemic behind British Columbians and build a strong recovery for everyone."We have come a long way by looking out for each other and we can finally see the finish line in sight," said Premier John Horgan. "But in a marathon, the final push is the most difficult. The threat of new variants means we cannot let down our guard, not when we are this close to the end. Our top priority will continue to be on keeping British Colum

A judge in Hong Kong has approved a document-sharing agreement between telecom company Huawei and HSBC, in a deal that could affect the extradition case in Vancouver involving Meng Wanzhou. Meng, Huawei's chief financial officer, has been on bail in Vancouver since late 2018 and hopes the documents will prevent her extradition to the US, where she is wanted on allegations of bank fraud and violating US rules against trade with Iran. An earlier ruling by a British court stopped HSBC from sharing documents with her legal team, but Huawei says the Hong Kong court has now allowed the arrangement,

The Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit (CRU) has impounded four Ford Mustangs for street racing and excessive speeding, in Cloverdale. The investigation began on April 4, 2021 shortly before 10 p.m. when an officer observed a group of four Ford Mustangs racing down 184 Street near 53 Avenue. The vehicle were allegedly traveling at approximately 135 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.The Mustangs were pulled over and each of the drivers was issued a violation ticket for excessive speeding. These drivers won’t be back in the saddle for at least 7 days, as all four vehicles were impounded for street racin

Starting today, the City of Vancouver in partnership with the Vancouver School Board (VSB) is launching a four-week School Streets pilot at three elementary schools. A School Street is a car-free block beside a school open to walking, biking, and rolling during drop-off and pick-up. School volunteers will be leading the day-to-day implementation of the pilot program.The goals of the pilot are to help improve safety, encourage active travel and reduce carbon pollution, which is part of the Climate Emergency Action Plan and Transportation 2040 Plan. The School Streets pilot will be in place Apri

The police chief in a Minneapolis suburb where a Black man was fatally shot during a traffic stop says he believes the officer who fired intended to use a Taser, not a handgun. Police Chief Tim Gannon described the shooting as "an accidental discharge." The man identified by relatives as 20 year old Daunte Wright died Sunday in Brooklyn Center, a city of about 30,000 people on the northwest border of Minneapolis. His death sparked violent protests, with officers in riot gear clashing with demonstrators into Monday morning. The Minneapolis area was already on edge because of the trial of the f

North Vancouver RCMP say a child has died after a skiing accident on a local mountain. Police say they were called to Mount Seymour at about 8 p.m. Saturday for reports of a seriously injured 12 year old. Mounties say the child was injured during a ski accident, but did not specify the nature of the accident. Paramedics took the child to BC Children's Hospital where they were pronounced dead. The BC Coroners Service says it is investigating, and would not be able to provide further details at this time. North Vancouver RCMP on Twitter: CORRECTION: A previous release listed the age of the child

Punjab Chief Minister Captain (retired) Amarinder Singh on Monday received his second COVID-19 vaccine shot in Chandigarh."Got my second dose of Covid-19 vaccination today. In this fight against the Covid-19 virus, timely vaccination is our most potent shield. I urge all eligible persons to take their shot at the earliest by registering at the medical facilities of Punjab Government across the State," the Chief Minister tweeted.The Chief Minister had on March 5 received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine Punjab's Mohali. Capt. Amarinder Singh on Twitter: Got my second dose of #Covid19 v

Russia's Sputnik V got approval from the Subject expert committee (SEC) for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA), making it the third Covid-19 vaccine to get clearance in India.According to sources, the SEC approved Dr Reddy's application for EUA to Sputnik V.The decision comes after the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)'s SEC met today to take up Sputnik V application for EUA in India.Dr Reddy's Laboratories, last week sought the government's approval for the vaccine to be used in India. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) partnered with Dr Reddy's in September 2020 to conduct clini