Premier John Horgan says drivers in British Columbia will get a one-time relief rebate to help drivers deal with the cost of rising gas prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Horgan says the provincial government approached the Insurance Corporation of B.C. to provide drivers with a basic auto insurance policy with a $110 rebate and commercial drivers with $165.He says a one-time payment is a better approach than cutting fuel taxes because the price will only increase again at the pumps.Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the payment will cost $395 million.

B.C. is reporting 271 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 354,874 cases in the province.There are 255 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 52 are in intensive care.In the past 24 hours, six new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,981.There have been no new health-care facility outbreaks. The outbreak at Yucalta Lodge (Island Health) has been declared over, for a total of four facilities with ongoing outbreak. From March 16-22, people not fully vaccinated accounted for 16.1% of cases. From March 9-22, they accounted for 25.9% of hospitalizations.Past week cases (March 1

Vancouver Police arrested two men who allegedly stole more than $16,000 in merchandise after breaking into a Kitsilano clothing store early Wednesday morning. A 35-year-old woman, who lives near the store, called 9-1-1 around 4:20 a.m. yesterday after she was woken up by the sounds of glass smashing and a security alarm going off near Arbutus Street and West 4th Avenue.The suspects fled quickly and were gone when police arrived at the crime scene, but an alert VPD officer acting on a hunch tracked them down after spotting a taxi leaving the area with no lights on.Officers stopped the taxi to i

Surrey RCMP is advising the public of a shooting that occurred in Guildford overnight and requesting anyone with information or dash camera footage to contact police. On March 23, 2022, at 9:30 p.m., Surrey RCMP received several calls reporting shots fired in the 15200-block of Flamingo Place. A subsequent call was received reporting a male had been shot. Police were able to locate the man, who was suffering from non-life-threatening injuries at an alternate location in Newton. The 19-year old victim was transported to hospital. Frontline officers, Community Response Unit and Surrey Gang Enfo

Several constituency association presidents with Alberta's United Conservative Party say they're not content with changes to voting rules for an upcoming meeting to review Premier Jason Kenney's leadership. They are planning a news conference on the steps outside the legislature at noon. The leadership vote was to take place in person in Red Deer on April 9th. Yesterday, the party changed it to a mail-in vote.

Alberta's chief medical officer of health says the Omicron subvariant has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the province. Doctor Deena Hinshaw says about 60 per cent of positive cases are now the B-A-2 strain. She says the subvariant is more transmissible than Omicron, but doesn't appear to be causing more severe infections or outcomes. But she adds a surge in cases, even if not life-threatening, can still have a big effect on the public and health care. Dr. Hinshaw says she expects to see transmissions trending upwards in the coming weeks.

Surrey RCMP officers were called after disturbance on a local highway. Police said a llama managed to escape its enclosure this morning.Police said the llama made it through a hole in a fence and was loose on the east side of Highway 99 near 8th Avenue. Officers got to the area at about 7:30 a.m. and managed to contact the owner. Later police informed through a tweet that the llama safely made it back to property. Surrey RCMP on Twitter: Thanks to all who expressed concern for the llama on the loose this morning at highway 99 and 8 Ave, who is now home safe. Update from the officer on scene, t

Permanent repairs could be completed by the end of this year on three of the seven Coquihalla Highway bridges damaged during last November's devastating rain, floods and washouts. The Highways Ministry says it is starting the process to select contractors for repairs at three sites between the Coquihalla summit and Merritt, with work to start this summer and wrap up later in the year. A tender package is also being prepared for contractors interested in handling permanent repairs to the washed out Othello section of Highway 5, just east of Hope. The ministry says more details about repairs to

Vancouver council will consider a motion next Tuesday that could see the city hold a vote on whether or not to participate in the bid to bring the Winter Olympics back to this province. Councillor Colleen Hardwick has proposed the motion, saying if a vote is approved it could be added to the ballot during municipal elections this October. A similar vote in 2003 resulted in a nearly 64 per cent majority in favour of hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. A feasibility study is currently underway as an Indigenous-led partnership, including four local First Nations, the City of Vancouver, Resort Muni