Category Archives: Prairies/BC
City council votes to repeal masking bylaw ahead of this week’s Calgary Stampede
CALGARY — City council in Calgary has voted to repeal its masking bylaw, days before the start of the Stampede. Last week, the provincial government lifted most of its COVID-19 public health restrictions but Calgary left its masking bylaw in place
Manitoba ahead of vaccine targets, but data shows COVID hit some communities harder
WINNIPEG — Manitoba hit a key COVID-19 milestone Monday as the number of people 12 and older and fully vaccinated reached 50 per cent. The figure for people with at least one dose was just shy of 75 per cent. The provincial
COVID-19 spike in Yukon shows need for full vaccination: Trudeau
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a spike in COVID-19 cases in Yukon is a reminder of the importance of vaccinations and following health protocols. The territory reported 31 new cases since Wednesday, bringing the territory's total active ca...
Hot and dry: Saskatchewan issues fire ban for all provincial parks, Crown land
Saskatchewan has issued a fire ban for all provincial parks and Crown land due to hot, dry weather. The ban includes open fires, controlled burns and fireworks. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says there is an extreme fire risk covering most of
‘Free of the mask’: Businesses taking cautious approach to Alberta’s full reopening
CALGARY — Alberta lifted almost all its remaining COVID-19 restrictions Thursday, but many businesses said they are taking a more cautious approach as things start to return to normal. There are no more limits on indoor and outdoor social gatherings, n...
B.C. residents should still wear masks in indoor public places: top doctor
VICTORIA — British Columbia's top doctor is encouraging people to continue wearing masks in all indoor places, even as they're no longer mandatory starting Canada Day. Dr. Bonnie Henry says masks remain an important layer of protection until more peopl...
Manitoba’s efforts to boost vaccination rates appear to be working, officials say
WINNIPEG — Manitoba's COVID-19 vaccination rate is near the top in the country and fears of a potential stall in uptake have so far not come to pass, health officials said Wednesday. "It's really worthy of celebration to know what we've
Final figures from 2020-21 show Alberta with $17B deficit, over $5B in COVID-19 costs
EDMONTON — The latest figures show Alberta's fight against COVID-19 cost more than $5 billion by the end of the last fiscal year in March. The money went toward continuing care, hospitals, testing, vaccine distribution, personal protective equipment, a...
Good year for crops, federal COVID-19 transfers help shrink Saskatchewan’s deficit
REGINA — Saskatchewan’s year-end financial report says the province's deficit has shrunk to $1.13 billion. The deficit had originally been forecast to be about $2.4 billion. Finance Minister Donna Harpauer says Saskatchewan is in a much better fiscal s...
Alberta COVID cases continue to fall, province set to fully reopen as planned
EDMONTON — Alberta’s chief medical officer of health says COVID-19 numbers continue to fall but the plan is to remain vigilant as the province prepares to fully reopen Thursday. “Across the board, our numbers are moving in the right direction,” Dr.
