Category Archives: Prairies/BC
Manitoba doctors cite ‘staggering’ pandemic backlog of medical surgeries, tests
WINNIPEG — Manitoba is facing a "staggering" backlog of surgeries, diagnostic tests and other health-care services because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the drain on staff, the provincial doctors association said Thursday. An estimated 110,000 procedure...
COVID-19 vaccination rates on the Prairies grow slowly after rush of keeners
WINNIPEG — The rush to get initial doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the Prairies appears to be weakening — not stalling but definitely slowing down — with the rate of the eligible population getting a first shot hovering around 70
B.C. public health officials prepare to manage COVID-19 differently in the future
VANCOUVER — The future of COVID-19 could look a lot like seasonal flus or other common illnesses like measles or pneumonia, British Columbia's deputy provincial health officer says. Dr. Réka Gustafson said it's hard to speculate on the longevity of CO...
‘Sacred country’: Singer-songwriter Corb Lund holds coal mining protest concert
LIVINGSTONE RANGE, ALBERTA — Two mountain goats stubbornly refused to get up from their resting spot Wednesday in the middle of a gravel road heading into the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Like the two goats, many rural landowners in
Yukon to step up enforcement as COVID-19 cases rise but no more restrictions
WHITEHORSE — Yukon's premier says enforcement will be stepped up to try and ensure compliance with COVID-19 measures as infections continue rising, but no new restrictions will be introduced to deal with what he calls a "serious situation." Sandy Silve...
Manitoba to expand its COVID-19 vaccine effort with large Moderna supply
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government says it is set to achieve its long-stated goal of administering 20,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses per day. Johanu Botha, co-lead of the province's vaccination team, says about 300,000 doses of Moderna vaccine are due to a...
Alberta adds vacation packages, travel prizes to COVID-19 vaccine lottery
EDMONTON — Albertans who get fully vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine now have a chance to win vacation packages and other travel prizes from WestJet and Air Canada. The government says in a news release that 40 travel-related
‘Be patient’: Lethbridge police chief discusses controversies at virtual town hall
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — The head of police in a southern Alberta city has addressed criticisms of his department in the face of continued warnings from the justice minister that the force could be disbanded. Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh held a...
Saskatchewan to open more pop-up vaccine clinics, ease self-isolation requirements
REGINA — Saskatchewan is changing self-isolation requirements for residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Ministry of Health says most people who are 14 days past their second dose and asymptomatic will not need to self-isolate if they come i...
Labour shortages, closed borders major obstacles to B.C. restaurant, tourism restarts
VICTORIA — Progressive easing of pandemic health restrictions in British Columbia are welcome steps to bring back normal life, but tourism and restaurant sector representatives say operators face daunting COVID-19 related barriers of worker shortages a...
