Category Archives: Prairies/BC
All B.C. health regions have received shipment of COVID-19 vaccine: top doctor
VICTORIA — British Columbia's top doctor says every regional health authority has received doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Bonnie Henry said vaccine deliveries last week were concentrated in the Lower Mainland, where case counts and ...
Manitoba sees lowest COVID-19 numbers in weeks, one month after restrictions imposed
WINNIPEG — Manitoba's key COVID-19 numbers dropped to their lowest levels in weeks Monday, more than one month after restrictions were tightened on public gatherings and business openings. The province reported 167 new cases and four deaths. Both numbe...
B.C. eases requirements for struggling businesses applying for grant funding
VICTORIA — British Columbia government has loosened eligibility requirements for small and medium-sized businesses applying for grants to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Ravi Kahlon, the minister of jobs and economic recovery, says businesses must show ...
B.C. on track for record-breaking year for illicit overdose deaths: coroner
VICTORIA — British Columbia is facing a record-breaking year for overdose deaths and the provincial coroner is urging caution as the illicit drug supply grows more toxic. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said Monday there were 153 suspected toxic drug deat...
$12 million in reserved federal funds released to B.C. school districts: ministry
VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it is releasing about $12 million to school districts across the province to further support the COVID-19 response. The money is part of the $242.4 million in one-time federal funding for pandemic safety ...
B.C. housing market to remain vibrant through the new year: report
VANCOUVER — A company that supports hundreds of credit unions across Canada predicts British Columbia's housing market will remain healthy through 2021 as the province moves out of its COVID-19 slump. A report from Central 1, the organization that hand...
Judge dismisses application for injunction against Alberta’s COVID-19 rules
CALGARY — A judge rejected a request Monday from two Alberta churches and three individuals to temporarily suspend selected public-health rules to "save Christmas." The measures limit Christmas celebrations to individual households, restrict weddings a...
Manitoba premier no longer appears firm on staying for a full second term
WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister appears to be leaving the door open to an exit from political life before the next provincial election slated for October 2023. Pallister said in interviews during the 2019 election campaign that he would ser...
Alberta sets record 904 opioid deaths so far in 2020, cites COVID-19 as factor
EDMONTON — Alberta is reporting 904 opioid-related deaths in the first 10 months of 2020, a sobering record surpassing the province's current death count of COVID-19. Premier Jason Kenney says the novel coronavirus has had an impact on those opioid num...
No easy solutions to complex problem of high condo insurance premiums: B.C. report
VANCOUVER — A Crown corporation that regulates British Columbia's private-sector insurance companies says an average 40 per cent increase in condo insurance premiums resulted from various factors including risks that insurers face from earthquakes, wil...
