Category Archives: Prairies/BC
Saskatchewan to start managing Omicron variant like other common respiratory viruses
REGINA — Saskatchewan is revising its public health orders as it moves to treat the COVID-19 Omicron variant like other common respiratory viruses such as influenza. StartingFriday,close contacts of people who test positive will not be required to self...
Court of Appeal reserves decision on Alberta ID policy for supervised drug-use sites
EDMONTON — Judges from Alberta's top court have reserved a decision on a request to stop a provincial policy that personal identification be shown to get into supervised consumption sites. The rule, set to come into force Monday, would require people
57 per cent of Yukon children have first COVID-19 shot but more needed: doctor
WHITEHORSE — The head of the Canadian Medical Association says Yukon's COVID-19 vaccine rate for children is encouraging but more work is needed to increase the number of immunized kids. Dr. Katharine Smart, who is also a pediatrician in the territory,...
Alberta nurses ratify contract that includes 4.25 per cent wage increase over 4 years
EDMONTON — Alberta's nurses have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement, closing the book on what the union calls some of the most contentious and bruising negotiations in its history. The vote was 87 per cent in favour of a
B.C. to send rapid tests for staff to government-funded child-care settings
VICTORIA — Staff in government-funded child-care centres are soon expected to have access to rapid antigen tests provided by the province. The Children's Ministry says up to 250,000 tests will be sent to government-funded child-care facilities througho...
B.C. forest watchdog recommends improving forest management to protect water
VICTORIA — British Columbia's forest watchdog has identified four key areas where the management of forestry practices can negatively affect water and outlines potential opportunities for the province to improve regulations. A report by the Forest Prac...
Kelowna airport gets $18M for upgrades and operational costs
KELOWNA, B.C. — The airport in Kelowna, B.C., has received $15 million in federal funding for upgrades to infrastructure, including for the flow of passengers and crew being tested for COVID-19. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says some of the improve...
Peak of Manitoba’s current COVID-19 wave may be close: chief doctor
WINNIPEG — Manitoba's chief public health officer says the province may be close to the peak of the current COVID-19 wave. Dr. Brent Roussin says it's too early to be definitive, but indicators point to a possible peak in the next
Saskatchewan could lift some COVID-19 restrictions as spring nears: top doctor
REGINA — Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer says the province is considering whether to lift some COVID-19 measures but emphasized that booster shots will remain critical in reducing serious illness and preserving the health-care system. Dr. S...
Interior Fraser steelhead face extinction, warn B.C. fishing, conservation groups
VANCOUVER — Fishery and conservation groups in British Columbia warn a unique species of ocean-going trout faces a "severe conservation crisis" and must be added to Canada's Species at Risk Act. Fifteen groups, including the BC Wildlife Federation and ...