Category Archives: Prairies/BC

Latest wave of COVID-19 cases may have peaked in parts of B.C., says health officer

VANCOUVER — COVID-19 modelling released by the British Columbia government shows challenging days ahead for the health-care system even though the latest wave propelled by the Omicron variant may have peaked in parts of the province. Provincial health ...

Manitoba changes how campground reservations made to try to address high demand

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is changing how campground reservations are made to try to avoid lengthy waits for people booking online or being shut out of securing a spot altogether. This year, people who want to book a yurt or

COVID-19 contact notification reduced as Manitoba students go back to class

WINNIPEG — Manitoba schools will no longer notify close contacts of individual COVID-19 infections when students return to class next week. Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief public health officer, said the rapid transmission of the Omicron varian...

B.C. expands program aimed at preventing overdose deaths in construction industry

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is providing a $1-million grant to expand access to resources aimed at preventing overdose deaths in the construction industry. Sheila Malcolmson, the minister of mental health and addictions, said the program...

Supreme Court of Canada to review decision on B.C. school trustee’s defamation case

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada will look at whether a defamation lawsuit by a school trustee in Chilliwack, B.C., should proceed against the former president of a teachers union. Trustee Barry Neufeld made negative comments in 2017 about how

B.C. Liberals launch review of new memberships ahead of Feb. 5 party leadership vote

VICTORIA — A British Columbia Liberal leadership candidate says he called for an audit of party memberships before the Feb. 5 leadership vote after reviewing data that raised questions about new members.  Val Litwin said he sent a letter to the

Vaccine requirement imposed for school district staff in Delta, B.C.

DELTA, B.C. — The school board in Delta, B.C., is requiring all its employees to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 and is giving them less than two months to disclose their status.  Board chair Val Windsor says it is taking

B.C. expands program aimed at preventing overdose deaths in construction industry

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government is providing a $1-million grant to expand access to resources aimed at preventing overdose deaths in the construction industry. Sheila Malcolmson, the minister of mental health and addictions, says the program...

Alberta sets record on active COVID cases, top doctor unsure when peak will hit

EDMONTON — Alberta is reporting a new record high of COVID-19 cases and its chief medical officer of health warns it’s still too soon to predict when the tsunami wave of Omicron-driven illnesses will crest. “It is a little early to

Nunavut to lift territory-wide lockdown Monday as COVID-19 cases decline

IQALUIT, Nunavut — Nunavut will lift its lockdown Monday as COVID-19 case counts continue to drop across the territory. The territory has been under a strict lockdown since Dec. 24, with travel restricted and all workplaces and schools closed. On Monda...