Category Archives: Prairies/BC
Saskatchewan looking to send COVID-19 patients to Manitoba as ICUs overwhelmed
REGINA — Saskatchewan is exploring the possibility of sending COVID-19 patients to Manitoba, a day after it announced plans to send those sick with the virus to Ontario. Health Minister Paul Merriman said Thursday that Saskatchewan officials have reac...
Saskatchewan health minister says province’s low COVID-19 vaccination rate is skewed
REGINA — Saskatchewan's Minister of Health Paul Merriman says the province's low COVID-19 vaccination rate is an underestimation, despite data from the Public Health Agency of Canada showing otherwise. The most recent data compiled by the federal agenc...
Government-funded iPhones to connect B.C.’s youth in care to services, technology
VICTORIA — Thousands of youth in care across British Columbia will receive an Apple iPhone to better connect them to friends, family and available technology. A statement from the Ministry of Children and Family Development says nearly 4,000 iPhones wi...
Tofino, B.C., hospital the latest to declare a COVID-19 outbreak
VICTORIA — Tofino General Hospital on Vancouver Island has joined the list of 19 acute care, long-term care or assisted-living facilities in B.C. with a COVID-19 outbreak. A statement from the Health Ministry says there have been 605 new cases diagnos...
Appeals court rules Manitoba had the right to impose wage freeze on public sector
WINNIPEG — A court ruling that struck down the Manitoba government's public-sector wage freeze as a violation of collective bargaining rights was overturned by a higher court Wednesday. The provincial Court of Appeal ruled the government was within its...
Saskatchewan planning to send critical COVID-19 patients to Ontario
REGINA — Saskatchewan is preparing to send some of its critical COVID-19 patients to Ontario as its hospitals are over capacity. Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone said Wednesday that the province is preparing air ambulance flights. Tr...
Vancouver park that was a homeless encampment reopens to the public
VANCOUVER — The site of a former homeless camp in Vancouver reopened Tuesday for its original use. The work of removing fencing around Strathcona Park is expected to take a few more days, but a statement from Vancouver's Park Board says
B.C. ready to vaccinate thousands of children when Health Canada gives OK: top doctor
VANCOUVER — British Columbia's top doctor has issued an order requiring children five and older to wear masks in public spaces, expanding a mandate for those aged 12 and up as the province prepares to vaccinate younger kids pending Health
Manitoba tightens more COVID-19 rules in southern region with high case counts
WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government is once again tightening COVID-19 rules in the southern health region, where vaccination rates are low and case counts are high. People in the southern region will now be required to self-isolate if anyone in their
Alberta premier says province will keep vaccine passport into at least early 2022
EDMONTON — Premier Jason Kenney says the Alberta version of a vaccine passport is helping increase vaccinations and drive down COVID-19 cases, but notes it will be in place until at least the early months of next year. "I fully expect
