News

The employment insurance section of the Government of Canada website is shown on a laptop. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jesse Johnston

Workers fired for refusing vaccines likely won’t get EI, minister says

Federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough said refusing vaccination would be just cause for firing

Anna Lewald, left, a registered nurse at South Peninsula Hospital, gives Dave Aplin, right, an influenza vaccine at a flu and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine clinic Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at Homer High School in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)

B.C. records 13 more COVID-19 deaths Friday, 649 new cases

365 people in hospital, intensive care patients up to 142

Fishing boats on the fourth street dock in Tofino sway from side-to-side with the heavy rain and wind after the tsunami warning ends, on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Melissa Renwick

First Nations seek safety upgrade for B.C. harbour after pair of floatplane crashes

Second Tofino incident in less than three months sparks call to Transport Canada for improvements

Visitors and tourists to Parliament Hill stand around the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. A Parliament Hill memorial to Indigenous children who never returned from residential schools has been dismantled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Memorial to residential school victims removed from Parliament Hill

Items removed in partnership with the Algonquin Anishinabeg First Nation

Visitors and tourists to Parliament Hill stand around the Centennial flame on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. A Parliament Hill memorial to Indigenous children who never returned from residential schools has been dismantled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet gestures as he responds to a question during a news conference, Friday, Oct.22, 2021 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Quebec premier says Trudeau must ensure the Quebec nation does not lose a seat

Quebec only province to lose a seat in the proposed redistribution of seats, based on population.

Bloc Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet gestures as he responds to a question during a news conference, Friday, Oct.22, 2021 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Ukrainian and Canadian servicemen do training exercises to get ready for large scale International military drills on Yavorivsky training ground close to Lviv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 15, 2021. The Defence Department is vowing to review how the military screens for extremist views in the foreign troops it trains. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Office, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Defence Department vows to examine extremism in Canadian-trained foreign troops

Far-right radicals in the Ukraine boasted they received training from the Canadian Armed Forces

Ukrainian and Canadian servicemen do training exercises to get ready for large scale International military drills on Yavorivsky training ground close to Lviv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 15, 2021. The Defence Department is vowing to review how the military screens for extremist views in the foreign troops it trains. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Office, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
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FILE – Travellers pushing luggage on carts walk through Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Trudeau unveils Canada’s new COVID vaccine passport for domestic, international travel
UBC’s Earthquake Engineering Research Facility demonstrates how earthquakes can cause hazards inside a home. (Black Press file photo)
Are you prepared for an earthquake? Great B.C. Shakeout promotes safety tips
A man walked into a Campbell River store and threw eggs at employees and displays. Quinsam Communications security cam still
VIDEO: Man disgruntled over 5G network eggs inside of Campbell River business
British Columbia’s COVID-19 vaccine card system went into effect Sept. 13, 2021. Anyone who wants access to a range of non-essential indoor services must show proof of at least one dose of vaccine, with a second shot required by Oct. 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. to lift capacity limits for indoor ticketed, organized events as of Oct. 25
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B.C. forests minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. Photo: Hansard TV

Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy leading forest legislation overhaul

Conroy was appointed forestr minister less than a year ago

B.C. forests minister Katrine Conroy is leading an overhaul of the B.C.’s Crown forest management. Photo: Hansard TV
Prince Rupert resident, Jan Loroff, was the lucky winner of the Canada-wide contest. Loroff walked away with his new vehicle on Oct. 15. (Photo: Rainbow Chrysler)

Prince Rupert resident wins Sportsnet Hockey Predictor Contest

Winner drives away with new Dodge Ram in national hockey contest

Prince Rupert resident, Jan Loroff, was the lucky winner of the Canada-wide contest. Loroff walked away with his new vehicle on Oct. 15. (Photo: Rainbow Chrysler)
The potentially historic storm should have de-escalated by the time it makes landfall. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

‘Potentially historic’ storm brewing off B.C. coast should calm before landfall

Environment Canada expects most intense winds to dissipate before storm arrives on B.C. shores

The potentially historic storm should have de-escalated by the time it makes landfall. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau puts on a mask as he listens to Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speak via video during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, in Ottawa, Friday, March 12, 2021. Canadians should carefully weigh any future decisions on taking foreign trips even though the federal government has lifted a global advisory asking Canadians to avoid non-essential travel, health officials cautioned Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Not the time to ‘freely go wherever,’ says Tam as non-essential travel advisory lifts

‘The pandemic is very much alive. There are definitely still risks involved in travel’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau puts on a mask as he listens to Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speak via video during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, in Ottawa, Friday, March 12, 2021. Canadians should carefully weigh any future decisions on taking foreign trips even though the federal government has lifted a global advisory asking Canadians to avoid non-essential travel, health officials cautioned Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A pharmacist draws up a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Toronto, Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

People with allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine can still get second dose: NACI

58 million doses delivered, 419 reports of anaphylactic reactions to mRNA vaccines in Canada

A pharmacist draws up a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Toronto, Friday, June 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
South Surrey mother Lisa Batstone appealed her second-degree murder conviction and sentence, rendered in connection with the December 2014 smothering death of her eight-year-old daughter Teagan. (File photos)

B.C. mother’s murder conviction upheld

‘The important finding was that the appellant took a bag and used that bag to suffocate her daughter’

South Surrey mother Lisa Batstone appealed her second-degree murder conviction and sentence, rendered in connection with the December 2014 smothering death of her eight-year-old daughter Teagan. (File photos)
Mission’s Arthur Barnsdale took home a speed skating bronze at the 2020 BC Winter Games. (file)

Proof of vaccinations required at 2022 BC Winter Games in Vernon

Everyone participating to show proof: no exceptions

Mission’s Arthur Barnsdale took home a speed skating bronze at the 2020 BC Winter Games. (file)
According to Statistics Canada, prices at the gas pump rose 32.8 per cent in September 2021 compared with September last year as inflation rose 4.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003. (Black Press Media File)

Gas prices fuel highest inflation rate in nearly two decades

Gas prices jumped 32.8 % while inflation rose 4.4 % on a year-over-year basis in September

According to Statistics Canada, prices at the gas pump rose 32.8 per cent in September 2021 compared with September last year as inflation rose 4.4 per cent on a year-over-year basis in September, the fastest pace since February 2003. (Black Press Media File)
A Victoria police officer was able to successfully de-escalate a situation on the Helmcken Road overpass Wednesday after leaving the hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)

Injured VicPD officer prevents suicide attempt after leaving hospital

WARNING: This story contains references to suicide and may not be appropriate for all audiences

A Victoria police officer was able to successfully de-escalate a situation on the Helmcken Road overpass Wednesday after leaving the hospital. (Black Press Media file photo)
A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre at the Angela James Arena, in Toronto, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Auditor General Karen Horgan assesses Canada’s efforts to procure medical equipment in the midst of a global pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

COVID-related medical cost coverage extended for B.C. residents without MSP

New residents must undergo a three-month wait period before becoming eligible for MSP

A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette A woman receives a nasal swab test at a pop-up COVID-19 assessment centre at the Angela James Arena, in Toronto, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Auditor General Karen Horgan assesses Canada’s efforts to procure medical equipment in the midst of a global pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
A black bear mother and cub fish for salmon in a creek near Ucluelet. (Westerly file photo)

Warning issued after bear knocks over B.C. angler

Man was fishing in the Tofino area and was not injured

A black bear mother and cub fish for salmon in a creek near Ucluelet. (Westerly file photo)
Pictured is the Bill Nye Mountain Fire during the 2021 wildfire season. The area surrounding the fire is now closed to motor vehicle access until further notice. Many backroads in the Thompson Okanagan region are also closed to motor vehicle access. (Corey Bullock file)

New backcountry road closures in Okanagan, Kootenays aim to aid wildlife recovery

15 new motor-vehicle closures have been put in place by the province of B.C.

Pictured is the Bill Nye Mountain Fire during the 2021 wildfire season. The area surrounding the fire is now closed to motor vehicle access until further notice. Many backroads in the Thompson Okanagan region are also closed to motor vehicle access. (Corey Bullock file)
Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)

Chilliwack MLA Kelli Paddon reads powerful words from bullied 11-year-old in BC Legislature

“They said because I am black, I should go kill myself,” Eevah Macdonald wrote

Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)
The Town of Creston will require its employees to be double vaccinated for COVID-19 by Dec. 4. Other local municipalities are still thinking about it. Photo: Greg Nesteroff

West Kootenay municipalities mull mandatory employee vaccinations

Nelson, Trail, Rossland, and RDCK still deciding whether to follow lead of Creston, Vancouver

The Town of Creston will require its employees to be double vaccinated for COVID-19 by Dec. 4. Other local municipalities are still thinking about it. Photo: Greg Nesteroff