Year 2 of surgical renewal delivers most surgeries ever completed in a year in B.C.
In its second year of delivering on its surgical renewal commitment to patients, B.C. has exceeded its pre-pandemic volume of surgeries. “Through the dedicated efforts of everyone involved in delivering surgeries and the actions by British Columbians to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19 and ease pressures on our hospitals, ...
B.C. conducts test of system, expands emergency hazards alert
A test of B.C.’s wireless alerting system will be conducted at 1:55 p.m. (Pacific time) on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, as part of the national Alert Ready system to improve public safety in the event of emergency. This year, the Province is expanding use of the Alert Ready system in B.C. beyond tsunami warnings and Amber Alerts...
BC PharmaCare provides new, expanded coverage
Thousands of people in B.C. will benefit from BC PharmaCare’s new and expanded coverage of medications for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, severe hypoglycemia, migraines, the treatment of low white blood cell levels, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, and birth control. Effective April 12, 2022, vedolizumab (Entyvio),...
Wild, domestic bird avian influenza in B.C.: update
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that a small poultry flock in the Regional District of Central Kootenay has tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food continues to work closely with the CFIA and B.C. poultry producers to ensure enhanced...
Fatal train collision in Maple Ridge
Ridge Meadows RCMP is investigating a train collision with a flatbed truck. On April 21, 2022 at approximately 5:45 pm, frontline police responded to the report of a truck with flatbed being struck by an oncoming train, resulting in the truck colliding with a black SUV in the 27200 block of Lougheed Highway. A flatbed truck...
B.C. Land Matching Program reaches new milestone
The B.C. Land Matching Program (BCLMP) delivered by Young Agrarians has achieved more than 200 matches, bringing farmers and landholders together to strengthen the province’s food supply. “Congratulations to all the farmers and landholders who are a part of this amazing milestone for the B.C. Land Matching Program, and thank...
Border crosser allegedly armed with loaded handguns and a stun gun doesn’t get far
A US man was arrested by BC RCMP Federal Policing Border Integrity officers after he apparently crossed the border into Canada illegally. On March 31, 2022 US citizen John Wright is alleged to have illegally entered Canada through the Surrey Peace Arch State Park border and joined a Canadian woman in a waiting cab. BC RCMP ...
More than 9,400 British Columbians lost to toxic illicit drugs since 2016
Preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service reveals that the toxic drug supply has claimed the lives of 9,410 British Columbians since January 2016, and that at least 174 lives were lost in the month of February 2022. “As we approach the sixth anniversary of the declaration of the public-health emergency into...
B.C. shifts to weekly COVID-19 data reporting
As British Columbia continues to take the next step in its COVID-19 response, the Province is transitioning from daily to weekly COVID-19 reporting. Beginning on Thursday, April 7, 2022, COVID-19 dashboards and reports issued by the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control will be updated on weekly basis...
B.C. seeks public input on cannabis consumption spaces
British Columbians are invited to share their thoughts on non-medical cannabis consumption spaces. The Province is launching an online public engagement about cannabis consumption spaces to help inform decisions about whether to permit these spaces and how they could be regulated. The engagement runs April 6 to May 8, 2022....
