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Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ottawa to spend $1.5 billion to improve access to drugs for rare diseases

Duclos wants to increase coverage for existing drugs, create list of new and emerging treatments

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Kennedy Stewart, carries his civic election ballot after marking it as he votes at an advance poll in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart wins $100,000 costs in NPA defamation case

Stewart was sued after he issued a news release in 2021 denouncing ‘hate and extremism’ in the NPA

Kennedy Stewart, carries his civic election ballot after marking it as he votes at an advance poll in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Police-reported hate crimes rise again, as pandemic worsens discrimination: StatCan

Reports up by 27 per cent in 2021, after a 35 per cent increase in 2020

Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The CGGS M. Perley searches the waters of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 as they continue to look for five fishermen missing after the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis sank in the Bay of Fundy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Transportation Safety Board report on fatal Atlantic sinking cites lax federal rules

Stability testing may have helped prevent 2020 sinking of a Nova Scotia scallop dragger

The CGGS M. Perley searches the waters of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 as they continue to look for five fishermen missing after the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis sank in the Bay of Fundy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
On March 18 BC Corrections said the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) in Oliver was closed to visitors and volunteers until further notice due to COVID-19. (File photo)

B.C.’s largest prison in Oliver is only at 20% capacity

167 prisoners out of a capacity of 800 are currently at the Okanagan Correctional Centre

On March 18 BC Corrections said the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) in Oliver was closed to visitors and volunteers until further notice due to COVID-19. (File photo)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
Image: RCMP logo

2 family dogs die after suspected rat poisoning near Trail, sparking RCMP probe

Information? Call the Trail Detachment to speak to an investigator

Image: RCMP logo
A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)
A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)
Representatives from Gitanyow First Nation, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, Meziadin Junction Limited Partnership,Mayor Angela Danuser of Stewart and Stikine NDP MLA Nathan Cullen at the March 2023 announcement of expanded internet service to Gitanyow and Stewart.(submitted photo by Ministry of Citizens’ Services).

High-speed internet access coming to remote Gitanyow, Stewart

The Indigenous communities are part of a plan to connect every household in B.C to wifi by 2027

Representatives from Gitanyow First Nation, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, Meziadin Junction Limited Partnership,Mayor Angela Danuser of Stewart and Stikine NDP MLA Nathan Cullen at the March 2023 announcement of expanded internet service to Gitanyow and Stewart.(submitted photo by Ministry of Citizens’ Services).
Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)

$100K in vaping products sold to kids via Snapchat on Vancouver Island seized

Federal Tobacco and Vaping Products Act prohibits sale of vaping products to anyone under age 18

Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)
A Surrey RCMP looking out for distracted drivers during Operation Hang Up at 152 Street and Highway 10 on March 9, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Distracted driving month shows gaps between law and police messaging, B.C. lawyer says

On Thursday (March. 9), Surrey RCMP and Police were looking for distracted drivers

A Surrey RCMP looking out for distracted drivers during Operation Hang Up at 152 Street and Highway 10 on March 9, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)
Sicamous RCMP, assisted by Salmon Arm RCMP and Kelowna specialized forces, arrested a Salmo man on two outstanding warrants in a Malakwa RV park on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (Black Press file photo)

Salmo man arrested in Shuswap RV park after 5-hour standoff

Tear gas used in Malakwa arrest by Salmon Arm, Sicamous RCMP and region’s Emergency Response Team

Sicamous RCMP, assisted by Salmon Arm RCMP and Kelowna specialized forces, arrested a Salmo man on two outstanding warrants in a Malakwa RV park on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (Black Press file photo)
Skeena Bulkley MP Taylor Bachrach tabled a private member’s bill which he believes will help protect airline passengers on March 20. He is pictured here at the second-anniversary ceremony of the sinking of tug Ingenika on Feb. 10 in Prince Rupert. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern view)

Skeena-Bulkey Valley MP tables bill to increase airline passenger protection

Current system favours the airline, Taylor Bachrach, MP and NDP Transportation Critic

Skeena Bulkley MP Taylor Bachrach tabled a private member’s bill which he believes will help protect airline passengers on March 20. He is pictured here at the second-anniversary ceremony of the sinking of tug Ingenika on Feb. 10 in Prince Rupert. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern view)
The Mounties Clandestine Laboratory Team was on the scene in South Surrey on March 2, 2023, as part of search-warrant executions that began the day before in five Lower Mainland municipalites. (Tricia Weel file photo)
The Mounties Clandestine Laboratory Team was on the scene in South Surrey on March 2, 2023, as part of search-warrant executions that began the day before in five Lower Mainland municipalites. (Tricia Weel file photo)
The BC SPCA seized 63 dogs from Dogway Dog Rescue in Mission on Jan. 4 and the BC Farm Industry Review Board awarded the SPCA over $75,000 in a March decision. /BC SPCA Photo

B.C. dog rescue liable to pay $75,000 to SPCA, will fight decision

Dogway Dog Rescue in Mission appealed to the BC Farm Industry Review Board to return 63 seized dogs

The BC SPCA seized 63 dogs from Dogway Dog Rescue in Mission on Jan. 4 and the BC Farm Industry Review Board awarded the SPCA over $75,000 in a March decision. /BC SPCA Photo
RCMP cruiser. (Black Press file photo)
RCMP cruiser. (Black Press file photo)
Rhonda Caron posted this photo to Facebook of the flooding in Princeton on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Over 290 homes were evacuated in Princeton and the entire town of 7,000 residents of Merritt have been evacuated from flooding. (Facebook)

Temporary homes in Princeton to house seniors displaced by flooding almost 1.5 years ago

Seniors were forced to leave the Silver Crest apartment buildings due to severe damage

Rhonda Caron posted this photo to Facebook of the flooding in Princeton on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Over 290 homes were evacuated in Princeton and the entire town of 7,000 residents of Merritt have been evacuated from flooding. (Facebook)
Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

Researchers hope B.C. First Nation can ride the waves to reclaim their ancestral home

Wave-powered renewable energy microgrid to power Mowachaht/Muchalaht return to Nootka Island

Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
Meet the Mama Bears of Baker Street. L-R: Dan Nolan, Cat Spears and Skye Spears were on Nelson’s streets during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to check on intoxicated women, provide supplies and chat about consent. Photo: Tyler Harper

‘Their safety is important’: Group checks on women, talks consent at Nelson bars

The Mama Bears of Baker Street have received Interior Health funding to patrol the party scene

Meet the Mama Bears of Baker Street. L-R: Dan Nolan, Cat Spears and Skye Spears were on Nelson’s streets during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to check on intoxicated women, provide supplies and chat about consent. Photo: Tyler Harper
Dr. David Try from Kitselas Geothermal and Tim Thompson from Borealis Geothermal in Calgary faced numerous questions at a March 16 open house while explaining plans to drill for super-heated water on the east side of Lakelse Lake. (Staff photo)

Lakelse Lake residents skeptical about plans to drill for hot water

Geothermal heat cited as the greenest of energy sources

Dr. David Try from Kitselas Geothermal and Tim Thompson from Borealis Geothermal in Calgary faced numerous questions at a March 16 open house while explaining plans to drill for super-heated water on the east side of Lakelse Lake. (Staff photo)
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