Top Stories – Mar 13 – Spring Boosters

The Province will be offering spring covid-19 boosters to those 80 and older, as well as Indigenous people 70 and older, adults who are considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” and people receiving long-term care. Dr. Bonnie Henry says those 60 and older, or Indigenous people at least 50, who have not had COVID, can also get a booster.

While lasers can put on a good light show, they are not to be used around airports. Airlines flying in and out of YLW have reported someone pointing a laser at aircraft causing unnecessary delays or issues for pilots, crews and passengers. In fact, a flight had to be cancelled after the pilot was unable to continue flying due to the effects of a laser strike.

Canadians wouldn’t be able to access news on Facebook or Instagram if the federal government’s proposed Online News Act passes in its current form. Meta says a law that compels it to pay for links or content that it doesn’t post, is neither sustainable nor workable. Big media companies say it would level the playing field for news outlets that compete with tech firms for advertising dollars.

Environmental groups are celebrating after ExxonMobil relinquished offshore oil and gas exploration permits in BC dating back more than 50 years. The company confirmed it gave up nine. There’s a “policy-based moratorium” that prohibits oil and gas exploration in marine protected areas off the coast, but it’s not legally binding.

BMO Financial Group wants to buy the Air Miles rewards program in Canada after its U.S. parent company filed for bankruptcy. Air Miles is one of the oldest and largest in Canada, with nearly 10 million active users. Last summer, Sobeys, Safeway and Staples said they would be scrapping Air Miles, a year after Lowe’s Canada pulled out.

A law professor says it should have been obvious that political conflict between Ottawa and Edmonton was going to spill into environmental oversight. He says recent leaks of toxic tailings from oilsands operations have revealed serious flaws in how Canada and Alberta look after the environment. Imperial discovered brown sludge near one of its tailings ponds last May but didn’t report it for nine months.

Parks Canada starts taking Spring and Summer reservations online this morning at 8 for its locations in BC. Included are popular stops such as Pacific Rim and Glacier National Parks. The updated website is reservations.pc.gc.ca , and everyone will have to create a new account, even if you have booked before.

Conservation Officers on snowmobiles helped rescue a miner who got stranded by a winter storm in a remote area near Quesnel. They were about to conduct caribou closure patrols when a call came from RCMP about a potentially stranded miner about 26 km from a plowed road. They were able to locate the miner, who had tried to get out with a very old & unreliable snowmobile.

Anyone who works for, or who would like to work for the province no longer has to be vaccinated against covid. Victoria says more than 98% of employees met the requirement, so that means a small number of employees on administrative leave due to non-compliance will be given the chance to go back to work. People still need to be vaccinated if they work in settings with provincial health officer orders or other vaccination requirements.

Sports

It was another busy weekend for the Kelowna Rockets. They beat Vancouver in a shoot out on Friday, then in the States, an OT win in Spokane which gave them enough points for the playoffs, then yesterday against Tri City, Kelowna took a 5-4 shoot out win.

Before leading the Vikings to 4 Super Bowl championships coach Bud Grant took the Blue Bombers to 4 Grey Cup wins. He passed away on the weekend at age 95.

The PGA Tour’s Players Championship in Florida was won by Scottie Scheffler who finished at 17 under par. Top Canadians were the ‘two Adams’ – Svensson and Hadwin at 7 under.