Top Stories – March 14 – Minimum Wage Up??

We may get an announcement this afternoon at 1 about the minimum wage going up in BC. It is reviewed every June 1st and last year was increased to $15.20, the second highest in Canada, from $14.60 in 2020. Nunavut has the top minimum wage at 16 dollars per hour.

If you are flying out of, or in to Kelowna International Airport, you still need a mask. Airports are federally regulated so masks still need to be worn through security, in the departures lounge and on the plane. When arriving, the mask can come off after you’ve grabbed your luggage. Meantime, UBCO is telling students to keep masks on until the end of the semester.

According to the United Nations, about 2.7 Million people have now fled the Russian invasion and bombing in Ukraine. That’s about the same number as the combined populations of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Many of those refugees may end up coming to BC and Canada, which has the world’s third largest population of Ukrainians.

Waves of Russian missiles pounded a military training base in western Ukraine on Sunday, killing 35 people. It was an attack on a facility that served as a crucial hub for cooperation between Ukraine and the NATO countries supporting it in its defense against Putin’s assault. More than 30 cruise missiles targeted the sprawling facility, which lies not far from the border with Poland.

Patients with infections requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment can now receive care at a new outpatient therapy clinic at Kelowna General. Some examples of the types of infections that the clinic can support treatment for include pneumonia, abscesses and post-operative wound infections. It is for patients referred by their doctor during a hospital stay or in the emergency department.

There have been just over 352-thousand cases of Covid-19 in BC since the pandemic began. On Friday there were 288, with 93 in the Interior. Since December 2020, the Province has administered 11.4 Million doses of vaccine. People 50 and over can now get their free rapid antigen tests at pharmacies. Just take your Pharmacare card.

BC is making the move to Vote Counting Machines for the next provincial election. They are already used for municipal votes. Election officials will be able to use an electronic voting book to check voter information, speeding up the process for people who vote in person. And ballot printers will be added to polling stations, helping reduce the need for write-in ballots.

As the COVID pandemic stretches into a third year, many experts are expressing cautious optimism that Canada has passed the need for lockdowns and widespread safety protocols. The World Health Organization declared the global pandemic on March 11, 2020, the same day the NBA shut down its season after a player tested positive. Ontario and Alberta declared states of emergencies on March 17, while BC and Saskatchewan followed the next day.

BC’s remedy for bringing more foreign-trained doctors into the medical profession has been delayed. The Institute for Canadian Citizenship figures there are thousands of foreign-trained doctors with qualifications, but provincial regulators refuse to recognize their credentials. The College of Physicians and Surgeons says the pandemic is behind the delay because of the way it affected surgeries.

Sports

In the NHL last night, the Tampa Bay Lightning scored two first period goals and that was enough to pick up a 2-1 win over the Canucks. Next up is New Jersey at Rogers Arena tomorrow.

And speaking of all things Tampa Bay, Tom Brady says he’s un-retiring and will be back for a 23rd NFL season. He’ll be staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The West Kelowna Warriors had 2 games on the weekend. Friday at Royal LePage Place they dumped Wenatchee 8-2. Then Saturday in Prince George, West Kelowna picked up a 5-1 victory for their 5th straight win.

The Philadelphia Eagles are making Jason Kelce the NFL’s highest-paid center with a one-year deal worth $14 million. He’s earned five Pro Bowl nods, four All-Pro selections, and one Super Bowl ring since Philadelphia drafted him in the sixth round in 2011.

The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers played their first of three back-to-back, home and home series on the weekend. On Friday in Kamloops, the Blazers won 4-2, then on Saturday at Prospera Place, it went to a shootout before the visitors took a 4-3 win.

The Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi agreed to a three-year, $36-million contract. The reported deal comes after he turned down a $13-million player option to return to the Mariners.