Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 May, 2023 12:20 PM
British Columbians need to be ready for a startling tone on their cellphones when a test of the national emergency alert system is blared out this afternoon.
The alert will go to all compatible cellphones and will interrupt radio and television broadcasts at 1:55 p-m Pacific time.
Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma is encouraging residents to ensure they are prepared for the unexpected.
EMERGENCY ALERT TEST TODAY.
At 1:55 p.m. (PDT) the #BC Emergency Alert system will be tested. An alert tone & test message will be sent to cell phones, radio & TV. What should you do if you receive a #BCEmergencyAlert during an emergency? Visit: https://t.co/ckTLGydj9r
— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) May 10, 2023
The province expanded the use of the alert system beyond tsunami warnings last year to include imminent threats from floods, wildfires and extreme heat emergencies.
A bill introduced by the Liberal government to temporarily double the rebate became law last month with unanimous support from opposition parties. The NDP has long advocated for the measure to help low- and modest-income Canadians cope with the rising cost of living.
RCMP were called to the 92nd Avenue and King George Boulevard area in the neighbourhood of Whalley just after 10 p.m. Thursday for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the injured victim.
The province's online drought map shows most of southern B.C., including east Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver, is now ranked at drought Level 3, which means adverse drought impacts are possible. That's a drop from the most severe Level 5 rating, which covered much of the Island and inner south coast until this week.
It comes two months after Health Canada authorized a bivalent booster from Moderna that targeted the Omicron BA.1 subvariant and the original strain. Health Canada says a bivalent booster triggers "a strong immune response" against both of the more recent Omicron subvariants,as well as the original SARS-CoV-2 virus strains.
Interest rates will still apply on the provincial portion of a student’s loan. While this move is helpful for students graduating, said Rebekah Young, director of fiscal and provincial economics at Scotiabank, it is ultimately relief for interest payments on debt rather than money toward tuition or other post-secondary school expenses.
Mable Elmore, parliamentary secretary for senior services, says changes to the residential care regulation will strengthen the voices of resident and family councils. The councils, which she likened to residential stratas, are groups of people who meet regularly to promote the collective interests of residents and discuss concerns.
