Time to declare state of emergency in Vancouver over COVID-19, mayor says

Kendra Mansion CTVNewsVancouver.ca producer

Published Wednesday, March 18, 2020 9:09AM PDT
Last Updated Wednesday, March 18, 2020 1:07PM PDT

The Vancouver skyline is pictured in 2019 in this photo from CTV News Vancouver's Gary Barndt.

VANCOUVER -- It is time for the City of Vancouver to declare a state of emergency, Mayor Kennedy Stewart announced Wednesday.

Speaking to media at a news conference Wednesday, he told the media he is concerned.

"These are extraordinary times, and we all need to take fast and extraordinary action," Stewart said.

"I have decided we need to declare a state of emergency in Vancouver."

The mayor said he will take his suggestion to a special virtual council meeting the following day for a vote. He expects the state of emergency will be approved on Thursday during the 10 a.m. meeting.

The city will live stream that meeting on its website for those wishing to watch, and members of the public who want to submit comments can do so online.

CTVNewsVancouver.ca will provide breaking updates online regarding the vote on Thursday morning. 

Among the reasons for the state of emergency, Stewart said he was told by police that several smaller restaurants remained open with patrons inside Tuesday despite a public health emergency issued by the province that afternoon.

"This can't go on," he said.

Implementing a state of emergency would give the city more authority in certain situations, including the ability to force restaurants defying the advice of public officials to close.

"Part of these powers will enable us to close all public-serving businesses to assembly service, and remain open only to provide takeout delivery," he said.

He said a state of emergency also gives emergency management teams and first responders more flexibility to deploy resources, and may also be used to address the issue of panic buying if the declaration goes forward.

"It will also allow us to monitor the situation in grocery stores and pharmacies, and to make sure no one is buying more supplies than they need, and allow us to take action to curtail this overbuying if necessary," he said.

Calling the panic buying "unacceptable," Stewart said he's checked and there are no issues with supply in Vancouver. Any empty shelves are due to what he referred to as "hoarding."

In addition to warnings against buying in bulk unnecessarily, all residents are asked to immediately limit the time they spend in public places.

Addressing concerns voiced by advocates of the city's homeless population, a spokesperson said more hand-washing stations have been added in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

The city is looking into housing options for anyone who needs to self-isolate but doesn't have the space to do so.

Specific details were not announced, but the city said it is working with Vancouver Coastal Health and BC Housing on a task force to identify key issues, then implement measures based on that.

City manager Sadhu Johnston said the municipal government is aware it's a "difficult and uncertain time" for residents of the city.

"Rest assured our teams are working to maintain essential services all while taking steps to combat COVID-19," Johnston said.

"There may be further closures in the days and weeks to come as we focus on those essential services and protecting all members of our community, including those experiencing homelessness."

The city is particularly concerned with those with underlying health conditions, officials said.

Regarding concerns from residents worried about being able to make their rent while some businesses are shut down, the mayor said the city is hoping for protection for tenants from the provincial level.

Several city-operated services have been closed as a precaution, including park board, library and civic theatre sites. Washrooms in parks are still open and are being serviced, the city said.

"It's fine for people to go outside as long as they maintain physical distance," Stewart said.

Counters are being closed at development and permit centres, but inspections will continue as long as those involved can maintain social distancing.

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Alissa Thibault

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the state of emergency was in effect. The mayor will take his proposal to council on Thursday.

Coronavirus: Canada’s big banks to allow mortgage payment deferrals

BY ERICA ALINI GLOBAL NEWS
Posted March 18, 2020 5:33 am
Updated March 18, 2020 9:50 am

 CLICK HERE TO WATCH: Worried about how the COVID-19 outbreak will impact your finances? Follow these steps to ensure you have enough money during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Canada’s big six banks will allow mortgage payment deferrals for up to six months as part of extraordinary measures to help customers struggling with the financial impacts of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In a tweet on Wednesday morning, Neil Parmenter, president of the Canadian Bankers Association, said the measures are “effective immediately.” RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC and National Bank will also offer “opportunity for relief” on other credit products.

In a joint press release, the big six banks said they are committed to working with retail and business customers to provide “flexible solutions” for those facing hardship due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

It is unclear whether customers will be able to postpone mortgage payments interest-free. Global News asked all the big banks whether interest on deferred mortgage installments will accrue until borrowers make those payments.

Scotiabank told Global News it will be reviewing all requests for mortgage deferral “on a case-by-case basis,” adding it is committed “to working directly with our customers to provide relief from financial stresses due to COVID-19. ” However, it did not offer a blanket guarantee that mortgage deferrals will be interest-free.

National Bank also stopped short of saying deferred mortgage payments will not accrue interest. “There are different scenarios depending on client files and loan parameters,” the bank said.

“The objective is to allow clients to get back on their feet as quickly as possible, with sound advice,” it added.

RBC, TD, BMO and CIBC have not responded to Global News’ media request yet.

The announcement comes as Canada’s housing agency, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), has been working to ensure struggling homeowners aren’t forced into default during the health-care emergency.

“The message that CMHC is putting out is just that no Canadian should default as a result of this health crisis,” said James Laird, president of CanWise Financial, an independent mortgage brokerage, and co-founded of Ratehub.ca

On Monday, CMHC announced it would bring back a revised version of the Insured Mortgage Purchase Program it used during the 2008-09 financial crisis. The government plans to purchase up to $50 billion worth of insured mortgage pools.

The move, CMHC said, is meant to “provide stable funding to banks and mortgage lenders in order to ensure continued lending to Canadian consumers and businesses.”

Deferred mortgage payments are typically added back to the mortgage amount, meaning borrowers are simply postponing — not skipping — payments.

Mortgages with other lenders

For insured mortgages, there are a variety of tools that can help borrowers stave off default.

Possible solutions include allowing borrowers to defer or temporarily reduce payments, stretching out the mortgage term or amortization period, adding missed payments back onto the mortgages and lowering the mortgage rate.

Canada’s three providers of mortgage default insurance, which include CMHC as well as Genworth Canada and Canada Guaranty, which are private, are stepping up efforts to help struggling homeowners amid the novel coronavirus emergency.

Canada Guaranty announced on its website it’s ready to extend its Homeownership Solutions Program to allow the deferral of up to six monthly payments, up from a current limit of four payments.

In Canada, homebuyers with a down payment of less than 20 per cent must have mortgage default insurance.

For uninsured mortgages, many lenders offer flexible payment options, often allowing borrowers to avoid making one or more regular payments per year without affecting their credit rating.

Flexible payment options may be special features attached to specific kinds of mortgages or standard offerings available on all mortgages, depending on the lender.

2 separate vehicle collisions in Vancouver send pedestrian, children to hospital

BY SEAN BOYNTON GLOBAL NEWS
Posted March 1, 2020 12:06 pm

 Vancouver police at the scene of a crash involving a pedestrian on the Burrard Street Bridge on March 1, 2020. Global News

Two separate vehicle collisions in Vancouver Saturday night and early Sunday morning sent multiple people to hospital, including two children and a pedestrian.

The first crash happened around 6 p.m. at the intersection of Grandview Highway and Nanaimo Street in East Vancouver.

Police say one of the two vehicles involved had two children inside who were rushed to hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was also sent to hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of that crash is unknown.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, another crash shut down the Burrard Street Bridge in both directions after a pedestrian was struck.

According to police, the 20-year-old man was believed to be walking in the southbound traffic lane on the north end of the bridge when a vehicle swerved to avoid him.

That vehicle then struck another vehicle, which then hit the pedestrian. The man was sent to hospital in serious condition.

The driver who hit the pedestrian remained at the scene and is cooperating with police, but investigators are still looking to speak to the first driver.

Speed and alcohol are not believed to be factors in either crash.

The bridge was reopened just before 9 a.m.

Anyone who witnessed either crash or has dashcam video is asked to contact Vancouver police.

Vancouver port CEO warns of coronavirus woes as China trade continues to ebb

Christopher ReynoldsThe Canadian Press
Published Thursday, February 27, 2020 5:08PM PST

Cargo containers are seen stacked at port in Vancouver, on Friday, February 21, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER -- The head of Canada's largest port says the novel coronavirus is eating into trade following a year that saw cargo volumes dip.

The number of cancelled sailings is on the rise as broad swathes of the Chinese economy remain effectively shut down due to the outbreak, said Vancouver Fraser Port Authority CEO Robin Silvester.

“We're certainly seeing some impact,” he said in a phone interview. “There's definitely a longer-than-normal slowdown.”

If the virus continues to spread, market quarantines could severely dent trade with Japan and South Korea, which together with China account for well over half of freight volume at Canada's Pacific gateway, Silvester said.

The port saw trade with its largest partner fall 14 per cent in 2019 as China cut wheat and canola shipments from Canada amid diplomatic tensions.

Canadian grain exports to the mainland dropped 37 per cent year over year, with canola exports leading the plunge at 62 per cent.

Mild diplomatic “thawing” between the U.S. and China in recent months could work out well for Canadian bulk exports, Silvester said.

The CEO also commended police for enforcing injunctions and responding “thoughtfully and carefully” to rolling blockades barring access to the port over the past three weeks. Demonstrations in support of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs opposed to a natural gas pipeline slated to bisect their traditional territory in northern British Columbia have disrupted rail service across the country.

“There's no doubt that when we had blockades locally at the port that that introduced friction into the system and we saw spikes in the cargo on the dock waiting to get onto rail,” Silvester said.

Port cargo amounted to 144 million tonnes last year, down two per cent from a 2018 record but still the second-highest in port history - “in one of the most turbulent years of trade that any of us have lived through,” he said.

Fewer oil imports and crude exports by sea dragged down overall petroleum volume by 35 per cent as U.S. refineries turned to domestic sources for crude supply and pipelines for transportation.

High log prices and dwindling timber supply, which have triggered more than two-dozen B.C. mill closures, depressed forest product volumes by six per cent.

However, grain, potash and container shipments reached record highs, despite Chinese trade barriers to Canadian wheat and canola. The three segments rose 3.5 per cent, two per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively.

“We saw strong trade growth through the port during the first half of 2019 that reached record levels, and a softening in the back half due to various issues affecting global markets,” Silvester said.

The number of automobiles arriving via the port was down by one per cent due largely to lower Canadian sales.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 27, 2020.

Vancouver councillors want city to declare a homelessness emergency

BY SEAN BOYNTON AND ERIN UBELS GLOBAL NEWS
Posted February 23, 2020 6:37 pm

Click here to watch video: The Portland Hotel Society has been tasked with finding housing for homeless campers at Oppenheimer Park. Senior Manager Duncan Higgon explains how they plan to go about moving people out of the park.

Two Vancouver city councillors are calling on their colleagues to declare a homelessness emergency in order to build a substantial amount of new housing.

In a motion set for council on Tuesday, councillors Jean Swanson and Pete Fry call on the rest of council to create an emergency plan with the provincial and federal governments, along with regional partners and other B.C. municipalities.

That plan should include finding and building housing for at least 80 per cent of the homeless people in Vancouver and other cities within three years, the motion says.

“Really it’s an acknowledgement that we’re in a crisis situation, and what are we going to do to address it,” Fry said.

“This is really prioritizing the idea of making an action plan and working across government and breaking down silos to really get the work done.”

The motion also calls for the housing goal to be incorporated into the city’s existing housing and homelessness strategy.

Vancouver’s most recent homeless count identified 2,223 people without a home in Vancouver, marking the highest number since the survey began in 2002.

The 2019 survey was the fourth year in a row that has seen an increase, despite a recent push from council to address homelessness in the city.

Swanson and Fry’s motion counts 7,655 people who identify as homeless across B.C.

It also highlights long wait times and a lack of available housing in buildings operated by BC Housing. Swanson has repeatedly raised the issue of landlords raising rents for single-room occupancy hotels, a practice mentioned in the motion.

The councillors say Vancouver should follow the lead of Ottawa, whose city council unanimously declared a homelessness emergency last month.

“The circumstances and extent of homelessness in Vancouver constitute a crisis and emergency situation,” the motion reads.

Fry says the motion is also intended to send a message to the province through the Union of BC Municipalities.

If the motion is passed as written, the city will call on the union to declare a province-wide homelessness emergency with the same housing goals. It also directs staff to prepare a declaration for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to try and get a federal emergency passed.

“This is really to galvanize some support and recognize that we need help from other orders of government,” Fry said.

“As I talk to my colleagues in smaller communities, this is a huge issue for them as well, and they have even less resources than we do … and are struggling a lot more with it.”

The homeless crisis in Vancouver has recently centred on Oppenheimer Park, where a tent city has grown again despite efforts to move campers into housing.

The Portland Hotel Society has been contracted by BC Housing to help steer more people towards housing, and are currently working with campers and others in the Downtown Eastside.

The city has thrown its efforts into building modular housing, and has recently introduced middle-income housing as another step towards the regular rental market.

Vancouver police investigating attempted seaplane theft that left several aircraft damaged

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted February 21, 2020 8:48 am
Updated February 21, 2020 12:09 pm

Click here to Watch Video: Vancouver police are looking for a man accused of stealing and crashing a seaplane in Coal Harbour.

Vancouver police are investigating after a man allegedly tried to steal a seaplane and crashed it into two other aircraft in Coal Harbour.

Vancouver police say they were called to the scene around 3:30 a.m.

Police say the alleged thief, who remains at large, fled on foot after crashing the plane.

“Witnesses say the male did take off,” said Vancouver police Const. Tania Visintin.

“He attempted to steal the plane and he never got airborne. He remained, I guess taxiing on the water.”

Photos from the scene show a Harbour Air seaplane with one of its wings badly damaged, and a smaller, Seair seaplane with a wing completely sheared off.

A Seair seaplane with the wing completely sheared off seen in Coal Harbour on Friday. Global News

Visnitin said the aircraft did not require keys to start.

Harbour Air said the stolen aircraft belonged to another company, Seair, but that two of its own aircraft were damaged.

“The safety and security of passengers is our priority. While some morning flights were re-routed to our Richmond (YVR South) terminal, all flights are now operating,” said spokesperson Samantha Kent in an email.

Global News has requested comment from Seair.

North Vancouver standoff ends peacefully, man arrested for being unlawfully in a dwelling

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted February 21, 2020 1:02 pm
Updated February 21, 2020 3:17 pm

 RCMP on the scene of a standoff in North Vancouver on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. . Global News

North Vancouver RCMP say they have peacefully resolved a standoff situation in the Upper Lynn Valley area.

Mounties said a man was taken into custody for being unlawfully in a dwelling.

Police had closed Dempsey Road between Mountain Highway and Hoskins Road, and were asking people to avoid the area.

The Lower Mainland Integrated Emergency Response Team (ERT) was also deployed to the site.

The roads were reopened shortly after 2 p.m.

Vancouver’s Olympic cauldron re-lit, marking Games’ 10-year anniversary

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted February 12, 2020 8:57 am
Updated February 12, 2020 11:23 am

Click here to watch:  The Olympic cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza was lit this morning in honour of the 10th anniversary of the 2010 Olympic games.

Vancouver’s iconic Olympic cauldron is being re-lit Wednesday, to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic games.

The cauldron’s initial lighting in 2010 was a thrilling moment for many Canadians, as hockey legend Wayne Gretzky sparked the flame that would burn for 17 days.

On Wednesday, a ceremony at Jack Poole Plaza aimed to recapture some of that magic.

Athletes including freestyle skier Jennifer Heil and Mercedes Nicoll will be present for the event, which will also include the singing of the national anthem.

Heil, a three-time Olympian, broke the ice for Canada at the 2010 games, bringing home the country’s first medal — a silver in moguls.

“Certainly the pressure was very deep. I mean, it was two years, I could hardly digest my food, it was that intense, but that’s my job, to manage the pressure, that’s why we sign up for this,” Heil told Global News.

Heil says looking back, the 2010 Games were a watershed moment for the Canadian sporting movement.

“There was such emotion, it was almost like we were taking our place and we were proud to say we wanted to win, and that was a huge shift in our mentality and how we prepare for sport, and its a lasting legacy of the games,” she said.

“We built the systems and the infrastructure to continue to stand on top of that podium, and I was so proud to see Canadians embrace that.”

The cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza, which is owned and operated by Crown corporation BC PavCo through the Vancouver Convention Centre, costs more than $1,500 per hour to operate, and will run for two hours Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

It will also be lit again on Feb. 22.

'Worst is behind us': Flights carrying Canadians from Wuhan land in Ontario

Jackie DunhamCTVNews.ca Staff Writer
@JaclynLDunham  Contact
Published Friday, February 7, 2020 12:16AM ESTLast Updated Friday, February 7, 2020 7:03PM EST

TORONTO -- A second plane carrying Canadian citizens who were in lockdown in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, has landed in Ontario.

The first plane landed at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Quinte West, approximately 170 kilometres east of Toronto, just before 7 a.m. local time on Friday morning. The Canadian government-chartered flight brought 174 people, including 13 permanent residents and six Chinese nationals who escorted 34 Canadian minors, back home from China.

The second plane, chartered by the U.S. government, landed at the military base early Friday afternoon. That flight carried 39 Canadians from Wuhan.

Both planes made refuelling stops in Vancouver before they landed in Ontario. The first flight was initially scheduled to leave on Wednesday, but it was delayed due to bad weather. The second U.S. flight departed Wuhan a few hours after the first.

While there was room on the Canadian flight for 211 passengers, only 176 boarded the plane because Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said there were some no-shows, as they expected.

Another flight for any remaining Canadians in Wuhan is scheduled to depart on Feb. 10.

Two-thirds of Canadians who requested to leave Wuhan have already been evacuated, according to Champagne.

Upon arrival at the air force base, the passengers underwent a medical assessment before they were transported to accommodations on the base where they will be monitored for two weeks to ensure they haven’t contracted the virus.

Anyone who exhibits symptoms will be transported to a local hospital for further treatment.

During the isolation period, the evacuees will be individually isolated in a 290-room motel-like accommodation that is regularly used to house military families and other visitors to the base.

Families will be kept together during the 14-day quarantine at the base.

Montrealers Megan Millward, Lie Zhang, and their two young children said they were relieved to be back in Canada all together. They were worried Zhang wouldn’t be able to join them on the plane because he’s a permanent resident and not a Canadian citizen; however, he was given permission to board with them moments before takeoff.

When they arrived at CFB Trenton, Millward told CTV News Channel they spoke with officials from the Red Cross who asked them if they needed any supplies for the isolation period, such as diapers and wipes.

Millward said the room where they will be staying in for the next two weeks resembles a “fully equipped hotel room.”

“It has the most important things, which are Wi-Fi and television,” she said with a laugh.

The parents said their two children were also given colouring books and other toys to keep them occupied during their stay.

“I think definitely the worst is behind us. It will be a breeze finding things to do with them,” Millward said. “We’ll definitely make it. We’re not worried.”

Millward also said they will be allowed to go outside in a specially marked area for fresh air and they’re allowed to chat with the other families in the building who are also under quarantine.

Another one of the passengers on the first flight, Myriam Larouche, a 25-year-old woman from L'Ascension, Que. who is studying tourism management at the Central China Normal University in Wuhan, said she was relieved to be back on Canadian soil when the plane stopped to refuel in Vancouver.

“I’m so happy, so relieved. So happy to be back home,” she told CTV News Channel early Friday morning.

Larouche said the passengers erupted into applause as soon as the pilot finished his announcement over the speaker system when they landed in Vancouver.

“Everybody was just so happy to be back and be safe,” she said.

While the flight was “really long,” Larouche said Canadian officials were so helpful throughout the journey that it made it go by quicker.

Larouche said she’s not worried about the next two weeks in isolation at the military base. She said once she gets the all-clear from health officials and her university in China re-opens, she plans to return to her studies in Wuhan.

“I met lots of people from around the world. It’s a beautiful city,” she said. “It’s really sad what’s happening there. It could have happened anywhere in the world.”

As of Friday, there have been 636 deaths and 31,161 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on mainland China. Hong Kong has had one death and 22 cases and Macao has had 10 cases.

There have been five confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Canada so far with two more presumptive cases identified in British Columbia.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

City of Delta cleaning up plastic waste on banks of waterway, says ‘responsible party’ will pay

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted February 4, 2020 1:24 pm

 WATCH: (Oct. 5, 2019) An environmental group is sounding the alarm, claiming it's found evidence that thousands of plastic pellets, from multiple industrial sites, have wound up in the Fraser River and Salish Sea. David Boudinot, with Surfrider Foundation, shares their urgent call for action.

The City of Delta says it is continuing to clean up industrial plastic pollution spread around Annacis Island due to flooding over the weekend, and will pass the costs on to the “responsible party.”

In a statement to Global News, the city did not identify that party, but said it and the Ministry of Environment will be conducting an inspection of the “likely source business.”

The plastic waste was first identified by environmental group The Surfrider Foundation on the weekend, which found piles of plastic bits up to three centimetres deep around Audley Canal on Annacis Island on Saturday.

The pellets, known as “nurdles,” are made from plastic polymers and are used in the production of items like single-use plastic bags and water bottles.

The City of Delta said cleanup was already underway when staff inspected the canal on Monday, and that they observed no plastic floating in the waterway.

“It appears the plastic was deposited on the grassed area during flood conditions and filtered out of the water as water levels receded,” said a city spokesperson.

“Staff did not find plastic in the Audley pump station chamber that precedes the flow to the Fraser River; trace amounts were noted in the forebay area.

“Floating material including plastic waste is typically captured within the forebay of the pump station and cleaned out as part of maintenance activities.”

It said work to clean plastic off the banks of the canal is ongoing.

The discovery of the plastic came months after the Surfrider Foundation released a three-year study, raising concerns about plastic pellets getting into Metro Vancouver storm drains which feed the Fraser River and the Salish Sea.

The group says some of that plastic has made its way as far as the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Gulf Islands.

Delta says it has implemented improvements in screening of drainage catch basins and “housekeeping” at a number of sites to try and prevent plastic pollution from getting into waterways.

— With files from Sean Boynton

These are the Canadian cities where drivers spend the most time stuck in traffic

Ryan FlanaganCTVNews.ca Writer
@flanaganryan Contact
Published Thursday, January 30, 2020 10:02AM ESTLast Updated Thursday, January 30, 2020 4:13PM EST

TORONTO -- Traffic congestion is on the rise in almost every major Canadian city, with drivers in Vancouver and Toronto facing the greatest delays of all, according to a new report.

The newly released TomTom Traffic Index found that, based on data from TomTom navigation systems, nine out of the 12 Canadian cities studied experienced more traffic congestion in 2019 than they did in 2018.

Vancouver topped the charts with a congestion level of 39 per cent, meaning the average trip in that city takes 39 per cent longer than it would if roads were flowing freely. Conditions worsen at rush hour; drivers with a 30-minute commute each way will spend an extra 17 minutes in their car in the morning and an extra 21 minutes there in the afternoon – long enough that they could have watched the movie "Titanic" 45 times in the amount of time they spent stuck in traffic in 2019.

There is some good news for motorists in Vancouver, though: at least they're not in Bangalore.

The Indian city was found by TomTom to be the most gridlocked in the world, with a congestion level of 71 per cent. Trip times more than double at rush hour, and drivers there could have used that time to made it through almost 30 more viewings of "Titanic" than their Vancouver counterparts.

In fact, when it comes to the global picture, all Canadian drivers may be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Despite being the most congested city in Canada by far, Vancouver ranks only 40th out of the 416 cities surveyed, while Toronto is 80th. Most Canadian cities fall below the global average congestion level of 29 per cent. The full ranking of Canadian cities is as follows

• Vancouver (39 per cent congestion; ranked 40th)

• Toronto (33 per cent congestion; ranked 80th)

• Montreal (29 per cent congestion; ranked 138th)

• Ottawa (29 per cent congestion; ranked 139th)

• Halifax (25 per cent congestion; ranked 213th)

• London, Ont. (23 per cent congestion; ranked 240th)

• Winnipeg (22 per cent congestion; ranked 247th)

• Quebec City (22 per cent congestion; ranked 263rd)

• Hamilton (19 per cent congestion; ranked 312th)

• Calgary (18 per cent congestion; ranked 338th)

• Edmonton (16 per cent congestion; ranked 359th)

• Kitchener and Waterloo, Ont. (16 per cent congestion; ranked 364th)

Mexico City and Los Angeles beat out Vancouver as the most congested cities in North America, according to the index, while New York City and San Francisco separated third-place Vancouver from sixth-place Toronto.

More worrying for Canadian motorists is that nearly every city surveyed is trending upward in terms of traffic levels. TomTom did not find a decrease in congestion in any of the 12 cities it surveyed, while only Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton were unchanged from 2018.

For Toronto, London and Hamilton, 2019 marked the second straight year of increased congestion.

It's clear from the data that rush hour plays havoc with travel times right across the country. Even in Kitchener and Waterloo, which recorded the least congestion and the shortest rush-hour delays, average trips were still 25 per cent longer during the morning rush and 33 per cent longer during the 5 p.m. hour.

While nothing compared to the delays in Vancouver or Bangalore, those numbers would still seem unfathomable to drivers in the least congested area in the TomTom index: Greensboro and High Point, N.C.

Drivers there have easy, breezy rides at virtually every time of day; even a work day sandwiched between rush hours only adds eight minutes to an hour-long commute.

Uber taking Surrey to court over 'illegal tickets'

David Molko Senior Reporter, CTV News Vancouver

@molkoreports Contact

WATCH VIDEO: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/uber-taking-surrey-to-court-over-illegal-tickets-1.4787782

Published Tuesday, January 28, 2020 6:05PM PSTLast Updated Tuesday, January 28, 2020 7:26PM PST

VANCOUVER -- Uber is asking a BC Supreme Court judge to step in and order an injunction to stop the City of Surrey from issuing what it calls "illegal tickets" to its drivers.

The announcement comes a day after Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum said drivers who continue to pick up in the city would no longer get warnings from bylaw officers, and instead would be handed $500 fines.

"Our preference is to work collaboratively with municipalities, and we are doing so across the region," Uber's head of western Canada, Michael van Hemmen, said in a written statement. "However, Uber must stand up when drivers and riders are being bullied and intimidated."

On Monday, CTV News interviewed Uber driver Carlos Medina who said he felt "cornered" by Surrey bylaw officers. He said they used the app Sunday afternoon to pose as a would-be passenger before writing him a warning ticket.

Uber’s application for an injunction is based in large part on its understanding that the City of Surrey "does not have the authority to prevent ridesharing companies from operating."

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena told CTV News on Tuesday that provincial law specifically does not allow a municipality to block services.

"While I understand (Mayor McCallum’s) concerns, and he is very, very passionate about this," said Trevena, "…we do have legislation in place."

Trevena wouldn’t directly answer a question about whether the province is exploring legal options in court, but said she is in communication with McCallum.

"I would hope that (the Mayor) listens to the overwhelming demand for ride hailing that I’m sure he’s aware of,” said Trevena.

On Tuesday, before Uber filed its application, McCallum told a news conference he had "no concerns" about lawsuits.

A day earlier, the mayor said that he "supports" ride hailing, but only on a "level playing field" with the taxi industry.

While municipalities may issue business licences to ride hailing companies, the mayor has acknowledged there is no licence available in Surrey for ride hailing services.

In September 2019, he told a gathering of taxi drivers in East Vancouver that business licences were the "tool" he was keeping in his back pocket to keep ride hailing out of Surrey and said he would not be issuing them.

The move by Uber comes a day after nine Metro Vancouver cab companies filed two legal challenges, including an application for an injunction to suspend Uber and Lyft while a petition to rescind their licences goes before the court.

In the application filed Tuesday, Uber said that if the request for an injunction is refused, the company is prepared to go to trial and will seek restitution and compensation for lost profits.

Uber’s application is scheduled to be heard in BC Supreme Court on Feb. 5.

Thousands turn out for Vancouver Lunar New Year parade despite coronavirus concerns

BY SEAN BOYNTON GLOBAL NEWS

Posted January 26, 2020 3:03 pm

One of Canada’s largest Lunar New Year festivals went ahead in Vancouver’s Chinatown on Sunday despite mounting concerns about the Wuhan coronavirus.

The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade snaked its way through the community with several large lion dance troupes and local community groups taking part, delighting the thousands of spectators who lined the streets.

But the parade, which was celebrating its 47th year in Vancouver, nearly didn’t happen as the coronavirus continues to spread and the death toll in China rises.

Parade coordinator Jun Ing said organizers held an emergency meeting Saturday where they agreed to let the popular event go ahead.

“There’s always going to be a risk, but the risk wasn’t so huge that we could not go on,” he said.

Ing said despite the decision to carry on, roughly a dozen teams pulled out of the parade ahead of time.

Participants and spectators were also told that if they have travelled to China recently, they should consider not attending.

That warning didn’t appear to sway the crowd, however, which packed Chinatown to take in the eye-catching lion dances and live musical performances.

Among the more notable attendees included NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and other members of the federal and provincial governments.

Ing said it was important for the parade to be held regardless of the health scare.

“It’s a tradition,” he said. “This is the 47th year. It’s not going to be cancelled on my watch.”

Health officials and event organizers have been on high alert as the Lunar New Year coincided with the outbreak of the deadly respiratory illness, which has killed at least 56 people in China and infected nearly 2,000 people in a little over a week.

With families travelling from China to Canada to ring in the new year with relatives, enhanced screenings were put in place at airports in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal asking all international travellers if they have been to Wuhan.

At least two events in the Lower Mainland — one at the Semiahmoo Mall in South Surrey, and another at a Langley church — were both cancelled Saturday due to concerns attendees may bring the virus from China.

Wuhan has been on lockdown since late Wednesday, with the military blocking access to roads, train stations and airports. Nearly all deaths linked to the disease have originated from the city and the surrounding Hubei province.

Sixteen other surrounding cities have also been locked down, with all travel halted to those cities.

Ontario Health officials announced Saturday that a man in his 50s had been diagnosed with a “presumptive” case of coronavirus in Toronto, marking Canada’s first case.

Five cases have now been confirmed in the U.S. after officials announced two cases in California and a single case in Arizona on Sunday.

The U.S. is planning to evacuate diplomats and private citizens from Wuhan on Tuesday. Canada has not yet announced similar measures.

B.C. health officials and agencies including the Ministry of Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control say the risk to British Columbians is “very low,” and have yet to confirm any cases.

Officials say they won’t speculate on potential cases, only saying that no travellers who have reported respiratory symptoms at YVR airport have tested positive for the coronavirus.

No immediate reports of injuries after 6 homes evacuated due to North Burnaby landslide

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS

Posted January 23, 2020 1:24 pm

Updated January 23, 2020 1:25 pm

 The scene of a small landslide in a North Burnaby neighbourhood on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. . Shane MacKichan

At least six homes were evacuated Thursday, after a landslide in a North Burnaby neighbourhood.

The slide occurred in the area of Bayview Drive and the Barnet Highway, and happened after the retaining wall of a property above the highway gave way around 8:30 a.m., according to Burnaby manager of work operations Brian Carter.

Aerial footage shows an area that appears to be under construction at the property where the slide originated.

 The scene of a small landslide in a North Burnaby neighbourhood on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Shane MacKichan

TransMountain, which operates the nearby Westridge Marine Terminal, said the slide was not in proximity to any of its operations, property or equipment.

-With files from Erin Ubels

‘The future is now’: B.C. firefighters scope out world’s first electric fire truck

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS

Posted January 22, 2020 1:46 pm

 The world's first electric fire truck seen in North Vancouver on Tuesday, part of a North American tour to show off the technology. . Global News

British Columbia firefighters got a look at the potential future of their industry Tuesday, as the world’s first electric fire truck rolled into North Vancouver.

The apparatus, valued at about $1.6 million CDN, is designed by Austrian firm Rosenbauer, and at this point remains a concept vehicle.

But Rosenbauer spokesperson Steve John said that will soon change.

“It’s the vehicle of the future,” he said.

“The future is now, because we’re building the first five vehicles as we speak.”

 Firefighters from a dozen B.C. departments get a closer look at the concept vehicle. Global News

The truck features a 350 kW/475 horsepower electric motor with a range of about 30 kilometres, and a range extender using a diesel generator to supply extra power if necessary.

It can be lifted or dropped to four heights to accommodate terrain or fire crews, something the company says is particularly important given the growing age range and gender diversity of firefighters.

It has a compact exterior designed for dense urban centres, and intensely bright 300,000 lumen LED lights.

The vehicle seats up to 10 crew members, and is virtually silent when operating.

“I can work in my environment without any noise, very clear, and I can also work safely without creating shadow because it illuminates me from all aspects,” said John.

“It’s very compact. We made it to overcome the challenges of urbanization.”

 The world’s first electric fire truck, still just a concept vehicle, rolled into North Vancouver on Tuesday. Global News

Representatives from about a dozen B.C. fire departments attended the show-and-tell, part of a North American tour Rosenbauer is undertaking.

Based on the presentation, the vehicle received glowing reviews.

“When we’re looking ahead at the future, looking at the technology that’s out there today and projecting out to the technology of tomorrow, these are the type of apparatus that are going to be a part of our fire fleet,” said District of North Vancouver Fire Chief Brian Hutchinson.

Hutchinson said the ability to lift or drop the truck isn’t just good for occupational safety and ergonomics, but could make the difference when fighting a fire in difficult conditions.

“If you were having to make your way through a debris field, if you were working in a wildland environment, this apparatus meets all of those requirements,” he said.

“I look at a potential flood as an example. The height that this apparatus can raise itself and still be operational is significant.”

Resort Municipality of Whistler Fire Chief John McKearney said the truck fits in well with his community’s sustainability goals.

He said the compact design was also particularly appealing.

“It’s narrow, they’ve consolidated a lot of it so they’re not giant machines anymore,” he said, adding that the four-wheel drive feature would also work well in Whistler.

Rosenbauer says the first production models based on its concept truck will be tested as a part of a partnership with the Berlin Fire Department.

There’s no timeline for when they may be fully available, meaning it could be some time before one is spotted on Metro Vancouver streets.

'Many discussions' to come about who will pay for Sussexes' security in Canada

Rachel AielloOttawa News Bureau Online Producer
@rachaiello  Contact
Published Monday, January 13, 2020 2:54PM ESTLast Updated Tuesday, January 14, 2020 8:27AM EST

Click her to watch: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/many-discussions-to-come-about-who-will-pay-for-sussexes-security-in-canada-1.4765257

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says that "there are still many discussions to be had" about who will be covering the costs of security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their time spent in Canada.

On Monday the Queen issued a statement confirming that Prince Harry and Meghan will spend time in both Canada and the U.K. during a “period of transition” towards them taking a step back from the Royal Family.

This raises the question of who will pick up the tab for keeping the couple safe. Currently, the security costs for the Royal Family are covered by British taxpayers. The RCMP has in the past provided security for royal tours through Canada.

In a statement to CTV News, PMO spokesperson Ann-Clara Vaillancourt said that "there remain a number of decisions to be taken by the Royal Family and the Sussexes themselves. We are of course supportive of their reflections but have responsibilities in this as well. There are still many discussions to be had."

When initially asked on Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office told CTV News that it “has no comment on this.” During a press conference on another matter, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said that the government hasn’t spent “any time thinking about this issue.”

“We obviously are always looking to make sure that as a member of the Commonwealth, that we play a role. We have not had any discussions on that subject at this time,” Morneau said.

In an interview on CTV Power Play, former Conservative heritage minister James Moore said that the security for these royal visits can cost millions of dollars, depending on the nature of the agenda, protocols, and security required.

He said in his experience the negotiations around security happen mainly between the RCMP and Buckingham Palace, but the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Governor General’s office are also in the loop on certain aspects.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions here, and I think for the Government of Canada, the representatives of taxpayers, I think the default instinct for most people right now would be if you're stepping away from your royal duties, then we're stepping away from our obligations of taxpayers to subsidize the Royal Family,” Moore said.

“So while it would be nice to have this couple here in Canada, and we want to maintain of course our ties to the Palace… I think we need to have a clear understanding of where they're actually going to be, what the security nature would look like, and what the threats look like,” he said, noting that different parts of the country would have different requirements and local police capabilities depending on where the Sussexes settle down.

Moore said that there are a lot of factors that could change the cost and scope of security needed, and who would be responsible for picking up the tab, but if Canadians are being asked to foot a sizeable bill, it should be discussed publicly.

• WATCH: What does financial independence look like for Harry and Meghan?

The Sussexes spent their Christmas holiday in Canada before breaking the news that they wanted to become financially independent and divide their time between Britain and North America.

At the time Trudeau wished the family a “quiet and blessed stay in Canada,” and said they were “always welcome here.”

The royal couple’s decision to call Canada home in part, will likely have consequences beyond security for the federal government, as CTV’s royal commentator Richard Berthelsen has noted.

“What their role would be here in this country, how they would interact with the Queen’s representatives, whether they would take engagements here… There’s all sorts of issues like this on the line,” he said in an interview on CTV News Channel on Monday.

CTV News has reached out to the RCMP for comment.

With files from CTV News' Jonathan Forani

EXCLUSIVE: RCMP in Ottawa to raise security posture amid Middle East tension, source says

BY MERCEDES STEPHENSON AND MARYAM SHAH GLOBAL NEWS
Posted January 9, 2020 8:35 pm

 WATCH: U.S., Canadian intelligence indicate Iran shot down Ukrainian plane, killing 176 people

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are planning to adopt a higher security posture in Ottawa as of Thursday, Global News has learned.

The force is expected to use the elite tactical officers of the Emergency Response Team to provide increased protection and security in the national capital.

Emergency Response Team (ERT) officers are trained to deal with high-risk firearms and counter-terrorism calls. At times, they also provide VIP protection, including that of the prime minister alongside his protective detail.

The change comes at the request of high-level authorities, in response to recent events in Iran and Iraq, according to a security source.

Global News was told the move does not indicate an anticipated or imminent attack, but rather is out of an abundance of caution.

It comes after indications the national security establishment was preparing to ramp up the security posture in recent days, according to multiple sources.

This information came the same day as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement on Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 that crashed just outside Tehran, in which he said an Iranian missile likely brought down the jet.

“We have intelligence from multiple sources, including our allies and our own intelligence, that indicates the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile,” he said.

“This may well have been unintentional.”

All 176 passengers and crew on board died in the crash, including at least 138 people who were supposed to catch connecting flights for Canada, as well as at least 63 Canadians.

The plane crash on early Wednesday came hours after Iran launched missiles targeting two Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces. Those missiles were launched in retaliation for the U.S. airstrike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani last week.

No one was injured in the missile attacks on the Iraqi bases, which also housed Canadian soldiers. The Canadian Forces flew dozens of Canadian, American, and other allied troops out of Iraq ahead of the missile strikes.

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has denied the allegations, calling them “illogical rumours,” according to Iranian state-run news.

“Scientifically, it is impossible that a missile hit the Ukrainian plane, and such rumours are illogical,” the head of the organization, Ali Abedzadeh, said, as reported by ISNA.

— With files by Global News staff

Canada relocating some troops in Iraq to Kuwait amid escalating tensions

BY STAFF THE CANADIAN PRESS
Posted January 7, 2020 8:44 am
Updated January 7, 2020 10:40 am

Click Link: WATCH: Growing fears about Iran's threats of revenge - and what it may mean for Canada.

OTTAWA — The Canadian military is temporarily relocating some soldiers from Iraq to Kuwait due to security concerns, chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said Tuesday.

The move, which Vance announced in an open letter to the families of Canadian soldiers in Iraq that was posted to Twitter, follows the lead of Germany and several other allies who have withdrawn some of their troops.

“Over the coming days, and as a result of Coalition and NATO planning, some of our people will be moved temporarily from Iraq to Kuwait,” Vance wrote. “Simply put, we are doing this to ensure their safety and security.”

Canada has about 500 soldiers in Iraq, most of whom are there to help train local forces to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, including about 200 with a NATO mission in the south of the country and upwards of 200 special-forces soldiers in the north.

Vance did not specify how many Canadian troops were being pulled out of Iraq.

“Naturally, the work we are doing on these missions, and the future of operations in Iraq, remain conditional on maintaining a sufficiently secure and productive operational environment,” he said.

Western troops in Iraq have been on high alert since the killing of an Iranian general by a U.S. drone at the Baghdad airport on Friday night.

The death of Iranian Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was seen as the second-most powerful person in Iran, has raised fears of Iranian reprisals. Iraq’s parliament and outgoing prime minister have called for the forced withdrawal of all western troops from the country.

The Canadian mission has also been caught in the middle of confusion surrounding U.S. intentions in Iraq.

A leaked letter from the U.S. general commanding the anti-ISIL coalition to Iraq’s defence ministry on Monday suggested the coalition, to which Canada belongs, was preparing to pack up and withdraw from the country.

But U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the Americans’ top general, Gen. Mark Milley, insisted no decision had been made.

Canada is not the first country to relocate troops from Iraq this week. Germany, Croatia and Romania have also reportedly started moving some or all of their forces out of the country.

Surrey marks first homicide of 2020 as man killed on North Delta border

BY SIMON LITTLE GLOBAL NEWS
Posted January 2, 2020 7:29 am
Updated January 2, 2020 11:33 am

Click here to watch video - One man is dead following an overnight homicide in Newton. Nadia Stewart reports.

Surrey has recorded its first homicide of 2020.

Surrey RCMP say officers were called to 120th Street near 75A avenue around 12:50 a.m. on Thursday to reports of an assault in progress.

Officers arrived to find a man dead at the scene. Police say he did not have any known ties to gangs or drug trafficking.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says several people witnessed the fight, and that one of them followed the suspect from a distance as he fled the scene.

Police say they located a 33-year-old man nearby, who was arrested and remains in police custody.

Investigators also seized a weapon that was potentially used in the attack.

Investigators were holding a second scene Thursday morning, where a black backpack and hunting-style knife could be seen behind police tape.

“One of the witnesses did a good job of keeping an eye on the suspect from a safe distance after he fled the scene, and was able to direct police to his whereabouts,” Const. Harrison Mohr said in a media release.

“Surrey RCMP officers responded quickly and arrested the suspect minutes after the altercation, and also located a possible weapon involved in the murder.”

Investigators have not identified the victim, and are still working to determine if anyone else was involved in the incident, or if the two parties knew each other.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Surrey RCMP or Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.

Tim Hortons president stepping down in March

BY STAFF REUTERS

Posted December 27, 2019 4:01 pm

Updated December 27, 2019 4:03 pm

 Alex Macedo, president at Tim Hortons, poses for a photograph at the Hockey Hall of Fame Tim Hortons location in Toronto on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. . THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Restaurant Brands International Inc said on Friday Alex Macedo, the president of coffee and breakfast chain Tim Hortons, will be stepping down after two years in the role.

Macedo will be eligible for severance benefits and will be leaving the company in March next year, the Canadian restaurant operator said in a regulatory filing.

READ MORE: Tim Hortons pulling Beyond Meat products from menus, except in Ontario and B.C.

Restaurant Brands also said Axel Schwan, who was named as the regional president of Tim Hortons for Canada and the United States in October, would oversee the Latin America region as well.

Tim Hortons’ remaining international operations will be led by the company’s existing global leadership team.

The company’s biggest chain has been struggling to grow sales in a competitive breakfast space despite adding new coffee and lunch offerings, while rolling out breakfast sandwiches with Beyond Meat Inc’s plant-based sausages in select Canadian cities.

Restaurant Brands’ September-quarter results were hurt by Tim Hortons’ performance, while its other fast-food chains Burger King and Popeyes did well.