Statistics Canada says the country's mortality rate rose in 2021 from 2020.
The agency says data shows cancer, heart disease, overdoses and COVID-19 were the leading causes of death.
StatCan says while cancer and heart disease remain the top two leading causes of death in the country, accidental deaths rose by 14.5 per cent in 2021.
COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death, with notable increases among young younger people.
Police in Abbotsford say a driver admitted to making their child blow into the ignition interlock system meant to keep impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel. They’ve also informed the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Environment Canada confirms what it calls a "tornado outbreak" in rural Alberta earlier this week. It says between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, nine twisters hopscotched between Calgary and Medicine Hat and another was spotted near Vermillion in eastern Alberta.
The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue its transition to the independent Surrey Police Service, offering $150 million over five years to help the city cover costs, but saying it would not pay the estimated $72 million in severance for officers if council decided to revert back to the RCMP.
Rain and cooler weather over much of British Columbia has prompted two fire centres in the southern and central Interior to roll back campfire bans. The Kamloops and Cariboo fire centres say the Category 1 open fire ban will lift at noon Friday, covering blazes no larger than 1.5-metres high by 1.5-metres wide.
Kelowna R-C-M-P say the 17-year-old driver was caught on the morning of June 14 travelling at 115 kilometres in a grey Volkswagen Jetta. Police say they pulled the driver over and issued him a three-hundred-68-dollar fine, while also impounding his car.
Richmond R-C-M-P say the incident happened on June 7th just before midnight, when the victim got off a bus and was about to cross King Road. Police say the male suspect then grabbed the woman from behind and brandished a knife, according to the victim.