CTV News Vancouver | McLaughlin On Your Side

A mosquito lands on exposed skin. (Ales Utovko / istockphoto.com)

The best insect repellents to ward off mosquitoes

Keeping safe from COVID-19 is at the top of most of our minds these days, but with summer setting in, there are other diseases you need to protect yourself from– spread by ticks and mosquitoes. Here are some tips to help you pick the best insect repellent and keep you safer outside.

Air Canada will now require passengers to submit to a temperature check before boarding. (File photo)

Air Canada ending service to 8 cities, suspending 30 regional routes

Air Canada is indefinitely suspending dozens of domestic flight routes as the airline struggles to fill seats during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A man walks down Granville Street during the 2020 pandemic.

Has COVID crushed the Granville Strip? Here's how the neighbourhood is changing

Their opening days were delayed because of the pandemic, but now new restaurants on the Granville Street strip are throwing their doors wide open, and the neighbourhood is beginning to change.

A person uses their computer keyboard to type while surfing the internet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

More employment scams reported during pandemic: BBB

With so many people out of work, the Better Business Bureau says more are falling prey to employment scams across the U.S. and Canada.

Beef prices have gone up because of the pandemic, but they are expected to fall.

Beef prices skyrocket, but expected to fall soon

COVID-19 has affected every aspect of our economy, including the food supply chain. And the beef industry has been particularly hard hit.

CTV Calgary: Utility bills still due after death

Want to lower your utility bill? Here's how

Your commuting costs may have gone down, but after months at home, your energy bills have probably crept up. Here are some simple tips to bring your utility bills back down without sacrificing the comforts of home.

Ross McLaughlin checks out used cars on a Vancouver lot.

Car sales bounce back after drastic pandemic drop

As British Columbia gradually reopens, business is picking up for car dealers. But there have been many changes in how business is being done – you can now buy a vehicle without even leaving your home.

A Steve Nash gym, closed during the pandemic.

Steve Nash gyms to reopen as Fitness World

The Steve Nash chain of gyms, acquired earlier this week by a group of investors, will reopen in early July as Fitness World.

Thinking of buying an e-bike? Here's what you need to know

The coronavirus pandemic has many people looking to avoid public transportation and searching for alternative ways to get around. Ebikes are growing in popularity, but there are some things you should consider before buying one.

The fog-covered city is seen from Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver, B.C., on Oct. 23, 2013. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Province 'slipping into deep recession': Business Council of B.C.

The Business Council of B.C. says the province is in a "deep recession" and will likely permanently lose tens of thousands of the jobs cut during the pandemic.

A child rides a bike through SFU's empty campus during the pandemic.

What does higher education look like for the class of 2020?

Students entering their first year of university or college this fall aren't going to get what they expected. No frat parties, no frosh, and in many cases, they won't even be setting foot on campus. So what will school look like?

The UBC sign is pictured at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Tuesday, Apr 23, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

UBC student launches petition calling for partial tuition refund

A student at the University of British Columbia is calling for the school to reduce fees or provide a partial tuition refund for the services it's no longer able to provide, with classes going online.

A Steve Nash Fitness World location that closed down during the pandemic.

Steve Nash gyms to reopen under new brand, new owners after acquisition

The Steve Nash chain of gyms has been acquired by an undisclosed group of investors, and the current CEO says they plan to reopen under new branding in the coming weeks.

Student group warns young people in 'dire' straits without work

Young workers have been hit hardest by the pandemic, with unemployment in B.C. currently sitting at nearly 29 per cent for people between the ages of 15 and 24. And the BC Federation of Students says that has some young people rethinking going to school in the fall.

Rena no longer wants the dress she and her mother ordered from Lisa's Bridal, as her grad celebrations aren't happening.

Looking for a refund on grad outfits? You might be out of luck

It’s bittersweet for the class of 2020. High school is over but graduation celebrations have been cancelled, leaving some parents looking for refunds on grad dresses and suits.

Rents are falling across the country – just not in Vancouver, one listings site says

Rental rates in Canada are falling, according to new data from Rentals.ca. The average rent for all properties was $1,814 in May, down 1.4 per cent over the month before.

Pre-sale presentation centres moving to the digital world.

Pre-sale condo presentation centres going digital

COVID-19 is changing the way developers do business. Pre-sale presentation centres are going digital, allowing buyers to check out the inventory, plans, and project information - even complete their transactions by putting down a deposit.

A real estate sign is pictured in Vancouver on June, 12, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

BCREA forecasts rebound in home sales next year

The British Columbia Real Estate Association says while residential sales will continue to decline in 2020, next year will see an increase of over 45 per cent.

Prospective home buyers are led through a property in Vancouver during the pandemic.

Changes for new home buyers

If you’re looking to buy real estate, you’ll find the landscape has greatly changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. There are some hoops you’ll have to jump through before you can make an offer, but it seems buyers have already adjusted.

The O'Brien Group is using creative ways to show homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What selling a home looks like during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to innovation in the real estate world. Agents have had to get creative to market properties for sale and it appears to be catching on, with sales up in May.

Mortgage rates near all-time low in Canada

Now might be a good time to re-finance your home or apply for a new mortgage. Mortgage rates were slow to fall as the economy started to shut down because of COVID-19 but now they’re near historic lows.

A pilot taxis a Westjet Boeing 737-700 plane to a gate after arriving at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

WestJet to offer refunds to some customers

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has quietly changed its refund policy to allow some customers whose flights were cancelled due to the pandemic to recoup their cash.

FILE - This June 24, 2015, file photo, shows the Netflix Apple TV app icon, in South Orange, N.J. (AP Photo/Dan Goodman, File)

Tame your tech budget

Without restaurants, movie theatres, concerts and shows, you may have actually saved some money during the pandemic. But another part of your budget may have ballooned: subscription services. From streaming video to dating apps, you can save money by cutting back.

Air Canada planes sit on the tarmac at Vancouver International Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consumer groups push for airline refunds in open letter

Six consumer associations have written an open letter asking the federal government to force airlines to give refunds for flights cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Father's Day gift idea: fishing and flies

Here’s a Father’s Day gift idea that’s COVID friendly - good physical distancing, gets dad out in the fresh air and it lasts throughout the year.

Saving more: the unintended consequence of COVID-19

Despite massive economic impacts, COVID-19 has actually had a positive effect on some people’s savings accounts. A survey conducted in May found that many had increased their savings during the pandemic. Restaurants shuttered, retail outlets boarded up and drinking holes dried up – there was no place to spend money.

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