The B.C. government has launched a new Forestry Innovation and Emergency Management Testbed aimed at helping local companies develop and scale technologies to better protect communities from wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. The initiative is part of the province’s Look West economic plan, which focuses on strengthening domestic industries and reducing reliance on external markets. Delivered through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace, the provincewide testbed will allow B.C. businesses to pilot technologies in real-world settings tied to wildfire and flood prevention, f

A five-month investigation by Nanaimo RCMP has resulted in multiple drug and firearm-related charges against two Nanaimo residents, following the seizure of controlled substances, weapons and body armour from a local residence. Police say the investigation began in early November 2024 after general duty officers received information that a home in Nanaimo was being used to traffic illegal drugs. With assistance from the RCMP General Investigation Section and the Projects Drug Unit, officers executed a search warrant at the residence on April 17, 2025. During the search, investigators seized qu

The federal government’s new ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement policy came into force today, marking a significant shift in how Ottawa purchases goods and services for major public projects. The policy, announced earlier this fall, is designed to give preference to Canadian-made products and Canadian workers in federal contracting. The government says the approach is aimed at strengthening domestic industries and protecting supply chains during a period of ongoing global trade uncertainty. In its first phase, the policy applies to federal contracts valued at $25 million or more. These projects

A man already serving a life sentence for the murder of a Calgary caseworker has been convicted in the killing of a fellow inmate at a maximum-security federal prison in Edmonton. Brandon Newman was found guilty last week of manslaughter in the 2022 stabbing death of 33-year-old Bretton Fisher at the Edmonton Institution. Newman is currently incarcerated for the second-degree murder of Deborah Onwu, a caseworker who was stabbed 19 times at an assisted-living facility in Calgary in 2019. Court heard that tensions escalated inside the prison after Fisher confronted Newman over the earlier killin

Residents in parts of southwestern British Columbia are being warned to prepare for more heavy rainfall as cleanup efforts continue following recent flooding in the Fraser Valley. Environment Canada says up to 70 millimetres of rain could fall across areas including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley through Wednesday morning. The forecast comes as floodwaters linked to the Nooksack River in Washington state begin to recede, allowing cleanup operations to start earlier this week in several low-lying Fraser Valley communities. Provincial officials say the flood threat is not over. B.C. Emerg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a possible peace agreement to end the long-running war with Russia could be finalized within the next few days following discussions with United States officials. He said Washington is leading renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the conflict to a negotiated close after years of fighting. Zelenskyy told reporters that U.S. envoys are expected to present a draft framework to Moscow ahead of potential high-level meetings in the United States next week. He said Ukraine remains engaged in talks while seeking security guarantees and international

A small private jet crashed during an attempted emergency landing in central Mexico on Tuesday, killing seven people and leaving three others unaccounted for, according to Mexican authorities. The aircraft had departed from the coastal city of Acapulco late Monday and was en route to Toluca International Airport when it reportedly developed a technical malfunction. Officials said the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a populated area as the situation worsened. During the landing attempt, the jet narrowly missed a football field before striking the roof of a factory in the San Mateo Atenc

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Highway 93 between Jasper and the Saskatchewan River Crossing, warning travellers to prepare for difficult and potentially hazardous conditions along the Icefields Parkway. The federal weather agency says several rounds of heavy snow are expected through Wednesday evening, with total accumulations reaching up to 50 centimetres in some areas. Rapidly changing conditions could significantly reduce visibility and make driving unpredictable along the mountain route. Environment Canada notes that snowfall intensity will vary, increasing the risk

A federal cabinet minister says the governing Liberals are hearing increased interest from opposition MPs following a recent high-profile defection that has brought the government to the brink of a majority in the House of Commons. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told reporters Tuesday that he has received “lots of inquiries” when asked whether additional MPs are considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal caucus. His comments come days after Ontario MP Michael Ma left the Conservative Party to sit with the Liberals. Ma’s move has left the Liberals one seat short of a majority, a shif