A record 174,532 voters cast their ballots on the first day of advance voting in Alberta’s referendum, signalling strong voter interest in the province-wide vote. According to Elections Alberta, Tuesday’s turnout was significantly higher than the average of 151,000 daily voters recorded during previous general elections. Long queues forced around 20 polling stations across the province to remain open several hours beyond their scheduled closing times, with some staying open until 11 p.m. The 10-question referendum, initiated by Premier Danielle Smith’s government, covers major issues inc

Punjab observed a complete shutdown today in protest against the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Jhota. Government and private schools remained closed across the state, while public and private bus services were also suspended. Police set up barricades at several locations to stop people from travelling towards Mansa. Leaders of various organisations were detained as protests and demonstrations against the government took place in different cities. Several toll plazas across Punjab were also made toll-free, including the Ladowal Toll Plaza, where members of the Waris Punjab De organisat

The leaders of British Columbia’s three major political parties, Lorne Doerkson, David Eby and Emily Lowan, faced off in a live debate on Wednesday night ahead of the October 24 provincial election. Opposition leaders launched sharp attacks on Eby’s BC NDP government, criticizing its record on the economy, healthcare and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). Eby acknowledged that his government had not been perfect on every issue but defended his decision to call a snap election. He said his government’s one-seat majority had led the opposition to make 13 attem

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has warned U.S. steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs of severe consequences if it proceeds with plans to lay off hundreds of workers at its Stelco operations in Ontario. The dispute began after Stelco announced plans to cut approximately 500 jobs at its Hamilton and Nanticoke facilities. The company says the ongoing trade war with the United States has made it increasingly difficult to compete in the galvanized steel market. However, Joly said the federal government could pursue legal action under Section 40 of the Investment Canada Act if Cleveland-Cliffs fai

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again made provocative remarks about Canada amid the ongoing trade war between the two countries, claiming that Canada will eventually have no choice but to become the 51st U.S. state. Speaking at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday evening, Trump accused Canada of repeatedly harming American interests. Raising the issue of dairy products, he alleged that Canada had imposed heavy tariffs on U.S. milk imports, claiming that America had been unfairly treated. Trump said the situation had changed under his leadership, arguing that the Unit

A 64-year-old woman, Gwenyth Brigit Dwyn, has died in hospital from injuries sustained when a pickup truck struck a crowd outside Tsawwassen Mills mall in Delta last month. Delta police confirmed her death on Wednesday, making her the third victim to die in the incident. The crash occurred on September 30, when a pickup truck drove into a crowd gathered to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Two elders from the Tsawwassen First Nation died at the scene, while Dwyn later succumbed to her injuries in hospital. A fourth injured person has been discharged from hospital and is recov

BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has announced that if his party comes to power, it will legally require a minimum 60-day gap between provincial and municipal elections in the future. Doerkson has promised to introduce the Respect for Local Democracy Act, describing it as one of the party’s top priorities. He argued that the current provincial election campaign has overshadowed municipal election campaigns, preventing local issues such as healthcare, public safety and the cost of living from receiving adequate attention. Criticizing BC NDP Leader David Eby, Doerkson said the NDP had a m

Toronto police have charged seven people, including three members of the Canadian Armed Forces, in connection with the kidnapping of a cryptocurrency exchange owner. A total of 82 charges have been laid against the accused, including kidnapping, extortion, firearms offences and drug trafficking, Police Chief Myron Demkiw said at a news conference on Wednesday. According to Demkiw, the incident began on July 25, 2026, when the victim was abducted at gunpoint near Finch Avenue East and Bayview Avenue in North York. The kidnappers allegedly handcuffed and severely tortured the victim to gain acce

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will depart on Saturday for a five-day visit to India and Uzbekistan, the U.S. State Department has announced. During his visit to India, Rubio will discuss energy cooperation and meet with government officials to exchange views on regional and global issues. According to the State Department, his itinerary includes Samarkand in Uzbekistan and Mumbai and Jamnagar in India. The visit comes as efforts to finalize a long-pending bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States have once again stalled. Officials from both countries indicated earlier