The important role pets play in families who are separating is being addressed in proposed amendments to British Columbia's Family Law Act.Attorney General Niki Sharma says amendments she introduced in B.C.'s legislature will clarify the law around pets, property and pensions for couples and families going through a separation or divorce.She says the amendments, if passed, will provide more guidance for people and judges involved in a legal dispute.The changes would require the consideration of factors that include each person's ability and willingness to care for a pet, the relationship a chi

The president and CEO of Walmart Canada says the retail giant is not attempting to profit from soaring food inflation.Gonzalo Gebara spoke before a parliamentary committee studying food inflation Monday evening, saying Walmart Canada's gross profit rate for its food business declined last year, as did the company's total operating profit in dollars.His comments before the committee followed a highly anticipated appearance by the leaders of Canada’s three biggest grocery chains on March 8.The CEOs and presidents of Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Metro Inc. and Empire Co. Ltd. told the committee that food

British Columbia's health minister plans to announce how the government will ensure patients in the province will have secure access to the diabetes and weight loss drug Ozempic.Adrian Dix said in January that the government would be investigating why almost 10 per cent of prescriptions for the drug in B.C. were filled for American citizens.Dix said at the time that the dramatic increase in demand for the diabetes drug was partly because of social media "influencers" who spoke about its weight loss benefits.Dix announced in January that PharmaCare coverage of Ozempic would be widened to more p

Quebec Provincial Police Chief Inspector Patrice Cardinal says the officer who was killed last night in the line of duty was in her early 40s and had two children.He says her partner is also a provincial police officer.Cardinal says Sergeant Maureen Breau had more than 20 years of experience, mostly spent on patrol, or supervising patrol teams.Breau was killed and a male suspect was shot dead by police during an arrest attempt at a home in the province's Mauricie region, about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal.The province's police watchdog say Breau was stabbed while the 35-year-old suspec

A 32-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder following a fatal stabbing outside a Vancouver Starbucks.Police say the stabbing happened Sunday after a brief altercation between two men outside the coffee shop in the city's downtown core.Investigators say they don't believe the victim and suspect knew each other but the details of what led up to the stabbing are still under investigation.Police say in a statement that a constable patrolling in the area was flagged down moments after the stabbing and arrested the suspect at the scene.Other officers attempted to help the victim, wh

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has ordered that a taxi driver be paid more than $9,000 in compensation because his caste was insulted during a physical altercation at a staff Christmas party.The tribunal's March 15 decision says Manoj Bhangu, an immigrant from Punjab in India, was discriminated against by two co-workers on the basis of his ancestry, place of origin, and race.Tribunal adjudicator Sonya Pighin says brothers Inderjit and Avninder Dhillon used a caste-based slur against Bhangu during the brawl at the B.C. firm's 2018 party, and ordered that they pay him $9,755 in compe

Authorities say they believe the 28-year-old female shooter who killed three children and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville was a former student.The female suspect was killed by police during a confrontation.The shooting occurred on Monday at The Covenant School.Police said the shooter was armed with two 'assault-type' rifles and a pistol.The Covenant School has had an enrollment of about 200 students from preschool to sixth grade in recent years.The killings come as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence.

A federal source says Tuesday's budget will extend the temporary boost to the GST rebate for low-income Canadians, but will frame the payment as help with the rising cost of groceries.The government official, who was granted anonymity to discuss matters that will not be public until the budget is released, said it will also include an increase to the withdrawal limit for a registered education savings plan from $5,000 to $8,000.The measures, which will be part of the federal government's plan to help with affordability in the budget, were first reported by CBC News.The grocery rebate is not ex

Mounties in British Columbia are asking for the public's help after a shooting left two people injured in Chilliwack.They say police responded to multiple reports of a disturbance followed by gun shots at the entrance to the city's Rotary Trail park on Saturday night.The RCMP say that police arrived and found two victims with multiple gun shot wounds.They say officers immediately provided first aid until Emergency Health Services arrived and transported the victims to hospital.Though the investigation is in its early stages, police believe the incident was targeted and may be linked to the ong