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BCJan 09, 2020

VPD officer ordered dismissed but can ask for a review

A senior Vancouver police officer has been ordered dismissed from the force for discreditable conduct after an inappropriate relationship with a junior constable who died by suicide. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner says in a statement the order was made against Sgt. Dave Van Patten but he can request a review of the decision. It says Const. Nicole Chan killed herself last January and the police complaint commissioner ordered an investigation, which was conducted by the New Westminster police. The statement says the investigation revealed Van Patten was in an inappropriate relat
BCJan 09, 2020

Saskatchewan youth gets conditional sentence for throwing coffee at two men

A 14-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon for throwing coffee in the faces of two men in Regina last summer. The act caught media attention in July when a video was posted on Facebook. The men, who were not hurt, were in a parking lot near a Walmart and a Winners store. The Crown prosecutor described the attack as unprovoked and degrading. The youth was given a conditional discharge, eight months of probation and 20 hours of community service. He is also required to make written apologies to the men.
InternationalJan 09, 2020

US officials: 'Highly likely' Iran downed Ukrainian jetliner

Two U.S. officials say it was ``highly likely'' that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile downed a Ukrainian jetliner late Tuesday, killing all 176 people on board. President Donald Trump is suggesting he believes Iran was responsible. He is dismissing Iranian claims that it was a mechanical issue that brought down the plane. The officials, citing U.S. intelligence, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information. The crash came just a few hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack against Iraqi military bases housing U.S. troops amid a confrontation with Washington
CanadaJan 09, 2020

Trudeau: Evidence shows Iranian missile downed Ukraine plane

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said evidence indicates an Iranian missile downed a Ukrainian jetliner late Tuesday but ``may have been unintentional.'' Trudeau says Canadian and allied intelligence supports that. He declined to get into the intelligence.
BCJan 09, 2020

Surrey Mayor Defends Policing Plan, Criticizes New Party Formed by Councillors

In an exclusive interview on Connect FM’s Sver Wala Show, Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum criticized former councillors Jack Hundial and Brenda Locke for what he called a “flip-flop” on the city’s controversial policing transition. McCallum told Connect News Team, at our studios, that both councillors previously supported replacing the RCMP with a municipal police force before the last municipal election but changed their position after being elected. It’s very unusual to see elected officials reverse themselves so dramatically,” McCallum said. “It’s only natural that three council
BCJan 09, 2020

Surrey RCMP warning about flight scam via Whatsapp

R-C-M-P in Surrey have issued a warning about a new scam reported by people who used Whatsapp believing they were booking low-cost airline tickets. The Mounties say the flights between India and Vancouver were advertised on Punjabi T-V and newspapers. But they say two separate victims have reported their credit card data was stolen and used after they were directed to provide the information to book a flight via Whatsapp. Police say they are looking to identify the individuals involved but people should never provide personal or credit card details via mobile apps to an unknown third party.
CanadaJan 09, 2020

Champagne asks Iran to let Canadian officials in to investigate plane crash

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has spoken to his Iranian counterpart about Wednesday's deadly plane crash in Tehran, but there is no word on whether Canadian officials will be allowed to participate in the ensuing investigation.A summary of the phone call released this morning by Global Affairs Canada says Champagne stressed to Mohammad Javad Zarif the need for Canadian officials to be allowed into Iran to provide consular services, help with identification of the deceased and to take part in the investigation. Canada severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2012, when it lab
BCJan 09, 2020

B.C. police watchdog investigating fatal shooting

The RCMP says British Columbia's police watchdog is investigating a police-involved shooting that resulted in a man's death in the Shuswap region. They say Mounties in Salmon Arm received a complaint at around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday that someone had severely damaged property at a home in Tappen, about 90 kilometres east of Kamloops. Officers located a male suspect at a neighbouring residence, set up a containment perimeter and called the RCMP's Emergency Response Team after an attempted arrest was called off due to the level of risk. Police say officers used a chemical agent in an attempt to force
more-health-care-specialists-better-care-for-british-columbians
BCJan 09, 2020

More health-care specialists, better care for British Columbians

New investments in the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) for sonography and cardiovascular perfusion programs will mean more graduates and better health care for people in British Columbia. Students, health-care workers and patients have been calling on government to increase sonography training across the province for years, and we are answering that call with new and expanded programs in Northern B.C., Vancouver Island and now the Lower Mainland. Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, said investing in BCIT so more students can train for dynamic an

Just In

CanadaNov 10, 2026

Call to Ease Mortgage Rules for First-Time Homebuyers

Canada’s major banks and real estate developers are urging the federal government to ease mortgage rules and introduce down payment assistance programs for young, first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built homes. The group includes major financial institutions such as the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), BMO, TD, CIBC and Scotiabank, along with 10 major homebuilders, including Minto and Brookfield. They are recommending that the government make the mortgage stress test less restrictive and lower down payment requirements for young first-time buyers. The group says the ongoing slowdown in Canada
AlbertaNov 10, 2026

Calgary Proposes 15% Property Tax Hike for 2027, Homeowners to Pay Extra $37 Monthly

Calgary City Council has proposed a 15 per cent property tax increase for 2027, which is expected to cost the average homeowner approximately $37 more per month. Under the newly released four-year budget proposal, property taxes are also projected to increase by 10 per cent in 2028, 7.7 per cent in 2029 and six per cent in 2030. However, the proposed budget figures are not final. City Council is expected to hold final debates and vote on the proposal later this month. The proposal also includes a 3.8 per cent increase in Calgary Transit fares. Meanwhile, the city's debt is projected to rise fr
four-grizzly-bears-confirmed-in-fatal-attack-that-killed-mother-and-daughter-near-bella-coola
BCNov 10, 2026

Four Grizzly Bears Confirmed In Fatal Attack That Killed Mother And Daughter Near Bella Coola

Conservation officials in British Columbia have confirmed that four grizzly bears were involved in the fatal attack that killed a mother and her daughter near Bella Coola earlier this month. Officials said forensic and DNA testing confirmed that the four grizzly bears captured over the past several days were directly involved in the deadly incident. The bears included a female grizzly and her three cubs. All four bears have been euthanized to ensure public safety, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said. The victims were identified as 48-year-old Jennifer Balcarras and her 20-year-old daugh
BCNov 10, 2026

B.C. Records 133 Suspected Drug Toxicity Deaths in September, 2026 Total Reaches 1,143

British Columbia recorded 133 suspected deaths linked to illicit drug toxicity in September, meaning nearly four people died every day across the province. The latest figures bring the total number of suspected drug-related deaths in 2026 so far to 1,143. According to a report from the BC Coroners Service, 76 per cent of those who died were men, while 70 per cent were between the ages of 30 and 59. By health authority, Fraser Health recorded the highest number of deaths this year at 311, followed by Vancouver Coastal Health with 298. Together, the two regions accounted for 53 per cent of all s
waris-punjab-de-seeks-amit-shahs-intervention-to-allow-amritpal-singh-to-attend-grandmothers-funeral
IndiaNov 10, 2026

Waris Punjab De Seeks Amit Shah’s Intervention to Allow Amritpal Singh to Attend Grandmother’s Funeral

Waris Punjab De has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to facilitate the participation of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh in the last rites of his grandmother, Charan Kaur. In a letter addressed to Amit Shah, the party urged him to coordinate with the governments of Punjab and Assam, along with the concerned authorities, to ensure that the necessary legal and administrative steps are taken without delay to allow Amritpal Singh to attend the funeral. The party has also written a similar letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,