The federal government is set to extend its temporary cap on annual alcohol excise tax increases for another two years, according to a senior government official who spoke to The Canadian Press on background ahead of a formal announcement. Excise duties on beer, wine and spirits are normally adjusted each April 1 based on inflation. Since 2023, the Liberal government has limited those increases to a maximum of two per cent annually. That cap was scheduled to expire this year, but the official said it will now remain in place until 2028. The government is also planning to extend for two years a

Canada Post says it is proceeding with a federally mandated restructuring plan that could see the permanent end of door-to-door mail delivery across the country. In a statement to media Monday, the Crown corporation said the transformation is intended to adapt its operations to changing demand while avoiding ongoing financial pressure on taxpayers. According to the statement, the plan includes changes to delivery standards and a shift toward community mailboxes. The direction follows a federal announcement in September, when Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement J

Alberta’s government has introduced legislation that would restrict when citizens can launch petitions for constitutional or policy referendums, including a blackout period before and after provincial elections. Justice Minister Mickey Amery outlined the proposed changes in a bill now before the legislature. According to the minister, the bill would prohibit initiating referendum petitions in the 12 months leading up to, and the 12 months following, a provincial election. Amery said the intent is to ensure voters can focus on making decisions at the ballot box without overlapping referendum

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says his party is not aligned with newly elected federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis on energy policy, following Lewis’s victory at the party’s national convention. Speaking at the Alberta legislature on Monday, Nenshi said the divide between the federal and provincial wings of the party on energy issues has existed for years. “It was important for Albertans to remember that for many years now, the New Democrats have not been fully aligned, particularly on energy policy,” he said. Lewis, a Vancouver-based filmmaker and activist, was elected Sunday in Winnipeg

Surrey RCMP’s Provincial Operations Support Unit is investigating after shots were fired at a business in the 5400 block of Production Boulevard, with police saying the incident is believed to be linked to extortion. According to RCMP, officers were called on March 30 at about 9 a.m. after a report that multiple gunshots had been fired sometime overnight. Investigators have since confirmed the shooting occurred at approximately 12:49 a.m. that morning. Police and the business owner reported damage to the exterior of the property. No one was inside the business at the time and no injuries wer

A court in Punjab has extended the police remand of former Aam Aadmi Party minister Laljit Singh Bhullar by three days after his initial five-day custody period ended. He was produced in court following the expiry of the earlier remand. According to police, investigators have not yet recovered key evidence, including a mobile phone, during questioning. Authorities told the court that further custodial interrogation is required as part of the ongoing investigation. Bhullar was arrested in connection with the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager with the Punjab Warehousing Corpo

The B.C. General Employees’ Union is urging the provincial government to allow full-time remote work for provincially regulated employees as fuel prices rise, citing financial pressure on workers. In a statement, the union – which represents about 35,000 public service workers among more than 95,000 members – said a temporary work-from-home policy would help offset costs linked to higher gasoline prices. The increase is tied to global supply concerns amid the ongoing Iran conflict, according to the union. The union also called on the province to consider additional relief measures for em

B.C. Conservative leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer has entered into a “unite the right” agreement with former Conservative MLA Dallas Brodie, aimed at preventing vote-splitting if Fulmer becomes leader of the Opposition. According to a joint statement released by the two camps, Brodie’s OneBC party would refrain from running candidates in 88 of British Columbia’s 93 ridings. In exchange, the Conservatives would not field candidates in five unspecified ridings. Brodie, who was removed from the Conservative caucus last year by then-leader John Rustad, said she is offering her “full sup

Canadian authorities are warning residents and international visitors to be alert to fraud schemes linked to the upcoming FIFA World Cup, as demand grows for tickets, travel and accommodations. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, along with policing partners in host cities Toronto and Vancouver, issued the advisory, saying fraudsters may attempt to exploit interest in the tournament, which Canada is co-hosting with the United States and Mexico. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, investigators are tracking several types of suspected scams, including fake ticket sales, fraudulent short-ter