7.46°C Vancouver

News

BCSep 18, 2020

Alaska man arrested at B.C. border crossing faces firearms, smuggling charges

Border officials say a man from Alaska has been charged with smuggling assault-style guns at a border crossing in British Columbia. The Canada Border Services Agency said Friday that a 33-year-old man was arrested at the Abbotsford-Huntingdon crossing on July 27 when officers seized 14 firearms. They say in a news release the weapons seized included four prohibited semi-automatic rifles, three prohibited handguns, a restricted handgun and six non-restricted long guns. The agency says Corey Kettering was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in Abbotsford provincial court on Mo
police-in-nanaimo-investigating-a-parking-lot-assault-on-a-70-year-old-south-asian-man
BCSep 18, 2020

Police in Nanaimo investigating a parking-lot assault on a 70 year old South Asian man

Mounties in Nanaimo are investigating a parking-lot assault on a 70 year old South Asian who was punched so hard his turban was knocked from his head. Police say the dispute happened almost a month ago, on August 20th, when the man pulled into a handicap space because his spouse has physical disabilities. The RCMP say the attacker took offence, punched the man, shouted some profanities and then ran off. Police say there's no indication the attack was racially motivated and they're looking for a Caucasian man, five-foot-seven inches tall with a slim build and dark hair.
massive-fines-wont-work-as-well-as-individuals-taking-health-precautions-on-their-own-dr-theresa-tam
CanadaSep 18, 2020

Massive fines won't work as well as individuals taking health precautions on their own: Dr. Theresa Tam

Canada's top public health official says the recent rise in COVID-19 cases is cause for concern. Doctor Theresa Tam says if positive test results continue to rise at the current rate, officials could lose the ability to control the pandemic's spread. That depends on keeping the cases at manageable levels. Doctor Theresa Tam says massive fines for those who ignore pandemic guidelines won't work as well as individuals taking health precautions on their own. The province of Ontario is reporting its highest one-day increase since early June, with 401 new cases since yesterday.
this-is-only-week-one-and-tweaks-to-plans-are-expected-rob-fleming
BCSep 18, 2020

This is only week one and tweaks to plans are expected: Rob Fleming

The BC Teachers Federation hopes the Labour Relations Board can resolve teachers' concerns about COVID-related health and safety issues in schools. The BCTF has filed a submission with the board asking it to propose solutions to what the union says are ``inadequate and inconsistent'' policies aimed at slowing the spread of the new coronavirus. Documents show the BCTF is seeking an ``expedited'' decision because union members feel ``pressured'' to work in unsafe situations and there's potential for job action by some teachers. Education Minister Rob Fleming says ``this is only week one'' and t
bloc-quebecois-leader-yves-francois-blanchet-tests-positive-for-covid-19
CanadaSep 18, 2020

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet tests positive for COVID-19

Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet has tested positive for COVID-19, but he says he feels fine. He will stay in isolation at his Shawinigan, Quebec home until September 26th. Blanchet's wife, Nancy, tested positive for the illness earlier this week. Quebec's public health rules say a person who tests positive but doesn't have serious symptoms must stay isolated for 10 days. The Bloc leader was already in self-isolation, along with much of his caucus and other aides, after a staff member contracted COVID-19.
WorldSep 18, 2020

Firefighter dies battling wildfire sparked by gender reveal

A firefighter has died battling a wildfire in California that officials say was sparked by a device used to reveal a baby's gender. The U.S. Forest Service says the death happened Thursday in the San Bernardino National Forest as crews battled the El Dorado Fire.The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, has said that wildfire was sparked by a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device used for a gender reveal party. The identity of the firefighter is being withheld until family members are notified. The cause of the death is under investigation. Wildfires in California
WorldSep 18, 2020

U.S. border closure extended to Oct. 21

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair says the partial closure of the border with the United States is being extended another month, to Oct. 21. Crossings of the border have been largely restricted to trade goods, essential workers and citizens returning home since March, in an attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. Blair and his American counterpart, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, each tweeted the latest one-month extension of the closure agreement this morning. The pandemic has raged in the United States throughout the spring and summer, and cases in Canada have recently starte
CanadaSep 18, 2020

Singh blasts Trudeau, O'Toole for helping big business, super-rich during pandemic

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh is accusing his Liberal and Conservative counterparts of doing the bidding of big business during the pandemic. Singh takes the swipe at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole in a speech today that lays out the NDP’s priorities ahead of next week’s throne speech. Singh is calling on the Liberals to do more to help working people cope with the economic hardship of the COVID-19 crisis. That includes extending benefits for unemployed Canadians that he says the Liberals are planning to curtail. He’s also calling on the governme
latest-targeted-shooting-in-surrey-b-c-sends-one-man-to-hospital
BCSep 18, 2020

Latest targeted shooting in Surrey, B.C., sends one man to hospital

RCMP say they are investigating a targeted shooting in Surrey, B.C.A statement from the force says officers responded to reports of gunfire late Thursday in the Brookswood neighbourhood.A man was found suffering from gunshot wounds and remains in hospital.Staff Sgt. Joe Johal says the victim was likely the target.It's the third targeted attack this week in Metro Vancouver.Shots were fired at a man in Surrey's Newton neighbourhood on Monday but he was not hurt, and a man was fatally shot in one of three homicides in Vancouver on Wednesday.

Just In

cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age
house-of-commons-prepares-to-adjourn-for-six-week-winter-break-as-key-bills-remain-unfinished
CanadaDec 11, 2025

House of Commons prepares to adjourn for six-week winter break as key bills remain unfinished

Members of Parliament are expected to wrap up the fall sitting as early as Thursday, ending the session ahead of the scheduled Friday adjournment and beginning a six-week winter break. MPs are due to return to the House on January 26, leaving several major pieces of government legislation still awaiting final approval. Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon said the minority Liberal government considers the fall session productive, noting progress on budget and public-safety bills that have not yet cleared Parliament. This sitting was the first full session under Prime Minister Mark Carney,
BCDec 11, 2025

Two Maple Ridge residents sentenced to five years for 2023 killing of Surinderjit Singh

Two people have been sentenced to five years in prison for the 2023 killing of Maple Ridge resident Surinderjit “Jack” Singh. The case, which involved extensive work by homicide investigators and local RCMP, concluded last week with a pair of manslaughter convictions. Police were called to the 21800 block of 122 Avenue on the morning of March 4, 2023, where officers found the 55-year-old victim deceased at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team took charge of the file, working with Ridge Meadows RCMP, forensic specialists, and the BC Coroners Service. Investigators later ide
rcmp-shuts-down-suspected-fentanyl-lab-in-surrey-as-officers-seize-drugs-and-weapons
BCDec 11, 2025

RCMP shuts down suspected fentanyl lab in Surrey as officers seize drugs and weapons

Federal RCMP officers say a synthetic drug lab operating in a Surrey neighbourhood has been dismantled following coordinated searches in Surrey and Richmond this fall. Investigators with the RCMP Federal Policing Pacific Region CLEAR Team carried out warrants on September 14, uncovering large quantities of suspected fentanyl along with a cache of weapons and precursor chemicals. Police say the investigation began earlier in the summer and led officers to a property in the 12900 block of 54A Avenue in Surrey, where they located what they believe was an active fentanyl production site. Officers
quebec-anticorruption-unit-opens-criminal-probe-into-provincial-liberal-party
CanadaDec 10, 2025

Quebec anticorruption unit opens criminal probe into provincial Liberal Party

Quebec’s anticorruption police force has launched a criminal investigation into the provincial Liberal Party, adding to a period of internal turmoil for the long-standing political organization. A spokesperson for the force confirmed the probe today but declined to provide details, citing the active nature of the case. The confirmation follows disclosures last month that investigators were reviewing allegations of wrongdoing to determine whether a formal investigation was warranted. The decision to proceed suggests authorities found sufficient grounds to examine the matter further. The Liber