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BCOct 15, 2020

Several businesses on Vancouver's west side severely damaged in an overnight fire

Several businesses on Vancouver's west side have been severely damaged in an overnight fire. Flames broke out at about 2 a.m. in an older building (on Cambie Street, just north of 25th Avenue) and quickly swept through as many as five shops, including a cafe, dry cleaner and possibly a pharmacy and pet-boarding facility. Firefighters rescued several cats from the pet business and worked past dawn to keep the flames from jumping concrete walls protecting a newer building to the north and several smaller shops on the south side. No one has been hurt, a cause of the blaze is under investigation,
ontario-woman-charged-for-violating-quarantine-rules-returning-to-work-at-care-home
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Ontario woman charged for violating quarantine rules, returning to work at care home

Ottawa police say they have charged a woman with violating the Quarantine Act after she went to work four days after returning from a trip outside Canada. They say she came back to Canada on Sept. 26 and went to her job at a long-term care facility on Sept. 30 rather than self-isolating for the legally required 14 days. Her bosses sent her home upon learning of the situation and no cases of COVID-19 there have been traced to her, according to a police statement. The 53 year old is charged with two counts under the Quarantine Act: one of violating the self-isolation requirement and a separate
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Chinese envoy warns Canada against granting asylum to Hong Kong protesters

The Chinese ambassador to Canada is warning the Trudeau government not to grant asylum to Hong Kong residents fleeing a widely criticized national security law imposed by Beijing. Ambassador Cong Peiwu brands pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong as violent criminals and says if Canada grants them asylum that amounts to interference in China's internal affairs. Cong says if Canada cares about 300,000 Canadian citizens in Hong Kong and the Canadian companies doing business there it should support Chinese efforts to fight what he calls fight violent crime. Cong also flatly rejects Prime Ministe
london-faces-new-restrictions-as-city-sees-higher-virus-risk
WorldOct 15, 2020

London faces new restrictions as city sees higher virus risk

The British government has moved London to its second-highest COVID-19 alert level. Authorities seek to slow the exponential rise in infection rates across the country. The government also increased the risk level in seven other areas, meaning millions of people will be barred from meeting socially with anyone from outside their households and they will be asked to minimize travel. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that he recognized these restrictions are hard on individuals and businesses, but says tough decisions are needed now to keep people safe.
online-hate-racist-hiring-practices-among-targets-of-15m-federal-anti-racism-funds
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Online hate, racist hiring practices among targets of $15M federal anti-racism funds

At least a dozen new projects to go after online hate are being funded through Ottawa's anti-racism strategy today. Diversity Minister Bardish Chagger says 85 projects are getting money through the anti-racism action program. That program is part of the $45 million the federal government set aside in 2019 for the anti-racism strategy. The Liberals promised to double the funding for the strategy in the 2019 election campaign but that has not yet happened. Projects to target online hate were given priority in the action program and a dozen were approved, including one by the Canadian Anti-Hate
BCOct 15, 2020

Advance polling starts today in B.C. for provincial elections

Advance polling has started in BC for the provincial elections. Elections BC says almost 139-thousand vote-by-mail packages had been returned as of Tuesday. That's about 20 per cent of the estimated 699-thousand voters who asked for mail-in ballots. All three main parties in the BC election have now released platforms outlining their promises if elected on October 24th. The Greens unveiled their platform on Wednesday, with Sonia Furstenau promising a stronger, more equitable and sustainable province. Part of the platform includes bolstering income security with a move towards a basic income p
opposition-mps-brace-for-marathon-liberal-filibuster-over-we-documents-demand
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Opposition MPs brace for marathon Liberal filibuster over WE documents demand

Opposition MPs are bracing for another marathon meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee today as they ramp up efforts to revive their investigation into the WE Charity affair. Indeed, Conservative MP Michael Barrett says he and his colleagues are prepared for the meeting to drag on for days, if that's what it takes to finally force an end to a filibuster by Liberal committee members who've been blocking opposition demands for more documents. At issue is a motion put forward by Barrett last week calling on Speakers' Spotlight, the agency that arranged speaking engagements for Prime Mi
number-of-active-cases-of-covid-19-in-b-c-has-ticked-up-to-just-under-1-500-as-158-new-cases-reported
BCOct 15, 2020

Number of active cases of COVID-19 in B.C. has ticked up to just under 1,500 as 158 new cases reported

The number of active cases of COVID-19 has ticked up to just under 1,500 as B.C. reports 158 new cases on Wednesday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say in a joint news release that 84 people are in hospital, including 24 in intensive care. They say no one else has died from the illness since the province's last update, leaving the death toll at 250. The outbreak at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver is now over, while outbreaks are ongoing at two other acute care facilities and 17 assisted living or long-term care homes. More than 3,600 peopl
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Canadians spend more money and time online during COVID pandemic: StatCan

The COVID-19 pandemic has Canadians spending more time and money online. Statistics Canada says a survey conducted last month found that 44 per cent of Canadians had dropped more money on technology, including computers, laptops and tablets, and 42 per cent had sprung for more video streaming services. The survey also found about a third of Canadians say they've received attempted identity-theft attacks and 14 per cent reported at least one attack related to COVID-19 test results, a potential cure for the virus or about the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Analyst Christopher Collins says t

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BCSep 04, 2026

Sandy Dosanjh Withdraws as Surrey Council Candidate

The Conservative Party of Surrey has confirmed that Sandy Dosanjh has withdrawn her candidacy for the upcoming Surrey city council elections. The decision comes after her husband, Vancouver Police Constable Kalwinder Dosanjh, was named in fraud cases involving approximately $3 million. Sandy Dosanjh was recently introduced as a star candidate on the team led by Surrey mayoral candidate Honveer Singh Randhawa. However, she has now stepped aside, citing a family legal crisis. The Conservative Party of Surrey is campaigning on promises to lower taxes, improve public safety and put families first.
BCSep 04, 2026

B.C. Unemployment Rate Rises to 6.5% as Province Loses 5,500 Jobs in August

British Columbia’s unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 6.5% in August, while the province recorded a net loss of about 5,500 jobs, according to Statistics Canada. The province lost approximately 26,000 full-time jobs during the month. However, this was partly offset by an increase of about 20,600 part-time positions, bringing the overall net job loss to roughly 5,500. B.C. Conservatives blamed the job losses directly on the NDP government, saying the province continues to lose full-time jobs and accusing the government of failing to protect traditional industries such as fores
dr-gurpreet-kaur-sends-legal-notices-to-sukhpal-khaira-and-bikram-majithia
IndiaSep 04, 2026

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Sends Legal Notices to Sukhpal Khaira and Bikram Majithia

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia have been served legal notices by Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In the notice, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur alleged that Khaira had published and circulated allegedly false, defamatory and objectionable content, including graphic posters and videos related to her, across social media platforms. Khaira has been given 24 hours to remove and withdraw the alleged content from his social media accounts. The notice also demands that he refrain from creating or circulating similar material i
vancouver-police-officer-kal-dosanjh-suspended-after-fraud-theft-charges
BCSep 04, 2026

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh Suspended After Fraud, Theft Charges

Vancouver Police Officer Kal Dosanjh has been suspended with immediate effect after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and theft. Vancouver Police Chief Steve Rai announced the suspension during a news conference on Friday. He said the 50-year-old officer has been charged with four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, along with one count of breach of trust. Rai said the investigation began in December 2023. So far, 19 victims have come forward, although police believe there may be additional victims. A 51-year-old Surrey man, Sarabjit Singh Gill, has also been char
fourth-accused-in-ryan-nagy-murder-case-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison
BCSep 04, 2026

Fourth Accused in Ryan Nagy Murder Case Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

A 23-year-old woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in the 2023 killing of 19-year-old Ryan Nagy during a home invasion in Burnaby, B.C. Rhoda Diabikulu, the fourth and final accused in the case, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in March. She was sentenced Tuesday and also received a lifetime ban on possessing firearms. The sentence takes into account the 18 months Diabikulu had already spent in custody, leaving her with about five and a half years to serve. The incident happened on June 29, 2023, when four people entered Nagy’s home on 17th Avenue in Burnaby around 7