BCJan 17, 2020
Federal health minister says too early for broad drug decriminalization
Canada's health minister says countries that have taken the step toward decriminalizing drugs have done so with supports in place to protect people struggling with addiction. Patty Hajdu toured the Molson Overdose Prevention Site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside yesterday and says talk of decriminalization in order to deal with the opioid crisis in Canada is premature until comprehensive supports are available here. She says support services vary from province to province and a comprehensive approach includes prevention, treatment, harm reduction, housing and enforcement. Prime Minister Justi
CanadaJan 17, 2020
Canada to give $25,000 to families of each Canadian who died on Flight PS752
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Ottawa will provide $25,000 to the families of the 57 Canadian citizens and 29 permanent residents who died when Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet last week.
Trudeau says the money is intended to cover the cost of funeral arrangements or travel, which comes on top of an earlier commitment to waive fees and speed up processing times for visas for those affected by the tragedy.
Trudeau also made it clear that Canada still expects Iran to compensate victims, but that he knows families cannot wait any longer for support.
BCJan 17, 2020
Special prosecutor to review case of drowned toddler in Cranbrook
The BC Prosecution Service says a special prosecutor has been appointed to independently review its conduct in a case that concluded in 2013, when a babysitter was convicted in a toddler's drowning in death Cranbrook. Tammy Bouvette was initially charged with second-degree murder in the death of 19-month-old Iyanna Teeple, who was found unconscious and not breathing in a bathtub while under Bouvette's care. Bouvette was later convicted of criminal negligence causing death. The prosecution service says the assistant deputy attorney general for B.C. determined that a special prosecutor should b
BCJan 17, 2020
Premier reacts to Supreme Court of Canada ruling
Premier John Horgan and George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, have issued the following statements in response to today's Supreme Court of Canada ruling regarding the Trans Mountain Expansion Project: Premier John Horgan - "Clearly, we are disappointed by the decision, but this does not reduce our concerns regarding the potential of a catastrophic oil spill on our coast."Our government takes our responsibility to defend the interests of British Columbians seriously. When it comes to protecting our coast, our environment and our economy, we will continue do all we
BCJan 17, 2020
“Anti-RCMP checkpoint” outside RCMP E division headquartes in Surrey
Opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline construction across northwestern BC staged a protest, Thursday afternoon outside the RCMP's E-Division headquarters in Surrey.
Organizers say the event is an “anti-RCMP checkpoint”.
They say it mirrors the checkpoint set up on a forest service road in Wet'suwet'en territory outside Houston, and the Surrey checkpoint aims to enforce the “Indigenous rule of law.”
The B-C Civil Liberties Association and Union of BC Indian Chiefs both argue the police checkpoint and exclusion zone along the pipeline right-of-way in northwestern BC violate Indig
CanadaJan 16, 2020
BC's Trans Mountain appeal dismissed by Supreme Court
In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed British Columbia's move to restrict what can flow through the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project. Today's ruling from the bench after several hours of hearings removes one of the remaining obstacles for the project. B-C was trying to block the flow of heavy oil through the line, which would run alongside an existing pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby. Legal challenges by Indigenous communities could still halt the project.
BCJan 16, 2020
Surrey investigation targets stolen mail and identity theft
Surrey RCMP Community Response Unit has made an arrest and seized hundreds of pieces of stolen mail and identification cards as a result of an investigation targeting mail theft in Surrey. This investigation began on November 12, 2019, after police received a report of the theft of mail from community mailboxes in North Surrey. As the investigation advanced, a suspect was identified and police obtained a search warrant for a residence 13000-block Balloch Drive in Surrey. As a result of the investigation police located and seized a large quantity of items believed to be part of a large scale m
CanadaJan 16, 2020
Former Edmonton bar employee guilty of five counts of sexual assault
A former bar employee in Edmonton has been found guilty of five counts of sexual assault. Matthew McKnight was accused of sexually assaulting 13 females from 2010 until 2016. They ranged in age from 17 to 22. He had pleaded not guilty. On Thursday, a jury found him guilty on five of the 13 counts and acquitted him on eight. McKnight is to be sentenced on Feb. 7.
CanadaJan 16, 2020
Stephen Harper steps down from Conservative Fund
Former prime minister Stephen Harper has left his role with the chief fundraising arm of the federal Conservative party, but says he still intends to play a role with the party itself. Harper posted a rare comment on party politics to his Twitter account, thanking the Conservative Fund for its hard work and saying its efforts have been "unparalleled" over the years. He says he looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the Conservatives through his work as chair of the International Democratic Union, an alliance of centre-right political parties around the world. The Conservative Fund was se
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