Canada’s immigration minister is facing criticism from legal professionals after discussing details of a proposed immigration program during a social media interview before any formal government announcement. Minister Lena Metlege Diab, in an interview with influencer Max Medic, said the federal government is preparing a new pathway to permanent residency for thousands of temporary residents. According to the interview, the proposed program would focus on individuals living outside major metropolitan areas. The Canadian Immigration Lawyers Association said in a statement it has sent a letter

A person was taken to hospital after a house fire in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood on Wednesday, according to police. Surrey police said the individual experienced breathing difficulties due to smoke and was transported to hospital for treatment. No update on the person’s condition was immediately available. According to a police statement, officers temporarily closed a section near 72 Avenue and 140 Street following the incident as a safety precaution. The roads were reopened to traffic at 3:25 p.m. after the fire was brought under control. Police said there are no indications of suspicio

Wildfire activity is increasing across British Columbia, with 15 active fires currently burning in multiple regions, according to the BC Wildfire Service. The agency said two of the fires are classified as out of control, including one in the Cariboo Fire Centre and another in the Prince George Fire Centre. Four of the active fires were reported on Wednesday. Since April 1, a total of 57 wildfires have been recorded across the province. The BC Wildfire Service says 93 per cent of these fires are believed to have been caused by human activity. Active fires are spread across several regions, inc

Langley RCMP say one person remains in critical, life-threatening condition following a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of 264 Street and 24 Avenue on the morning of April 22. According to a Langley RCMP news release, officers were called to the scene at about 8:13 a.m., alongside the Township of Langley Fire Department and the British Columbia Ambulance Service. First responders provided emergency care before transporting the injured individual to hospital. Sgt. Zynal Sharoom said the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service has been deployed to assi

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened between Hope and Merritt after a semi-trailer fire forced a closure for much of Tuesday, according to the provincial government. DriveBC, the Ministry of Transportation’s traveller information service, said the route reopened at about 7 p.m. Tuesday. In a post on the social media platform X, the agency said environmental cleanup was ongoing and advised motorists to use caution when travelling through the area. The highway was փակ Monday night after a semi-trailer became fully engulfed in flames and came to a stop on the right shoulder. The fire spread t

U.S. aviation regulators are investigating a near-miss incident involving an Air Canada jet and a Republic Airways flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said the Republic Airways pilots took evasive action after their aircraft missed its intended approach and came too close to the Air Canada plane. Both flight crews responded to onboard collision-avoidance alerts, the agency said. No injuries were reported. The FAA has not released further details on how close the aircraft came to each other or what factors contribu

Surrey Police Service says officers are investigating a shooting at a residential property early Wednesday that is believed to be linked to an extortion attempt. According to an SPS news release, frontline officers responded at approximately 12:40 a.m. to reports of shots fired at a home in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue, near King George Boulevard and 88 Avenue. Police confirmed that no occupants were injured, although the residence sustained damage and bullet casings were found outside. The file has been taken over by the Surrey Police Service Extortion Response Team, with Integrated Forensic

Alberta’s Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for a man previously convicted in the 2020 death of his common-law partner, finding legal errors in how intent was assessed at trial. In a decision released Friday, the court overturned Ryan Applegarth’s 2023 conviction for second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Chantelle Firingstoney. According to the ruling, the trial judge did not make a required finding that Applegarth intended to kill, a key element for a murder conviction. Court records show Firingstoney died in November 2020 at her home in Ponoka, about 95 kilometres south

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon says the Liberal government will move to change House of Commons procedures to ensure it holds a majority of votes on parliamentary committees. MacKinnon said Tuesday the planned motion would adjust committee composition rules so governing party MPs have the numbers needed to advance legislation and studies. He argued that committees should reflect the governing party’s mandate and avoid what he described as “partisan games” that delay work. The proposal comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals seek to consolidate control of the parliament