British Columbia's financial outlook is showing improvements, with a budget surplus of $706 million forecast for the current fiscal year. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of 2022-23 show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. The quarterly report Robinson posted today also indicates financial improvements over the next three years, but includes forecasts of budget deficits for two of the three years. The government recently announced the province's final audited budget for 2021-2022 produced a s

The murder of famed Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala is not under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), official sources said on Monday. The clarification came after the counter-terror agency on Monday conducted searches at 50 places across North India in the investigation of cases against activities of gangsters with international and inter-state ramifications. "NIA is conducting searches today at 50 places across North India relating to investigation of cases against activities of gangsters having serious International and inter-state ramifications. The case of Sidhu Moose

Two people are dead, including a paramedic, following a collision involving an ambulance southwest of Edmonton. RCMP say members responded to a report of a crash between an ambulance and an older Buick Skylark on Highway 39 just west of Thorsby early Saturday. Police say the driver and lone occupant of the Buick, a 27-year-old man from Edmonton, as well as the 51-year-old woman who was driving the ambulance, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Alberta Health Services later identified her as a paramedic but released no other details. A male passenger in the ambulance, who AHS said was also

Surrey RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance with locating a missing 27-year-old man. Rohit Verma was reported missing on September 6, 2022 at 10:44 a.m. by his friend. He was last seen in the area of 11600-block of 99 Avenue and his vehicle has been located in the area of 11700-block of 130 Street, in Surrey.Rohit has not gone missing before and all attempts to contact him has been negative. Police and family are concerned for his well-being.Rohit is described as South Asian male, 5’7 tall, 141 lbs, with a black beard and balding black hair. His last known clothing description is unk

King Charles the Third has made his first public address since his mother's death. Speaking at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Charles says he feels profound sorrow and called Queen Elizabeth ``an inspiration.'' As he takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for both his country and the monarchy itself, the King vowed to carry on his mother's lifelong service to a nation now in mourning. Britain began a 10 day mourning period with people around the globe gathering at British embassies to pay homage to the queen, who died yesterday in Scotland at the age of 96.

The number of people looking for work across Canada climbed by half a percentage point last month to 5.4 per cent, but the jobless rate in BC barely budged. Statistics Canada says unemployment in this province was 4.8 per cent in August, up one tenth of a point from July, and the second lowest rate in the country after Quebec. StatsCan blames the hike in the national jobless numbers on losses in the education services and construction sectors, although it says those declines were offset by more jobs in professional, scientific and technical services. Unemployment in Vancouver and Kelowna was

A book of condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth is now available in BC and mourners can choose to sign in person or online. Physical books of condolence are available in the Hall of Honour at the BC legislature, at Government House in Victoria, or in the Great Hall at the law courts in downtown Vancouver. The online book can be found via the home page of the BC government website. The books will be available until the day after the Queen's funeral which is expected within the next two weeks.

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver is stepping down as leader of the Liberal party in Yukon, but says he will stay on as a member of the legislature until the next election, expected in 2025. In an unexpected announcement, Silver has asked the party to start the proceedings for a leadership vote. He says he will remain as premier of the territory until his successor is chosen. He has served in the legislature for 11 years and led the Liberals for a decade, including the last six years as premier.

Calgary police's hate crime and extremism team is investigating a recent act of vandalism that caused damage to a statue outside a church. Police say a man damaged a religious statue in front of Sacred Heart Church on September 1st before fleeing the area on foot. The suspect is described as about five feet 11 inches tall, with possible tattoos on his left arm and a slim build. Police say the man was an orange T-shirt, baseball cap, sunglasses, dark construction pants and construction boots. They say investigators have not determined a motive for the vandalism.