EDMONTON - The Alberta government is amending its bereavement bill following criticism that it allowed leave for stillbirths and miscarriages but was silent on abortions. Labour Minister Kaycee Madu (KAY'-see MAH'-doo) has introduced a change to the bill that, if passed, would allow for three days unpaid leave in any pregnancy that doesn't end in a live birth. Madu says he has heard concerns from critics and other stakeholders to make the definition as broad as possible. Opposition N-D-P critic Sarah Hoffman says the change doesn't go far enough, and the United Conservative government must s

HONG KONG - Reports say Canadian singer and activist Denise Ho is one of at least four people who have been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger China's national security. The U.K.-based human rights group Hong Kong Watch says Ho was detained by Hong Kong's National Security Police along with Cardinal Joseph Zen, lawyer Margaret Ng and scholar Hui Po-keung. The group says the arrests are apparently related to their rolesas trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which provided legal aid to people who took part in 2019 pro-democracy protests that

Politicians ask a lot of questions in British Columbia’s legislature, but for New Democrat member Rick Glumac, his question posed Wednesday was especially important. Glumac, the member for Port Moody-Coquitlam, stood in the legislature to acknowledge all the partners who support the unique work that politicians in the legislature do, saying it certainly isn’t a normal job.He noted that his partner, Haven Lurbiecki, was in the legislature’s gallery and he told her that every day she made the world better and filled his heart with love.Amid applause and cheers from his colleagues, Glumac a

Christie's auction house says an egg-sized white diamond known as ``The Rock'' has sold for the equivalent of 28.2-million dollars Canadian. The 228-carat pear-shaped stone is billed as the largest of its kind to go up for auction. The 228-carat pear-shaped stone, with its platinum pendant mounting, has a gross weight 61.3 grams (2.2 ounces) and dimensions of 5.4 centimeters by 3.1 centimeters (2.1 inches by 1.2 inches), making it about the size of a medium hen's egg. Also sold was the ``Red Cross'' diamond, a more than 205-carat fancy yellow stone, which fetched nearly 18.5-million dollars.

A man from Gibsons who killed his sleeping mother with an axe has been found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder. Kevin Webster had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Moirin Webster on December 27th, 2020. BC Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Gomery says Webster had suffered from schizophrenia for years and was ``psychotically driven'' by the paranoid belief that he was the target of a murderous conspiracy by his family. The judge said he agreed with the Crown and defence that it was appropriate to find Webster not criminally responsible and order him held

Police have identified a husband and wife, both in their 70s, as homicide victims in Abbotsford, B.C. Investigators say 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and 76-year-old Joanne De Jong were found dead in a home on Monday. A statement from police says it's unclear if the killings were random or targeted. Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says they are releasing the names and a photo of the victims to further the investigation and identify other possible witnesses. The statement says homicide investigators are still collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and trying to b

Police in Vancouver are warning parents about a disturbing trend involving teens that swarm a lone peer before punching and kicking them until they fall to the ground, then forcing them to kiss their attackers' shoes. The Vancouver Police Department says the demeaning bullying rituals are sometimes videoed and posted online. Sergeant Steve Addison says beyond physical harm, these types of incidents can cause deep-rooted emotional trauma, and parents should speak to their children about bullying and violence. He's asking parents to encourage their children to call police if they have informati

Talks have resumed for the first time in weeks between striking transit workers and their employers in the Sea-to-Sky corridor including Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. More than 80 transit workers, including bus drivers, have been off the job since January 29th. The dispute is focused on job security and wage parity with B-C Transit drivers in Metro Vancouver. A spokesman for Unifor, which represents the workers, says the union will ``enter the negotiations in good faith and will continue to bargain for fair compensation.''

All six candidates running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada will gather on an Edmonton stage tonight for the first of two official debates. And though he missed last week's unofficial sparring in Ottawa so he could sell party memberships, Patrick Brown will take part in tonight's debate. The Brampton, Ontario mayor's opponents include longtime MP Pierre Poilievre, who Brown recently criticized for offering, ``wacky investment advice'' for saying the cryptocurrency Bitcoin was a solution to inflation. Tonight, candidates will field questions on topics such as the futur