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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

Just In

david-eby-wins-vancouver-point-grey-by-just-538-votes-dallas-brodie-finishes-last
BCOct 26, 2026

David Eby Wins Vancouver-Point Grey by Just 538 Votes; Dallas Brodie Finishes Last

Former British Columbia Premier David Eby won his Vancouver-Point Grey seat by a narrow margin of 538 votes in the latest provincial election. According to preliminary figures from Elections BC, Eby received 7,811 votes, compared with 7,273 votes for his Conservative rival, Alex McMillan. Eby has represented the riding since 2013. In the 2024 election, he defeated his Conservative opponent by approximately 4,900 votes. Meanwhile, Dallas Brodie, leader of the OneBC Party, received just 805 votes in Vancouver-Quilchena, finishing last in the riding. Conservative candidate Carson Binda won the se
punjab-cms-osd-rajbir-singh-ghuman-appears-before-cbi-again-in-alleged-corruption-case
IndiaOct 26, 2026

Punjab CM’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman Appears Before CBI Again in Alleged Corruption Case

Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) attached to the Punjab Chief Minister’s camp office, appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its zonal office in Chandigarh on Monday in connection with an alleged corruption case. Ghuman arrived at the office at around 2:30 p.m. and came out at approximately 7:30 p.m. after questioning. His legal representatives remained present outside the office during the proceedings. The CBI has summoned him again for questioning on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after the questioning, Ghuman said the CBI had asked him around 40 to
BCOct 26, 2026

B.C. Provincial Election Turnout Hits 30-Year Low at 48.14%

Voter turnout in British Columbia’s provincial election has dropped to its lowest level in at least 30 years. According to preliminary figures from Elections BC, only 48.14 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots this time, down from 53.86 per cent in the 2020 election held during the COVID-19 pandemic and 58.45 per cent in 2024. Experts believe the sharp decline may be linked to former Premier David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years ahead of schedule, as well as the timing of municipal elections around the same period. According to the report, the B.C. NDP received
mark-carney-meets-premiers-and-first-nations-leaders-ahead-of-federal-budget
CanadaOct 26, 2026

Mark Carney Meets Premiers and First Nations Leaders Ahead of Federal Budget

Prime Minister Mark Carney held a high-level meeting with premiers and First Nations leaders in Ottawa today ahead of the upcoming federal budget, aiming to address obstacles and opposition that could delay major projects. During the meeting, Carney pledged greater support for Indigenous communities and promised to build stronger partnerships with them. It was the first time in two decades that federal, provincial and First Nations leaders had gathered at the same table for direct discussions on key national issues. Carney said his government would announce new measures for First Nations in th
BCOct 26, 2026

BC Greens Retain Two Seats Despite Increase in Vote Share

The BC Greens have retained two seats in the provincial election, despite an increase in their overall vote share. Preliminary results show the party received approximately 23,000 more votes than in 2024. However, it failed to increase its seat count beyond the two seats it held before the snap election. Party leader Emily Lowan won in Saanich North and the Islands, while Jeremy Valeriote was re-elected in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. Speaking to the media, Lowan acknowledged that making the Green Party's voice heard in the legislature would be a major challenge. However, she said the party wo