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CanadaJan 31, 2020

B.C. residents face human trafficking charges after Saskatchewan traffic stop

Human trafficking related charges have been laid against four British Columbia residents following arrests in Saskatchewan.The four adults were taken into custody after an off-duty RCMP officer reported three vehicles, apparently in convoy, racing at more than 150 km/h on the Trans-Canada Highway toward Swift Current.Mounties pulled over the vehicles and while questioning a 36-year-old woman and 23-year-old man from Victoria and 19-year-old twins from Nanaimo, officers discovered two young women travelling with them.Neither teen carried identification and Swift Current RCMP say there were ind
champagne-discusses-coronavirus-response-evacuation-with-china-counterpart
CanadaJan 31, 2020

Champagne discusses coronavirus response, evacuation with China counterpart

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne has spoken to his Chinese counterpart about the coronavirus outbreak, a day after the World Health Organization called it a global health emergency.A statement from Champagne's office today says he and China's Wang Yi also discussed the situation of the two Canadians imprisoned in China without access to lawyers or family members for more than a year.Canada is seeking Chinese approval to send a plane to the Chinese city of Wuhan to collect the 196 Canadians who have asked for help to leave. Champagne says Wang responded positively to that re
china-flying-home-residents-of-virus-afflicted-region
WorldJan 31, 2020

China flying home residents of virus-afflicted region

China's foreign ministry said Friday it will send charter flights to bring home residents of virus-afflicted region from overseas. The one-sentence statement gave few details, but said those from Hubei province and its capital Wuhan would be sent directly back to Wuhan in light of the “practical difficulties" they were encountering. The new type of virus originated in Wuhan and has since spread to more than a dozen nations and regions overseas. Most of the overseas cases were found among people who had travelled from Wuhan, although physicians are concerned about person-to-person transmissio
india-farrukhabad-hostage-crisis-ends-as-accused-killed-all-children-safe
IndiaJan 31, 2020

India: Farrukhabad hostage crisis ends as accused killed, all children safe

The man, who held hostage more than 15 children at a house in Farrukhabad, has been killed and all of them have been safely evacuated, Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary Home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi said. "The person who was holding the children as hostages has been killed in an operation and all children have been safely evacuated," Awasthi told ANI here. "Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) has announced an award of Rs 10 lakhs for the Uttar Pradesh Police and its team that successfully carried out the operation. All personnel who took part in operation will be giv
BCJan 31, 2020

Premier's Office welcomes Wet'suwet'en agreement to join the Province at a 'Wiggus' Table

The Premier's Office has issued the following statement: "We welcome today's announcement by the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs that they will join the Province of B.C. at a Wiggus/Respect Table."This Wiggus/Respect Table is an opportunity for all parties to work in good faith towards de-escalation, and we view this announcement as a positive sign that all involved are determined to find a peaceful resolution."
CanadaJan 31, 2020

Survey: Vancouver has worst traffic congestion among Canadian cities

An international survey finds Vancouver continues to face the worst traffic congestion among major Canadian cities. The TomTom Traffic Index for 2019 gives Vancouver a congestion level of 39 per cent, the highest in Canada for the third year since the study began and up slightly from 38 per cent in 2017 and 2018. That means the average trip in the city takes 39 per cent longer than it would if the roads were free of traffic gridlock. Vancouver is 40th on the list of 416 cities studied across the globe but still far behind Bangalore and Manila which top the list with a congestion level of 71 p
BCJan 30, 2020

Claire Trevena's statement on additional initiatives with the taxi industry

Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, has issued the following statement outlining new government initiatives designed to benefit the passenger transportation industry and passengers: “As part of our continued efforts to ensure fairness and opportunity for those who make a living in the passenger transportation industry and the passengers they carry, I am pleased to share two additional government initiatives. “For the past several months, our government has been working with ICBC and the taxi industry to create a new insurance product option for taxi drivers. The
BCJan 30, 2020

Suspect linked to seven alleged assaults of women identified

The RCMP says it has identified a suspect linked to seven alleged assaults of women in or near Glen Park in Coquitlam, B.C. The Mounties say plainclothes investigators have identified the individual who was previously unknown to police. Cpl. Michael McLaughlin says in a news release there are ``extenuating circumstances'' involving the suspect that may have played a role in the alleged assaults. He says due to privacy concerns, the RCMP cannot go into detail about the suspect's circumstances, but public safety is its priority. The RCMP has previously said that the suspect targeted adult women
BCJan 30, 2020

Teenage girl fights off attacker on Vancouver's west side, police say

Police are warning the public about the sex assault of a teenage girl on Vancouver's west side. Vancouver police say a 17-year-old girl was walking home around 6 p.m. Tuesday. Police say an unknown man grabbed her from behind but she was able to fight him off and run away. The man is described as tall and wearing all black clothing. Police are asking anyone who was driving in the area of West 54th Avenue and Oak Street on Tuesday evening to contact police. Officers hope to track down footage from dash cams or Tesla vehicles equipped with factory video surveillance.

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mexico-rejects-claims-of-separate-u-s-trade-deal-reaffirms-support-for-cusma
BCJul 17, 2026

Mexico rejects claims of separate U.S. trade deal, reaffirms support for CUSMA

Mexico is not seeking a separate bilateral trade agreement with the United States that would exclude Canada, Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Velasco Álvarez said Friday, reaffirming his country's commitment to the trilateral Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Speaking alongside Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand at a joint news conference in Ottawa, Álvarez said Mexico remains committed to maintaining the existing three-country trade pact. He said ongoing bilateral meetings with the United States should not be interpreted as an effort to sideline Canada.
b-c-premier-david-eby-to-push-for-u-s-style-anti-racketeering-law-at-first-ministers-meetings
BCJul 17, 2026

B.C. Premier David Eby to push for U.S.-style anti-racketeering law at First Ministers' meetings

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he will urge Canada's premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider introducing federal anti-racketeering legislation similar to the United States' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in an effort to combat extortion and organized crime. According to Eby, he plans to raise the proposal during next week's Council of the Federation meeting and the First Ministers' Meeting. He said recent arrests in a U.S. law enforcement operation, in which charges were also laid against three British Columbia residents, highlight the need for s
ontario-cabinet-minister-stan-cho-resigns-after-controversy-over-toronto-hotel-expense-claims
BCJul 17, 2026

Ontario cabinet minister Stan Cho resigns after controversy over Toronto hotel expense claims

Ontario's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, has resigned from cabinet after facing criticism over thousands of dollars in hotel expenses claimed while living in Toronto. According to reports, Cho claimed $16,203 in taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation expenses over the past three years, despite his home being only a few kilometres from Queen's Park. The expense claims were for stays at downtown Toronto hotels. In a statement, Cho described the claims as a "significant mistake" and confirmed he has repaid the full amount to the provincial government. The Ontario government has n
BCJul 17, 2026

Highway 1 through Fraser Canyon reopens with reduced speed limit as Brunswick Complex wildfire response continues

Highway 1 through British Columbia's Fraser Canyon has reopened to traffic, although wildfire crews continue efforts to contain the Brunswick Complex fires in the area. According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, the highway reopened Friday morning with single-lane alternating traffic in both directions. A reduced speed limit of 60 km/h remains in effect along a 27-kilometre section near Boston Bar to support emergency operations and improve safety. The Brunswick Complex wildfires have forced hundreds of residents in Boston Bar and nearby communities to leave their homes. Authorities hav
CanadaJul 17, 2026

Brampton man identified as homicide victim after body found in Stoney Creek

Hamilton Police have identified a man whose body was found in a Stoney Creek creek on Wednesday morning as 29-year-old Taranpreet Singh Sidhu of Brampton. Investigators have confirmed the case is being treated as a homicide. According to Hamilton Police, Sidhu's body was discovered in a creek near Fruitland Road North and Harbour Drive after a passerby spotted him partially submerged in the water on nearby rocks. Emergency responders attended the scene and confirmed he had died. Detective Sergeant Robert Delaney said Sidhu came to Canada from India in 2022 and had worked as a truck driver whil