BCJun 23, 2023
Sikh Liberal MPs meet with public safety minister over Surrey killing
Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal says the shooting death of a religious leader in the parking lot of a British Columbia temple has prompted a meeting with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and members of the Sikh Liberal caucus.Dhaliwal, who represents the Metro Vancouver riding of Surrey-Newton where the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar took place, posted a statement on Twitter, saying Sikh members of the Liberal caucus met with the minister regarding the tragic incident at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.Dhaliwal says the caucus members were assured the federal government is working closely w
CanadaJun 22, 2023
Liberal bill requiring Google and Meta to pay for news content passes in Senate
A federal bill that will require Google and Meta to pay media outlets for news content that they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms is set to become law.The Senate has passed the bill in a final vote and it is now awaiting royal assent amid a standoff between the Liberal government and Silicon Valley tech giants.Ottawa, which says the law creates a level playing field between online advertising giants and the shrinking news industry, is now waiting to see if Meta or Google will react by removing journalism from their platforms in Canada.Meta has said it plans to comply with the bi
BCJun 21, 2023
Surrey RCMP looking for South Asian fraud suspect
Surrey RCMP is releasing photos of a fraud suspect and requesting anyone with information contact police.On March 18, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a report that a currency exchange business located in the 8000-block of 128 Street had been defrauded $237,000.Two separate bank drafts were cashed and later determined to be fraudulent.Through investigation it was determined that the person who uttered the fraudulent bank drafts was utilizing another person’s identity.The suspect is described as a South Asian female, 5’7", slim build, with shoulder length dark hair.She spoke Hindi, Punjabi and En
CanadaJun 21, 2023
45 arrested, 440 weapons seized in Canada-wide raids targeting 3D-printed guns
A Quebec based anti-gun unit says 45 people have been arrested and 440 guns have been seized in raids targeting manufacturers of 3D-printed or "ghost" guns across eight provinces.Police carried out 64 raids and seized 440 guns, including 3D-printed handguns, long guns and silencers, as well as other guns and 3D printers.The raids took place in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and resulted in 45 arrests.Authorities say they're increasingly concerned about untraceable ghost guns, which are assembled at home or 3D-printed without s
BCJun 20, 2023
CSIS warned Sikh gurudwara leader of assassination threat before killing: Lawyer
The New York lawyer who says he is both the representative and a friend of the Surrey Sikh leader fatally shot earlier this week, says Hardeep Singh Nijjar knew people wanted him dead.Gurpatwant Singh Pannun says in an email that Nijjar had been warned by Canadian intelligence officials that 'mercenaries' had targeted him for assassination.Pannun says he was told by Nijjar that he, too, was on the hit list because both men were advocating for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, within India's Punjab region.No arrests have been made since Nijjar was shot and killed on Sunday night as he left th
CanadaJun 20, 2023
2 missing after military helicopter crash near eastern Ontario base
Two crew members are missing after a CH-147 Chinook helicopter CH of the Canadian Air Force crashed in the Ottawa River.The Air Force is looking for them.According to the Air Force, the incident happened at around 12:10 a.m. local time near the Canadian Army base in eastern Ontario.The Canadian Air Force said the Chinook helicopter was operating near the Ottawa River in Garrison Petawawa.The accident occurred during a training flight.Four crew members were on board the helicopter.Two are admitted to a nearby hospital and 50 members of the Canadian Air Force are searching for the other two.The
BCJun 20, 2023
'Govt. received report on city policing': Mike Farnworth
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the government has received the report it was waiting for from Surrey officials on the future of policing in the city.That's after Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced Friday that a majority on council had reviewed the report and voted to keep the R.C.M.P, reversing the transition to a municipal force that had been initiated by her predecessor.The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue the transition to an independent force and Farnworth set out requirements for safe and effective policing, which the city would need to follow in orde
CanadaJun 19, 2023
Fire situation eases slightly, but risks remain as more than 400 wildfires still burn
More than 200 wildfires are still burning out of control in Canada this morning as the country's record-setting forest fire season continues to raze thousands of square kilometres every day.Rain helped ease the fire situation in parts of Alberta and Quebec over the weekend, but the fire risk remains high in most of the country.As of this morning, 420 fires were burning in nine provinces and two territories, and 207 of those are still considered to be out of control.More than 58,000 square kilometres has burned so far this year, or an area almost twice the size of Vancouver Island.Environment C
BCJun 19, 2023
Gurudwara president shot dead in Surrey
The president of a Sikh gurdwara who was accused of murder and terrorism in India has been shot dead outside his temple in Surrey, British Columbia.The general secretary of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society said Hardeep Singh Nijjar was alone in his pickup truck when he was attacked Sunday night as he was leaving the gurdwara's parking lot.Surrey RCMP said in a news release that the shooting happened at about 8:30 p.m. and the victim died at the scene.They said they are searching for suspects and trying to confirm a motive for the homicide.India's National Investigation Agency last year iss