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premier-doug-ford-writes-to-bank-of-canada-to-pause-interest-rate-increase
CanadaOct 23, 2023

Premier Doug Ford writes to Bank of Canada to pause interest rate increase

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged the Bank of Canada not to raise interest rates further.Doug Ford has already written a letter to Tiff Macklem.Doug Ford wrote a letter to Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem on Sunday saying that millions of people are struggling to make ends meet.He said that the previous interest rate hikes have put a lot of burden on families and businesses, so interest rates should not be increased further.It is worth noting that on Wednesday, the Bank of Canada will decide whether to increase interest rates or not, and two days before that, Ford wrote a letter to Mackl
CanadaOct 20, 2023

Saskatchewan legislature passes pronoun bill in special sitting

A controversial bill on the use of pronouns in schools has received final approval in the Saskatchewan legislature.The new law will prevent children under 16 from changing their names or pronouns at school without receiving parental consent.It uses the notwithstanding clause to override sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code.Education Minister Jeremy Cockrill says he expects all school divisions to abide by the legislation.The Opposition New Democrats opposed the bill, saying it strips rights from vulnerable people.The Saskatchewan Party government
poilievre-calls-on-ottawa-to-block-rbcs-13-5b-takeover-of-hsbc-canada
CanadaOct 20, 2023

Poilievre calls on Ottawa to block RBC's $13.5B takeover of HSBC Canada

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling for the federal government to block Royal Bank of Canada's $13.5-billion takeover of HSBC Canada as a way to help with housing affordability.Poilievre says in a statement that Canada's banking sector is overly concentrated, and that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland should stop the deal to improve competition in areas such as mortgage rates.RBC spokesman Andrew McGrath says in a statement that the takeover is in the best interest of HSBC Canada clients and that the Competition Bureau's review did not identify Competition Act concerns with the de
canada-firm-and-steadfast-in-call-for-two-state-solution-for-israel-palestinians
CanadaOct 20, 2023

Canada 'firm and steadfast' in call for two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada remains "firm and steadfast" in its commitment to a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.He says the Middle East, and the world, needs both a Palestinian state and Israel to exist alongside each other in peace, safety and prosperity.Canada has long called for a negotiated two-state solution in the region, and considers the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be occupied territories.Trudeau is reiterating this position in the context of the latest Israel-Hamas war, which began after militants from Hamas, which Canada considers a terrorist organiz
canada-has-pulled-most-envoys-out-of-india-due-to-diplomatic-immunity-threats-joly
CanadaOct 20, 2023

Canada has pulled most envoys out of India due to diplomatic immunity threats: Joly

Canada has removed most of its diplomatic presence from India after New Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunities from them and their families, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said Thursday. Officials said the move would slow down the processing of immigration applications, and Canada has issued a travel advisory for regions of India where it says it's been forced to reduce consular staffing. Relations with New Delhi have hit a deep freeze since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a month ago that Canadian intelligence services were investigating ``a potential link'' between In
bc-adds-support-to-sexual-assault-and-violent-crime-victim-services
BCOct 19, 2023

BC adds support to sexual assault and violent crime victim services

The BC government says it's changing legislation to increase access to services for victims of crime.The province says the Crime Victims Assistance Act is currently too restrictive, leaving victims, family members and witnesses without adequate support.The provincial government says it's proposing amendments to allow family members such as grandparents and grandchildren to access benefits, eliminating the need to be financially dependent on a victim for eligibility under the law.It says the province also plans to provide funding for sexual assault support service centres in Vancouver, Victoria
trudeau-writes-open-letter-to-danielle-smith-calls-for-cpp-to-be-preserved
CanadaOct 18, 2023

Trudeau writes open letter to Danielle Smith, calls for CPP to be preserved

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the Liberal government would fight any actions that threaten the stability of the Canada Pension Plan.Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative government has launched a provincial debate on quitting the CPP and creating an Alberta-only pension plan.Smith says Albertans are paying in more than they're getting out the federal plan and a report the province commissioned says Alberta is entitled to more than half the assets of the $575-billion fund.Trudeau's comments in a letter to Smith come a day after the Canada Pension Plan's board asserted Albert
israel-approves-delivery-of-humanitarian-aid-to-gaza
WorldOct 18, 2023

Israel approves delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Israel has approved the delivery of some humanitarian aid from Egypt to Gaza. This decision has been taken by Israel at the request of US President Joe Biden. According to the statement issued by the PM of Israel, food, water and medicines can be sent but oil will not be sent. Along with this, all the goods will be sent only until these supplies reach Hamas. Notably, Biden has given full support to Israel, stressing the need to end a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, after which Israel also started retaliatory bombing. Yesterday, Israel attacked a hospit
mukhtiar-singh-panghali-who-killed-his-wife-in-surrey-got-full-parole
BCOct 18, 2023

Mukhtiar Singh Panghali, who killed his wife in Surrey, got full parole

The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to Mukhtiar Singh Panghali.In fact, in 2006, Panghali strangled his pregnant wife and burnt her body.Mukhtiar was sentenced to life in prison in 2011, with the possibility of non-parole for up to 15 years, for murdering his wife Manjit Panghali at their home in Surrey.In October 2006, Manjit was four months pregnant.Mukhtiar himself had reported her missing.Five days later, police found Manjit's decomposed body on a beach in B.C.'s Delta region, after which Mukhtiar was first arrested for the crime in 2007 and sentenced to life in prison in 20

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BCJul 15, 2026

Elderly woman distracted and robbed of gold necklace in Vancouver, police seek suspects

A 76-year-old woman was allegedly robbed of her gold necklace after being distracted by an unknown woman in Vancouver's East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive area on Tuesday, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Police said the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. while the senior was waiting for family members. An unidentified woman approached her and claimed she looked like her mother, whose birthday she said it was. The suspect then hugged the victim and, during the interaction, allegedly removed the woman's gold necklace and replaced it with a fake one. The victim reportedly discov
AlbertaJul 15, 2026

Alberta launches online bike lane complaint form ahead of planned legislation

The Alberta government has launched an online public feedback form inviting residents to report concerns about bike lanes as it prepares legislation expected this fall. According to the Alberta government, Albertans can use the online form to share concerns about bike lanes in their communities, including whether they believe a lane is underused, has reduced on-street parking, contributed to traffic congestion, affected local businesses, or delayed emergency response times. The province says the feedback will help inform future transportation policy decisions. Transportation Minister Devin Dre
canada-pauses-new-parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship-applications-for-2026
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Canada pauses new parent and grandparent sponsorship applications for 2026

The federal government says it will not accept any new applications this year under Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program as it works to reduce processing times and manage a large backlog of existing files. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 60,500 sponsorship applications are currently being processed. The department said it expects to approve about 15,000 parents and grandparents each year over the next two years from applications already in the system. IRCC said the temporary pause is intended to improve processing efficiency. The department
federal-government-names-new-members-to-independent-senate-appointments-advisory-board
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Federal government names new members to independent Senate appointments advisory board

The federal government has announced new appointments to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney named four new senators to the upper chamber. According to a federal government news release, the advisory board will continue to provide non-binding recommendations to the prime minister on Senate appointments. The board was established in 2016 to support a merit-based and independent appointments process. The government said the board will continue to include three federal members, including a chair, along with two additional members from
BCJul 15, 2026

Surrey man sentenced to nearly five years in prison in extortion-related shooting and arson case

A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced Abhijeet Kingra to nearly five years in prison for his role in a 2024 extortion-related shooting and arson targeting a Surrey home. According to court records, Kingra pleaded guilty on July 6 to charges of discharging a firearm at a residence and committing arson. The offences stem from an Aug. 10, 2024 incident in which a home belonging to a person who had reportedly received extortion threats was shot at and set on fire. The court imposed a two-year sentence for arson and a sentence of four years, 10 months and 19 days for the shooting offence. T