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BCDec 16, 2020

Experts say massive landslide on BC's central coast caused a shock equivalent to a 4.9 magnitude earthquake

Experts say a massive landslide in a remote inlet on BC's central coast caused a shock that was equivalent to a 4.9 magnitude earthquake. The slide happened on November 28. It happened near Elliot Creek, just east of the head of Bute Inlet north of Powell River. Brent Ward, a geology professor and co-director of the Centre for National Hazards Research at Simon Fraser University, says the landslide created its own seismic event. Local Indigenous groups say the landslide impacted salmon spawning habitat.
CanadaDec 16, 2020

Budget officer says federal wage-subsidy program may cost more this year than planned

Parliament's spending watchdog estimates the Liberals will spend more this year on a wage-subsidy program than expected, but less in 2021. The Liberals estimated last month that the program would cost $83.5 billion this fiscal year when taking into account take-up through the summer and its extension since the fall.Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's fall economic statement also estimated the program would cost almost $16.2 billion in the coming fiscal year that starts in April 2021.Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux's office says in a report today that the figure for this year could be
canada-inks-deal-with-u-s-to-send-astronaut-around-the-moon
CanadaDec 16, 2020

Canada inks deal with U.S. to send astronaut around the moon

The federal government says it has signed an agreement with the United States to send a Canadian astronaut around the moon.The planned trip in 2023 is part of a broader U.S.-led effort to establish a new international space station above the lunar surface to allow for exploration of the moon and future missions to Mars.The Gateway Treaty unveiled today also calls for a second flight for a Canadian astronaut to that future space station, known as the Lunar Gateway.The government says the agreement will make Canada the second country to send an astronaut into deep space, though the trip will no
sc-intends-to-set-up-committee-comprising-farmers-unions-centre-to-resolve-issues-of-protestors
IndiaDec 16, 2020

SC intends to set up committee comprising farmers' unions, Centre to resolve issues of protestors

The Supreme Court on Wednesday while observing that farmers issue "will soon become a national issue" said that it intends to set up a committee comprising representatives of farmers unions across India, government and other stakeholders to resolve the issues of protesting farmers. A Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre that it intends to form a committee "because this will soon become a national issue and with the government, it won't work out it seems."The Bench also issued notice to Centre and
522-new-covid-19-cases-and-21-deaths-reported-in-b-c-premier-horagn-warns-stricter-enforcement-coming-to-covid-19-rule-breakers
BCDec 16, 2020

522 new COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths reported in B.C.; Premier Horagn warns stricter enforcement coming to COVID-19 rule breakers

Premier John Horgan warns tighter enforcement is coming to those who refuse to follow British Columbia's COVID-19 restrictions. Horgan says BC has shown itself to be more successful in managing the virus than some of its neighbours, but the small portion of people who refuse to follow public health restrictions are jeopardizing the health of others. BC reported 522 new COVID-19 cases today and 21 additional deaths, for a total of 668. The premier says the province will be cracking down on those who refuse to follow the rules over the next few weeks and will ensure that those who break the res
first-british-columbian-vaccinated-covid-19-immunizations-begin
BCDec 16, 2020

First British Columbian vaccinated, COVID-19 immunizations begin

Today marks the first day of British Columbia’s provincewide COVID-19 immunizations, the most comprehensive vaccine program to ever be delivered in B.C.Over the coming days, approximately 4,000 health-care workers in British Columbia will be rolling up their sleeves to receive the first approved COVID-19 vaccine.Nisha Yunus, a 64-year old residential care aid was one of the first people in British Columbia to receive the COVID-19 immunization. Yunus has worked in the same long-term care home in the Vancouver Coastal Health region for 41 years, all in the same unit and on the same floor. The
rcmp-to-change-its-policies-over-collecting-and-using-information-gathered-on-protesters
CanadaDec 16, 2020

RCMP to change its policies over collecting and using information gathered on protesters

The RCMP will be changing its policies over collecting and using information gathered on protesters following a series of recommendations from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission. RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki acknowledged inadequate data-handling practices in response to the investigation into surveillance of opponents of the now-defunct Northern Gateway pipeline project. The BC Civil Liberties Association first lodged a complaint in 2014, saying the Mounties improperly collected and shared information about people and groups who peacefully opposed the project. The complaints comm
CanadaDec 15, 2020

Government promises resources in search for Manitoba sailor who fell overboard

The Canadian military is investigating after a master sailor from Manitoba is believed to have accidentally fallen overboard. Duane Earle, of Winnipeg, went missing while deployed on HMCS Winnipeg. A government news release says Duane Earle is thought to have accidentally fallen overboard in the Pacific while the ship was west of San Francisco. It says the master sailor wasn't identified as missing until later Monday and the ship turned back to begin a search.At his Ottawa news conference this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said every resource is being dedicated to the search. Earle i
canadian-real-estate-association-says-the-average-price-of-homes-rose-13-8-per-cent-in-november
CanadaDec 15, 2020

Canadian Real Estate Association says the average price of homes rose 13.8 per cent in November

The Canadian Real Estate Association says the average price of homes rose 13.8 per cent in November, largely influenced by sales in the Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto areas. The association says the average home price was 603,000 dollars. But with the Vancouver and Toronto markets excluded, that price drops by 122,000 dollars. Sales activity was up by more than 32 per cent between this November compared with the same time last year. The association says there were year-over-year price gains in Greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack, the Okanagan Valley, Victoria and elsewhere

Just In

b-c-launches-new-forestry-and-emergency-management-testbed-under-look-west-plan
BCDec 16, 2025

B.C. launches new forestry and emergency management testbed under Look West plan

The B.C. government has launched a new Forestry Innovation and Emergency Management Testbed aimed at helping local companies develop and scale technologies to better protect communities from wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. The initiative is part of the province’s Look West economic plan, which focuses on strengthening domestic industries and reducing reliance on external markets. Delivered through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace, the provincewide testbed will allow B.C. businesses to pilot technologies in real-world settings tied to wildfire and flood prevention, f
five-month-nanaimo-rcmp-probe-leads-to-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges
BCDec 16, 2025

Five-month Nanaimo RCMP probe leads to drug trafficking and firearm charges

A five-month investigation by Nanaimo RCMP has resulted in multiple drug and firearm-related charges against two Nanaimo residents, following the seizure of controlled substances, weapons and body armour from a local residence. Police say the investigation began in early November 2024 after general duty officers received information that a home in Nanaimo was being used to traffic illegal drugs. With assistance from the RCMP General Investigation Section and the Projects Drug Unit, officers executed a search warrant at the residence on April 17, 2025. During the search, investigators seized qu
federal-buy-canadian-procurement-rules-take-effect-prioritizing-domestic-industries
CanadaDec 16, 2025

Federal ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement rules take effect, prioritizing domestic industries

The federal government’s new ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement policy came into force today, marking a significant shift in how Ottawa purchases goods and services for major public projects. The policy, announced earlier this fall, is designed to give preference to Canadian-made products and Canadian workers in federal contracting. The government says the approach is aimed at strengthening domestic industries and protecting supply chains during a period of ongoing global trade uncertainty. In its first phase, the policy applies to federal contracts valued at $25 million or more. These projects
AlbertaDec 16, 2025

Inmate convicted in Edmonton prison killing was already serving life sentence for Calgary murder

A man already serving a life sentence for the murder of a Calgary caseworker has been convicted in the killing of a fellow inmate at a maximum-security federal prison in Edmonton. Brandon Newman was found guilty last week of manslaughter in the 2022 stabbing death of 33-year-old Bretton Fisher at the Edmonton Institution. Newman is currently incarcerated for the second-degree murder of Deborah Onwu, a caseworker who was stabbed 19 times at an assisted-living facility in Calgary in 2019. Court heard that tensions escalated inside the prison after Fisher confronted Newman over the earlier killin
heavy-rain-warnings-remain-in-southwest-b-c-as-flood-recovery-continues-in-fraser-valley
BCDec 16, 2025

Heavy rain warnings remain in southwest B.C. as flood recovery continues in Fraser Valley

Residents in parts of southwestern British Columbia are being warned to prepare for more heavy rainfall as cleanup efforts continue following recent flooding in the Fraser Valley. Environment Canada says up to 70 millimetres of rain could fall across areas including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley through Wednesday morning. The forecast comes as floodwaters linked to the Nooksack River in Washington state begin to recede, allowing cleanup operations to start earlier this week in several low-lying Fraser Valley communities. Provincial officials say the flood threat is not over. B.C. Emerg