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b-c-government-announces-changes-to-graduated-drivers-licensing-regime
BCApr 17, 2025

B.C. government announces changes to graduated drivers' licensing regime

The British Columbia government is making changes to its graduated drivers licensing regime, eliminating the need for a second road test to obtain a full licence. Public Safety Minister Garry Begg says the changes, if approved, will see new drivers get "on-road experience" and be subject to a 12-month restriction rather than be required to take another test to get their Class 5 licence. A statement from the ministry says there will also be a new program to licence motorcycle drivers, who are "overrepresented in fatal crashes in B.C." The ministry statement says the program hasn't been signific
vancouver-international-airport-resumes-normal-operations-after-days-of-delays
BCApr 17, 2025

Vancouver International Airport Resumes Normal Operations After Days of Delays

Vancouver International Airport has resumed normal operations after three days of significant flight delays and cancellations. The airport confirmed on Thursday that services are now operating as usual. Since 3 p.m. on Monday, dozens of flights were delayed and several others canceled due to a shortage of resources and staff at Nav Canada, the country's air traffic control authority. Nav Canada had been implementing temporary traffic management measures to handle the disruption. Airport officials confirmed today that the issues have now been resolved. Passengers are advised to check their fli
man-accused-of-three-sexual-assaults-on-transit-faces-charges-police
BCApr 15, 2025

Man accused of three sexual assaults on transit faces charges: police

The British Columbia Prosecution Service has approved charges relating to three alleged sexual assaults on Metro Vancouver's transit system. A statement from the region's Transit Police says the first complaint was made in January last year, when a woman on a crowded Canada Line train called police to say that a man had made inappropriate physical contact with her. Then, in April last year, a man was seen standing suspiciously close to a teenage passenger on the Canada Line, and when he leaned into the girl, a witness called police. On a crowded Expo Line train last May, a woman felt someone p
loaded-dump-truck-impounded-in-b-c-after-driver-found-intoxicated-police-say
BCApr 15, 2025

Loaded dump truck impounded in B.C. after driver found intoxicated, police say

The British Columbia Highway Patrol says a loaded dump truck is sitting in an impound, while the driver faces allegations of impairment. Officers received a call about the truck being driven dangerously eastbound on Highway 1 through Chilliwack last Wednesday morning. They say two patrol vehicles stopped the truck and officers saw signs the driver was impaired. They say the 64-year-old man faces a 90-day driving suspension and had to be picked up by his wife. His truck will be impounded for 30 days. Police say the Abbotsford-based company that owns the truck will be responsible for towing and
b-c-urges-federal-government-to-increase-provincial-nominee-program-quotas
BCApr 14, 2025

B.C. Urges Federal Government to Increase Provincial Nominee Program Quotas

The British Columbia government is calling on the federal government to raise its 2025 allocation under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), citing urgent workforce needs. The province reports that it met its 2024 target of 8,000 workers and is now requesting an increase to 11,000 nominees for 2025. However, Ottawa has reduced B.C.’s allocation to just 4,000, a move the province says is undermining its ability to meet labour market demands. The B.C. government argues that a higher quota would enable the province to process the majority of pending applications and accept approximately 1,100
six-year-old-dead-two-others-injured-in-surrey-bc-hit-and-run
BCApr 14, 2025

Six-year-old dead, two others injured in Surrey, BC hit and run

Police in Surrey are investigating a hit-and-run collision that killed one child and sent two other children to hospital. Police say the incident happened at about 4:11 p-m on Sunday in the Fraser Heights neighbourhood where three children had been hit by a vehicle. A six-year-old girl died, and a seven-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy were both taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the driver of the vehicle was arrested and remains in custody as the investigation continues. Police say the cause of the collision remains unknown, but they believe alcohol may b
bc-conservatives-criticize-eby-government-over-budget-deficit-and-demand-accountability
BCApr 09, 2025

BC Conservatives Criticize Eby Government Over Budget Deficit and Demand Accountability

British Columbia's main opposition party, the BC Conservatives, has sharply criticized the Eby government over its growing budget deficit and is demanding clearer accounting. The party raised concerns about the size of the deficit and the potential cuts to programs following a loss of nearly $3 billion in carbon tax revenue. John Rustad, leader of the BC Conservatives, called on the government to provide clarity regarding which programs will be affected by the deficit. Rustad pointed out that under Premier David Rustad, the province had a $6 billion surplus, which has now turned into an $11 b
program-that-sent-british-columbians-to-the-u-s-for-cancer-treatment-ends
BCApr 08, 2025

Program that sent British Columbians to the U.S. for cancer treatment ends

British Columbia is ending a program that sent cancer patients to the United States for treatment, saying provincial wait times have improved enough that they no longer have to rely on clinics south of the border. A statement from the Ministry of Health says as of the end of February, about 93 per cent of patients are waiting less than four weeks to start their radiation treatment, an improvement from spring 2023, when that number was only 69 per cent. It says the national benchmark is 90 per cent. The province began funding as many as 50 radiation patients each week in May 2023 for treatment
with-8-7m-birds-dead-b-c-farmers-assess-avian-flu-toll-and-worry-about-whats-next
BCApr 07, 2025

With 8.7m birds dead, B.C. farmers assess avian flu toll, and worry about what's next

There is a window of relief for British Columbia farmers from the devastating waves of avian flu, leaving them to assess the toll of outbreaks spanning more than three years that saw millions of birds culled at hundreds of farms. Farmers and scientists also worry what the next migration of wild birds will bring this year. Some farmers moved their operations outside British Columbia's Fraser Valley or have exited the industry altogether since the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu began circulating, said farmer Ray Nickel. Nickel, who operates a farm in Abbotsford in the Fraser Valley, was forced

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canada-india-agree-to-name-new-high-commissioners-at-g7-meeting
CanadaJun 17, 2025

Canada, India agree to name new high commissioners at G7 meeting

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-7 summit today. During the discussion, both countries decided to appoint new High Commissioners. Along with this, regular diplomatic services will be restored for citizens of both countries. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials last fall. This decision was taken after law enforcement reported that Indian government agents were involved in a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. Chinmoy Naik is currently serving as the Acting High Commissioner of India to Canada.
panthers-can-clinch-a-2nd-consecutive-stanley-cup-championship-by-beating-the-oilers-in-game-6
CanadaJun 17, 2025

Panthers can clinch a 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup championship by beating the Oilers in Game 6

The Florida Panthers can win the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row by beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the final. Their first chance to clinch the franchise's second championship comes at home after a dominant performance in Game 5 at Edmonton. Players say they learned important lessons from failing to close out the Oilers three timesin the final a year ago. Still, the Stanley Cup being in the building is enough to rile up the nerves in what could be the final game of the NHL season.
lethbridge-police-chief-accused-of-breaking-covid-rules-has-complaint-dismissed
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Lethbridge police chief accused of breaking COVID rules has complaint dismissed

A police oversight board says it has dismissed a complaint that a southern Alberta police chief allegedly broke public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes after a former deputy chief with the Lethbridge Police Service had claimed Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh violated a public health order by taking a chaplain out for lunch in March 2021. A disciplinary hearing by the Lethbridge Police Commission concluded Monday and dismissed the allegations. An agreed statement of facts says Mehdizadeh and the chaplain were masked and properly socially distanced throughout the lun
mp-resigns-seat-so-poilievre-can-run-in-alberta-byelection
CanadaJun 17, 2025

MP resigns seat so Poilievre can run in Alberta byelection

Alberta Conservative Damien Kurek says he has officially resigned as an MP after promising earlier in the spring to vacate his seat in the Battle River—Crowfoot riding to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection. Poilievre lost his Ottawa-area seat in the general election to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy, a political rookie. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will call a byelection in the riding as soon as possible.
shameful-blame-game-mla-elenore-sturko-condemns-minister-garry-begg-for-targeting-victims-amid-surrey-extortion-crisis
CanadaJun 17, 2025

“Shameful Blame Game”: MLA Elenore Sturko Condemns Minister Garry Begg for Targeting Victims Amid Surrey Extortion Crisis

At a public safety forum in Surrey this weekend, frustration in the South Asian business community reached a boiling point. Community members, many of them extortion victims, spoke out about a justice system they no longer trust. Instead of standing with victims, NDP Public Safety Minister Garry Begg blamed the community for not coming forward. His comments, made in front of survivors and concerned citizens, shocked attendees and drew immediate condemnation from MLA Elenore Sturko, Official Opposition Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety. “At yesterday’s public safety town hall