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b-c-caps-international-post-secondary-student-enrolment-at-30-per-cent-of-total
BCJul 17, 2024

B.C. caps international post-secondary student enrolment at 30 per cent of total

British Columbia's government has introduced new guidelines for public post-secondary education institutions, capping the number of international students at 30 per cent of their total enrolment. In a statement, the provincial Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills says the new limit is meant to make sure that "international student enrolment doesn't strain an institution's ability "to provide appropriate services." The ministry says the new guidelines call for public universities and colleges to submit international education strategic plans to the government, which the provin
evacuation-orders-issued-west-of-kamloops-due-to-growing-wildfire-activity
BCJul 17, 2024

Evacuation orders issued west of Kamloops due to growing wildfire activity

The Cook’s Ferry Indian Band has issued an evacuation order for its Nicoelton reserve as two wildfires burn north of Spences Bridge, B.C. The band issued the order Tuesday “in the interest of life and safety,” while it also put in place evacuation alerts for three more of its reserves. The band says the Teit Creek and Shetland Creek wildfires, burning at 249 hectares and 285 hectares wide, respectively, pose an “imminent danger” to its Nicoelton reserve. Both fires are deemed “out of control” by the BC Wildfire Service. Information Officer with the BCWS Taylor Coleman says the Te
alberta-b-c-toast-wine-deal-after-tiff-over-taxing-direct-sales-to-consumers
BCJul 16, 2024

Alberta, B.C. toast wine deal after tiff over taxing direct sales to consumers

The premiers of Alberta and B.C. are celebrating an agreement to again allow direct sales to consumers after a tiff over taxes. With the temporary deal, Albertans can order wine directly from more than 350 wineries in B.C. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says it means the province's liquor wholesaler can collect consistent fees on all wine sold in the province, but details of how it will work are still being sorted. The agreement comes after Alberta threatened to stop stocking wine in retail stores from B.C. producers who were selling directly to Alberta customers. The Alberta government says a
wildfire-along-highway-1-in-b-c-s-fraser-valley-now-classified-as-held
BCJul 16, 2024

Wildfire along Highway 1 in B.C.'s Fraser Valley now classified as 'held'

A wildfire that flared up along the Trans-Canada Highway between Chilliwack and Hope, B.C., is now classified as "being held," and isn't expected to spread beyond its boundaries. The one-hectare blaze had forced the closure of an eastbound lane on Monday. The BC Wildfire Service says human activity is the suspected cause. It's one of more than 150 wildfires active in the province, with clusters in the northeast and the central Interior. Of those fires, more than half are considered under control, while 37 per cent are out of control and 10 per cent are classified as being held. Nearly 730 fire
gaza-protesters-remain-as-vancouver-island-universitys-deadline-to-leave-expires
BCJul 15, 2024

Gaza protesters remain as Vancouver Island University's deadline to leave expires

A deadline for pro-Palestinian protesters to dismantle an encampment at Vancouver Island University in Naniamo, B.C., has expired without the demonstrators leaving. The university last Thursday issued a trespass notice to the protesters over the camp that has been in place since May 1, saying legal action would be launched if they did not leave by 8 a.m. Monday. It says in an email that as of about 9 a.m. the protesters "(have) not decamped" and the university would be issuing a statement. The protesters say in a social media post that they remain "steadfast" and that by issuing the deadline t
damn-so-close-ubc-looks-into-professors-social-media-after-trump-rally-shooting
BCJul 15, 2024

'Damn, so close': UBC looks into professor's social media after Trump rally shooting

The University of British Columbia says it is "aware" of a social media post that was apparently made by a professor at its faculty of medicine shortly after the attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump. The school says it is "looking into" the post and that it "does not condone violence of any kind." Posts that appeared on a now deleted X account belonging to Professor Karen Pinder said "Damn, so close. Too bad,” and then later, in response to a comment, “What a glorious day this could have been!” Pinder did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The post
b-c-wildfires-holding-steady-at-about-150-heat-warnings-span-southern-interior
BCJul 15, 2024

B.C. wildfires holding steady at about 150, heat warnings span southern Interior

British Columbia's wildfire service says this week will bring "increased heat," marking a 15-day trend of hot and dry weather that has fuelled a surge in fire activity. A provincial fire situation report says there's potential for thunderstorms in the Interior, while the northeast returns to a warming trend after a three-day break. Environment Canada maintains heat warnings for parts of the southern Interior from the Fraser Canyon up to the south Cariboo as well as the Okanagan Valley, communities along the Canada-U.S. border and the Kootenay Lake area. The weather office says daytime highs in
police-in-kamloops-b-c-continue-search-for-50-year-old-alberta-man-lost-in-river
BCJul 15, 2024

Police in Kamloops, B.C., continue search for 50-year-old Alberta man lost in river

Mounties in Kamloops, B.C., say the search continues for a 50-year-old Alberta man lost in the North Thompson River. Kamloops RCMP say officers responded to a call near a sports complex after a man was reportedly "swept away" by the river on Friday. Police say 50-year-old Stan Cappis and a friend jumped into a fast-moving portion of the river to rescue two young people who got caught by the river's current. Staff Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says Cappis' friend and the youths got to shore, but Cappis was "swept away" and was last spotted around a river bend. Police say efforts by emergency personnel a
b-c-university-gives-pro-palestinian-protesters-trespass-notice-deadline-to-vacate
BCJul 12, 2024

B.C. university gives pro-Palestinian protesters trespass notice, deadline to vacate

Vancouver Island University says it has issued a trespass notice to pro-Palestinian protesters, telling them to vacate their encampment on the campus in Nanaimo, B.C., by Monday. The university says in a statement the notice was issued Thursday and if protesters aren't gone by 8 a.m. Monday the university will "take all legal steps necessary to remove them." It says it will start legal action seeking an injunction against the camp and damages from protesters if the camp isn't dismantled by the deadline. It says the camp that has been in place since May 1 has posed "unprecedented challenges" an

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b-c-conservatives-promise-1-000-annual-tax-cut-for-low-and-middle-income-families
BCOct 08, 2026

B.C. Conservatives Promise $1,000 Annual Tax Cut for Low- and Middle-Income Families

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has announced a proposed $1,000 annual provincial income-tax cut for low- and middle-income families. Speaking at a grocery store in Surrey, Doerkson said that if elected premier, his government would raise the provincial basic personal income-tax exemption to $32,000. He said this would mean British Columbians would pay no provincial income tax on their first $32,000 of income. Doerkson said a two-income household could save up to $2,000 a year under the proposal, with the money remaining in families’ pockets rather than going to the government. He al
27-year-old-charged-in-burnaby-crash-that-killed-elderly-couple
BCOct 08, 2026

27-Year-Old Charged in Burnaby Crash That Killed Elderly Couple

A 27-year-old Abbotsford man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash in Burnaby that killed an elderly couple nearly two years ago. According to Burnaby RCMP, the crash occurred on December 21, 2024, at Boundary Road and Forest Street, where two vehicles collided and one vehicle struck the other from the side. A 67-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, who were travelling in the same vehicle, died at the scene. Following an investigation that lasted nearly two years, the RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team determined that charges were warranted. The B.C. Prosecution Servic
eby-pledges-to-freeze-icbc-insurance-rates-for-another-three-years
BCOct 08, 2026

Eby Pledges to Freeze ICBC Insurance Rates for Another Three Years

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has promised to freeze ICBC insurance rates for another three years if his party is re-elected. Speaking during a campaign stop in Richmond, Eby said the move would mean B.C. drivers would go a total of 10 years without facing additional increases in their vehicle insurance rates. Eby credited his government’s no-fault insurance reforms for helping move B.C. from having some of the most expensive auto insurance in Canada to among the most affordable. He also criticized B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson, warning that insurance rates could double again if the Co
bill-c-39-faces-vote-in-house-of-commons-amid-strike-powers-controversy
BCOct 08, 2026

Bill C-39 Faces Vote in House of Commons Amid Strike Powers Controversy

Canada’s House of Commons is set to vote today on the federal government’s controversial Bill C-39, which aims to fast-track approvals for major projects. The bill has drawn criticism over a provision that would amend Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, giving the Labour Minister the power to intervene in an ongoing strike by citing the national interest. NDP parliamentary leader Don Davies has called the bill an attack on workers’ and Indigenous rights, as well as environmental protections. He said he is concerned about a growing trend of power being concentrated in the hands of cabi
BCOct 08, 2026

Vancouver Advance Voting Sets New Daily Record as 25,142 Voters Cast Ballots

Vancouver’s municipal election advance voting has set a new daily record, with 25,142 people casting their ballots on Wednesday, the second day of advance voting. According to preliminary figures released by the City of Vancouver, it was the highest number of advance votes recorded in a single day in the city’s history. The previous record was set just four days earlier, on Oct. 3, when 21,824 voters cast their ballots on the first day of advance voting. In comparison, only 10,502 people voted on the second day of advance voting during Vancouver’s 2022 municipal election. This year’s f