The Supreme Court of Canada has refused to hear an appeal from the owners of a British Columbia ostrich farm challenging a federal order to destroy hundreds of their birds following an avian flu outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) directed the cull on December 31, 2024, after detecting the virus on the property near Edgewood in B.C.’s southern Interior. The farm owners sought to overturn the order, arguing that the surviving ostriches showed no symptoms of infection and should not be euthanized. Federal officials maintained that even apparently healthy birds can carry and tr

The fate of more than 300 ostriches in British Columbia’s southern Interior could be decided within days, as the Supreme Court of Canada prepares to rule on whether it will hear a final appeal from Universal Ostrich Farms. The Edgewood-based operation has spent nearly a year fighting a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) order to cull its flock following an avian influenza outbreak last December. The farm has already lost two earlier legal battles in Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. In September, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the cull while it considered whether to he

Richmond RCMP say 15 people were arrested during a single-day operation aimed at curbing retail theft in the city’s downtown core. The targeted enforcement took place on October 18 as part of the detachment’s ongoing “Boost and Bust” initiative. Police say most of those arrested were from outside the Richmond area, and one person was taken into custody twice at separate locations. Two of the suspects were youth. Officers recovered more than $5,000 worth of stolen goods during the operation. The “Boost and Bust” initiative is partly funded by the provincial Community Safety and Targ

British Columbia Premier David Eby has joined leaders from coastal First Nations in signing a declaration urging the federal government to uphold the moratorium on oil tankers along the province’s northern coastline. Eby said a single oil spill in the ecologically sensitive region could wipe out billions of dollars in coastal economic activity, warning that current technology cannot effectively clean up such a disaster. The call comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith renews her push to have the ban lifted as part of her government’s plan to pursue a new oil pipeline to the B.C. coast. Chi

British Columbia’s Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is urging the federal government to provide the same level of support for the province’s forestry sector as it does for Ontario’s automobile industry. Bailey said she welcomes the overall direction of the federal budget released today, which she believes aligns with several of B.C.’s priorities. However, she emphasized that the province’s softwood lumber industry continues to face “extraordinary” duties and tariffs of more than 45 per cent, putting workers and communities under significant pressure. Her remarks followed an emergen

Peel Regional Police are warning residents about a series of distraction thefts in Brampton that appear to target elderly members of the community. Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau say several victims have reported losing jewellery after being approached by strangers in vehicles. According to police, suspects often engage victims in conversation, sometimes pretending to offer assistance or ask for directions. In several cases, a woman initiates contact before a man exits a nearby vehicle and forcibly removes or swaps the victim’s jewellery. Officers note that

A man has died at a protest camp outside a British Columbia ostrich farm that has been fighting a federal order to cull its birds following an avian flu outbreak. Nakusp RCMP said officers were called around 7 a.m. Monday after a police liaison team discovered an unresponsive man at the Universal Ostrich Farm near Edgewood. Officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but despite continued efforts, the man could not be revived. Police confirmed the man’s identity but said next of kin are still being notified. Investigators said the death does not appear suspicious, and the BC Coroners Se

Mounties in Prince George are warning parents to double-check their children’s Halloween treats after several families reported finding sewing needles or pins hidden in candy. Police say the reports came from residents in the area of Bittner Road West and Bachinski Crescent, where tampered mini chocolate bars and bagged gummy candies were discovered over the weekend. Corporal Jennifer Cooper with Prince George RCMP said officers are continuing to investigate and are urging anyone who finds suspicious candy to contact police. “We want parents to take another look at their kids’ candy to m

An 18-year-old man from Nanaimo has died following a fiery collision on Highway 1, and investigators are appealing for witnesses and dash camera footage to help determine what happened. BC Highway Patrol says the crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. on November 3, when a black Audi S3 sedan lost control and caught fire in the northbound lanes near Morden Road on Vancouver Island. Officers say another dark-coloured car, possibly a black Honda Civic, was seen in the area but did not stop after the crash. Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said investigators need to learn more about t