16.38°C Vancouver

News

home-flipping-tax-in-bc-to-take-effect-january-1-2025
BCDec 23, 2024

Home Flipping Tax in BC to Take Effect January 1, 2025

The home flipping tax in British Columbia will come into effect on January 1, 2025. This tax targets individuals profiting from real estate speculation. The primary goal is to discourage investors from buying properties solely to resell them for a quick profit. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey stated that real estate speculators drive up housing prices, making it harder for others to afford homes, and this new measure aims to address that issue. Real estate speculators are defined as those who purchase property or land with the intent to sell it for a profit. According to the provincial governm
mounties-in-squamish-b-c-recover-stolen-search-and-rescue-equipment
BCDec 23, 2024

Mounties in Squamish, B.C., recover stolen search-and-rescue equipment

Mounties in Squamish, B.C., say they have recovered BC Parks and search-and-rescue equipment that was stolen this fall. They say in a news release that police received a report on Oct. 18 that a BC Parks storage unit had been broken into overnight and "large items" stolen. Then, on Nov. 21, they received a report of a theft from a vehicle in Whistler, B.C., with the value of stolen items in both incidents totalling more than $20,000. Police say about a week later officers attending an unrelated call saw some of the stolen gear in the Squamish Valley area. The Sea to Sky RCMP say a search warra
no-new-faces-from-bc-in-trudeaus-latest-cabinet-reshuffle
BCDec 20, 2024

No New Faces from BC in Trudeau's Latest Cabinet Reshuffle

Not a single new face from British Columbia has been included in Justin Trudeau's latest cabinet reshuffle. The Prime Minister appointed three MPs from Ontario, including Ruby Sahota, one MP from Newfoundland and Labrador, two from Quebec, and one MP each from Manitoba and Nova Scotia. Ruby Sahota, of Punjabi origin, has been entrusted with the portfolio of Democratic Institutions and will also oversee the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Sahota, who represents Brampton North, joined Justin Trudeau’s government in a previous cabinet. It is noteworthy that this reshu
campaign-urges-skilled-labour-to-stay-with-b-c-to-counter-efforts-from-alberta
BCDec 19, 2024

Campaign urges skilled labour to 'Stay with B.C.' to counter efforts from Alberta

The Business Council of British Columbia has launched an awareness campaign to counter the province's rising outward migration to Alberta. The business advocacy group says its "Stay with B.C." campaign is placing advertisements on billboards and transit stops, as well as online, in cities such as Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George, urging residents to think twice before moving to Alberta for economic or other reasons. Council president Laura Jones says the campaign is inspired by the "Alberta is Calling" campaign launched in 2022, targeting skilled workers in other provinces with f
b-c-police-officer-charged-with-sexual-assault-dies-by-suicide-reports-say
BCDec 19, 2024

B.C. police officer charged with sexual assault dies by suicide, reports say

Several British Columbia media reports say one of two Central Saanich Police officers charged with sexual assaulting a woman they met on duty has died by suicide. The Times Colonist cites four sources saying 43-year-old Sgt. Matthew Ball has died, while other outlets cite police sources saying Ball died by suicide. Mounties say in a news release they are investigating the discovery of a body in a forested area of Shawnigan Lake, which is about 40 kilometres northwest of Victoria. RCMP say they are looking into whether any criminality was involved and the coroner's service is also investigating
b-c-government-criticized-over-ballooning-budget-deficit
BCDec 18, 2024

B.C. Government Criticized Over Ballooning Budget Deficit

Premier David Eby's government is facing sharp criticism from the opposition for increasing this year’s record budget deficit by $429 million. BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar highlighted the province's growing economic challenges, pointing to the $9.4-billion deficit estimate as evidence of deepening debt. Milobar argued that the fiscal update reflects a slowing economy, declining tax revenues from resources and businesses, and escalating costs of major projects such as Vancouver’s Broadway SkyTrain. He suggested that if voters had been aware of the province's worsening finan
british-columbias-budget-deficit-could-hit-record-9-4-billion-this-year
BCDec 18, 2024

British Columbia's Budget Deficit Could Hit Record $9.4 Billion This Year

British Columbia's budget deficit could reach a record $9.4 billion this year, the province's new finance minister, Brenda Bailey, revealed. Bailey stated that the province's budget deficit for 2024-25 has increased by $429 million from the estimate in the previous fiscal update in September, mainly due to a decrease in revenue. However, she assured that the provincial government will not cut services in response to the increased deficit estimate, and instead will focus on targeted investments to grow the economy. Bailey also promised affordable relief for the people of the province. It is wo
poilievre-hails-b-c-byelection-win-for-conservatives-as-liberal-vote-collapses
BCDec 17, 2024

Poilievre hails B.C. byelection win for Conservatives as Liberal vote collapses

Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is hailing a decisive British Columbia byelection victory in Cloverdale-Langley City, where Tamara Jansen has won with about two-thirds of the vote. Monday's byelection in the Fraser Valley seat, which had been held by the Liberals and is traditionally closely contested, came on the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's ruling party was thrown into turmoil by finance minister Chrystia Freeland's resignation. Poilievre congratulated Jansen in a post to social media, saying she earned "twice as many votes as all the other candidates combined." Elections
eight-year-old-boy-hit-by-vehicle-in-school-parking-lot-in-nanaimo-b-c
BCDec 17, 2024

Eight-year-old boy hit by vehicle in school parking lot in Nanaimo, B.C.

An eight-year-old boy is in hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a vehicle in Nanaimo, B.C. RCMP say it happened in a school parking lot just before eight on Tuesday morning. The Montessori school where the crash happened is located on Jingle Pot Road.Police, fire and B.C. Emergency Health Services personnel all attended the accident. Mounties say the driver remained at the scene of the crash and is co-operating with investigators.

Just In

carney-announces-support-measures-for-softwood-lumber-industry
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Carney announces support measures for softwood lumber industry

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will grant a series of financial aid measures to Canada's forestry sector. The move comes as the U.S. ratchets up duties on Canadian softwood lumber as bilateral trade tensions rise.
trump-threatens-india-with-higher-tariffs-for-buying-oil-from-russia
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Trump threatens India with higher tariffs for buying oil from Russia

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened India with higher tariffs for buying oil from Russia, to which India responded late at night by directly naming the US. Trump had said on Truth Social, "India does not care how many people are being killed in Ukraine due to Russian attacks. That is why I am going to increase tariffs on India." In response, India called Trump's threat unreasonable and irrational. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the US itself imports uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry, palladium for the electric vehicle industry, fertiliz
IndiaAug 05, 2025

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passes away

Known for speaking out in favour of Punjab farmers, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passed away today at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after a long illness. He had been suffering from kidney disease for a long time. Malik belonged to the Kirsani community of Hiswara village in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district. He had been speaking out on the farmers' issue for a long time and had even offered to mediate between the farmers and the government. Malik, who belonged to the Jat community of Uttar Pradesh, became a crisis solution for the BJP when the Modi government rev
langley-rcmp-appeal-for-footage-witnesses-after-fatal-b-c-highway-crash
BCAug 05, 2025

Langley RCMP appeal for footage, witnesses after fatal B.C. highway crash

Police in Langley, B.C., say a motorcyclist has died after a crash on Highway 1 on Saturday evening. Langley RCMP say emergency responders were called to the scene of a serious crash that happened between 264th and 248th Street just before 8:30 p.m. Police say BC Emergency Health Services and firefighters from the Township of Langley arrived quickly to help, but the motorcyclist died at the scene. Mounties say collision analysts, BC Highway Patrol and Langley RCMP are now investigating. They say westbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours. Police say anyone who saw the crash o
finance-and-foreign-ministers-in-mexico-to-talk-trade-ahead-of-carneys-visit
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Finance and foreign ministers in Mexico to talk trade ahead of Carney's visit

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne are in Mexico to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum to talk economic growth, trade and security. Their trip is happening ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney's planned visit to Mexico to meet with Sheinbaum. The U.S. hit Canada on Friday with a 35 per cent tariff on goods not compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade, known as CUSMA, while Mexico received a 90-day reprieve from threatened higher levies. CUSMA is scheduled for a mandatory review next year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford c