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b-c-to-hike-commercial-vehicle-crash-penalties-after-35-over-height-truck-incidents
BCMar 12, 2024

B.C. to hike commercial vehicle crash penalties after 35 over-height truck incidents

Penalties for commercial truck crashes into overpasses or other infrastructure in British Columbia are set to soar, including fines of up to $100,000 and jail sentences up to 18 months. The New Democrat government says it's proposing changes to the Commercial Transport Act that currently prescribes fines for over-height vehicles of $500 to $598, levels that are unchanged for decades. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the proposed changes are in response to 35 crashes involving over-height commercial vehicles since late 2021. The province last month cancelled the operating licence of B.C
western-canadas-cold-snap-in-january-causes-180-million-in-insurance-damages
BCMar 12, 2024

Western Canada's cold snap in January causes $180 million in insurance damages

Extreme cold near the start of this year in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan has led to a damage bill that the Insurance Bureau of Canada says is more than $180 million. The bureau says about 70 per cent of the insurance claims related to the extreme cold were for personal property and damage caused by frozen and burst water pipes. The cold moved in Jan. 12, breaking dozens of daily minimum records, including in Edmonton where there were four straight days of cold ranging from minus 40 to minus 45 degrees. Rob de Pruis, the national director, consumer and industry relations with the
woman-dies-in-serious-incident-at-whistler-blackcomb-resort
BCMar 12, 2024

Woman dies in 'serious incident' at Whistler Blackcomb resort

Whistler Blackcomb ski resort says a Vancouver woman has died in a "serious incident" over the weekend. The resort says in a statement that the 32-year-old woman died Saturday after becoming separated from her partner while visiting at the resort. It says the partner alerted the ski patrol, who found the woman unresponsive on the Renegade trail, described as an advanced trail. No other details have been released by the resort, and the RCMP in Whistler, B.C., did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath says in the statement that the resort is off
surrey-b-c-hospital-to-get-critical-care-tower-with-acute-specialized-services
BCMar 11, 2024

Surrey, B.C., hospital to get critical care tower with acute, specialized services

Premier David Eby says the B.C. government has plans underway to build a new critical care tower at Surrey Memorial Hospital, adding capacity for surgical, pediatric, perinatal, women's health, mental health and stroke care. Eby says Surrey's health-care services need to grow along with its population. The premier says the province is at stage where it will soon start asking for feedback from health professionals who work at the hospital. The announcement comes after the B.C. government outlined 30 actions to improve access to health care for people in Surrey last June, a list that included re
b-c-rcmp-announce-seizure-of-millions-of-dollars-worth-of-contraband-cigarettes
BCMar 08, 2024

B.C. RCMP announce seizure of millions of dollars worth of contraband cigarettes

Police in British Columbia say they've seized more than 27 tonnes of contraband cigarettes worth more than $24 million in a pair of investigations over the past year. Assistant RCMP Commissioner David Teboul says the investigations involved collaboration with tax fraud investigators from the B.C. Ministry of Finance, calling the seizures of 133,000 cartons of cigarettes a " major blow to numerous organized crime groups." Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the most recent raids in Mission and Maple Ridge on Feb. 28, involving 67,500 cartons, represent the largest one-time seizure of con
selina-robinson-quits-b-c-ndp-citing-antisemitism-in-caucus
BCMar 07, 2024

Selina Robinson quits B.C. NDP, citing antisemitism in caucus

Former British Columbia cabinet minister Selina Robinson has quit the NDP, citing antisemitism in the ruling party's caucus. Robinson, who is Jewish, says she can no longer remain in the party because it is not properly addressing antisemitism in the province or among her former colleagues. Robinson told an impromptu news conference in a hallway of the B.C. legislature that she will now sit as an Independent. She resigned her cabinet post as minister of post-secondary education last month after saying modern Israel was founded on "a crappy piece of land." The Jan. 30 remarks sparked an outcry
b-c-introduces-legislation-to-reduce-poverty-rate-by-60-per-cent-over-next-decade
BCMar 05, 2024

B.C. introduces legislation to reduce poverty rate by 60 per cent over next decade

British Columbia's government says it is setting 10-year targets to substantially reduce poverty in the province, with a focus on lifting children and seniors above the poverty line. Sheila Malcolmson, social development and poverty reduction minister, says legislation introduced today changes three laws to set higher targets to cut poverty, ease employment requirements for people on income and disability assistance and provide more supports. She says the legislation commits B.C. to cut overall poverty by 60 per cent over the next decade, including reducing child poverty by 75 per cent, and fo
b-c-s-securities-watchdog-fined-rule-breakers-430m-why-cant-it-make-them-pay
BCMar 05, 2024

B.C.'s securities watchdog fined rule breakers $430M. Why can't it make them pay?

Ronald McHaffie said he had big plans to build a ski resort near Hope, 150 km east of Vancouver, ahead of the 2010 Olympics. He cut an unlikely figure, with a Grizzly Adams beard and no history of resort development. Yet the Bigfoot Ski Resort's website was full of promises world-class skiing, a golf course, a fishing lodge and an "antique train" carrying guests around the facility. The website, which now exists in archived form, purported to show endorsements from all three levels of government, and a range of permits. McHaffie gathered $642,000 from dozens of investors, telling them construc
longtime-b-c-environment-minister-george-heyman-wont-seek-re-election-in-fall-vote
BCMar 05, 2024

Longtime B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman won't seek re-election in fall vote

British Columbia's longtime Environment Minister George Heyman says he's decided not to run in this fall's provincial election. Seventy-four-year-old Heyman says in a social media post that serving the people of his Vancouver-Fairview riding since 2013 has been a great honour, but he won't seek re-election in October. He says he will endorse former Vancouver city councillor Andrea Reimer to seek the NDP nomination in his riding. Heyman is a three-term member of the legislature who introduced the NDP government's Clean BC climate and economic plan to reduce carbon emissions while developing a g
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mark-carneys-cabinet-has-taken-shape
CanadaMay 13, 2025

Mark Carney's cabinet has taken shape

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his 28-member cabinet and it's a mix of familiar and new faces from across Canada.Carney's cabinet is smaller than that of his predecessor — former prime minister Justin Trudeau's government had 35 ministers by the end — and adds 10 secretaries of state, who are essentially junior ministers.Carney continued with the practice of gender parity in cabinet started by Trudeau in 2015.Some mainstays of the Trudeau government are also missing from Carney's cabinet. Some portfolios are new or have been split, and some ministers have changed positions.Some Tr
alberta-premiers-chief-of-staff-criticizes-new-environment-minister
AlbertaMay 13, 2025

Alberta premier's chief of staff criticizes new environment minister

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio. Rob Anderson says when it comes to new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin, Albertans should ``sit down'' for what he suggests is a shocking announcement. He points to Dabrusin's website, which touts her support for putting a price on carbon pollution, her strong stance against oilsands expansion, and her push for a transition away from fossil fuels. Anderson, in a social media post, says, in his words, ``fire...mee
alberta-cabinet-minister-ric-mciver-resigns-post-as-speaker-vote-looms
AlbertaMay 13, 2025

Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver resigns post as Speaker vote looms

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has resigned from cabinet amid speculation he will run for the vacant position of Speaker of the house. Premier Danielle Smith says she's grateful for McIver's commitment and hard work in serving Albertans. She says Tourism Minister Joseph Schow will take on McIver's portfolio on an interim basis. McIver served as municipal affairs minister under two premiers and had previous experience as transportation minister, infrastructure minister and jobs minister. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 2012 after more than a de
carney-announces-plan-to-crack-down-on-crime
CanadaMay 13, 2025

Carney announces plan to crack down on crime

It will soon be difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced today that his government is going to tighten the Criminal Code to make it difficult for defendants charged with car theft and human trafficking to get bail. Along with this, PM Carney also said that the first meeting of his cabinet will be held tomorrow. He also reiterated that income tax cuts for the middle class will be implemented from Canada Day.
open-fire-ban-in-bc-to-take-effect-may-16
BCMay 13, 2025

Open fire ban in BC to take effect May 16

A ban on open fires will take effect in BC’s Kamloops Fire Centre area starting May 16. This means that trash piles, grass or other similar materials cannot be burned in the open. Municipalities follow the BC Wildfire Service’s restrictions but can impose different restrictions based on local conditions. Anyone found violating the open fire ban can be fined $1,150, up to $10,000 depending on the offence. If convicted in court, the fine can be up to $100,000 and a year in prison. If an open fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible can be ordered to extinguish the