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unionized-metro-vancouver-handydart-employees-plan-strike-rally-after-offer-rejection
BCSep 03, 2024

Unionized Metro Vancouver HandyDART employees plan strike rally after offer rejection

The union local for Metro Vancouver HandyDART workers says it will hold a rally in Vancouver today to mark the beginning of its strike after members voted down a final offer by employer Transdev Canada last week. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 says the rally will begin at noon across from Pacific Central Station in Vancouver. The union local says the majority of its members are "frustrated," and rejected the company's offer after dealing with staffing shortages and "poor compensation" compared to other transit employees. A statement from the union says the rally will feature speakers
192-toxic-drug-deaths-in-b-c-in-july-down-15-per-cent-says-coroner
BCAug 30, 2024

192 toxic drug deaths in B.C. in July, down 15 per cent, says coroner

The British Columbia Coroners Service says at least 192 people died in July in the province due to unregulated drug toxicity, down 15 per cent from the same month last year. The service says in a release that 1,365 people have died of drug toxicity this year up to the end of July, a rate of death that is also down. The annualized death rate is 41 per 100,000 residents, compared to 46.6 in 2023 and 43.9 in 2021. Chief coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan says the current rate equates to about 6.2 people dying every day in the province from the drug toxicity crisis. Coroners service data show the greate
company-says-metro-vancouver-handydart-workers-set-to-strike-next-week
BCAug 29, 2024

Company says Metro Vancouver HandyDART workers set to strike next week

A strike is set to halt HandyDART transit services in Metro Vancouver next week, after the workers' union issued a strike notice. The Amalgamated Transit Union and the company contracted to provide HandyDART in the region both say they are preparing for the workers to go on strike next Tuesday. Transdev Canada says it has received the intention to strike from the union and is "disappointed" staff this week rejected its "last offer," which was made after nine months at the bargaining table. Union local president Joe McCann says workers are preparing picket lines and a potential rally. The compa
earthquake-warning-system-providing-seconds-of-warning-is-activated-in-b-c
BCAug 29, 2024

Earthquake warning system providing seconds of warning is activated in B.C.

An earthquake early detection system has been activated in British Columbia to provide the public and infrastructure managers with up to 10 seconds of warning ahead of a potentially harmful tremor. Federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says when a strong earthquake is detected, alerts will be transmitted automatically to British Columbians via cellphones, radio and televisions. He says the system, jointly announced by the federal and B.C. government, will also allow critical infrastructure to take immediate action, such as halting traffic from driving onto bridges or
former-correctional-officer-charged-after-b-c-smuggling-investigation
BCAug 29, 2024

Former correctional officer charged after B.C. smuggling investigation

A former correctional officer is facing nine charges including obstruction of justice as part of a criminal organization and accepting a bribe, after a smuggling investigation in British Columbia. Mounties say the arrest is the result of a collaboration between Chilliwack RCMP and the Correctional Service of Canada following the discovery of evidence consistent with a correctional officer smuggling drugs, weapons, and cellphones to inmates within an institution in the Fraser Valley. Police say search warrants were executed almost a year ago at several locations in Chilliwack resulting in the s
wildfires-continue-to-drop-in-b-c-just-over-40-blazes-burning-out-of-control
BCAug 29, 2024

Wildfires continue to drop in B.C., just over 40 blazes burning out of control

The number of out-of-control wildfires continues to drop in British Columbia on the heels of a cold front bringing rain and fall-like temperatures to many areas. About 280 blazes remain active across the province with 15 per cent or just over 40 of those fires classified as burning out of control. That's down from more than 100 out-of-control fires last week. None of the current blazes are considered "wildfires of note," a designation issued when a fire is highly visible or poses a threat to people or infrastructure. B.C. government officials are set to provide an update on the wildfire and dr
man-arrested-after-violent-carjacking-at-b-c-airport-rcmp
BCAug 28, 2024

Man arrested after violent carjacking at B.C. airport: RCMP

A 29-year-old man has been arrested after what police say was a violent carjacking outside the Prince George Airport. Prince George RCMP say the elderly driver suffered serious injuries when the vehicle crashed and he was thrown from the scene. They say the incident happened just before 1 p.m. on Saturday when the suspect approached the parked car and pushed an elderly female passenger out of the vehicle. The suspect then tried unsuccessfully to shove the driver out of their open door before the vehicle accelerated away and crashed after a short distance. Police say after the driver was hurled
handydart-workers-reject-contract-offer-union-weighing-options
BCAug 28, 2024

HandyDART workers reject contract offer, union weighing options

Workers at British Columbia's HandyDART transit service have rejected a final contract offer, and their union says it is now considering its next move. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 has said it would give a 72-hour strike notice if membership voted down the latest offer by Transdev, the contracted operator of HandyDART. A potential disruption of the door-to-door service was averted Monday, after workers suspended job action to vote on the contract offer. Local 1724 president Joe McCann called the suspension of job action "a gesture of goodwill" after what the union described as "months
b-c-brings-in-bell-to-bell-school-phone-ban-as-new-access-rules-target-protesters
BCAug 27, 2024

B.C. brings in 'bell to bell' school phone ban, as new access rules target protesters

Cellphone use will be restricted in all British Columbia school districts when pupils return next week, as the province becomes the latest to curtail the use of the devices in classrooms. Premier David Eby says all school districts now have policies in place to ban cellphone use "bell to bell," in line with a government directive announced in April. The province is also imposing "access zones" around schools allowing police to arrest or issue tickets to anyone found impeding access, disrupting educational activities, or attempting to intimidate an individual within 20 metres of school property

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prime-minister-carney-says-canada-will-recognize-a-palestinian-state
CanadaJul 30, 2025

Prime Minister Carney says Canada will recognize a Palestinian state

Canada intends to recognize the state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly this September. Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement today in Ottawa after holding a virtual meeting with his cabinet. Carney says Palestinian statehood depends on elections next year that do not involve Hamas. The prime minister's announcement comes after British Prime Minister Keir (KEER') Starmer said the U-K would officially recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not implement a ceasefire and drastically scale up aid in the Gaza Strip. Multiple humanitarian groups say starvation is
world-swimming-championship-2025-canada-wins-bronze-in-4x100m-mixed-medley-relay
CanadaJul 30, 2025

World Swimming Championship 2025: Canada wins bronze in 4X100m mixed medley relay

Canadian swimmers performed well on day 4 of the World Swimming Championships being played in Singapore. On one hand, Canada won a bronze medal today and on the other hand, Summer McIntosh, Kylie Masse and Ingrid Wilm did well in their respective events. Today, Canada won the bronze medal in the 4x100-meter mixed medley relay with a timing of 3 minutes 40.90 seconds, thanks to the performances of Kylie Masse, Oliver Dawson, Josh Liendo and Taylor Ruck. In the semi-finals of the women's 200m butterfly event, Summer McIntosh entered the final with a timing of 2 minutes 6.22 seconds. The 18-year-
prime-minister-mark-carney-is-having-a-virtual-meeting-with-his-cabinet-today
CanadaJul 30, 2025

PM Carney assembling cabinet today to talk U.S. trade, Middle East

Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting virtually with his cabinet today to discuss the state of trade negotiations with the U.S. and the situation in the Middle East.The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc is in Washington today meeting with U.S. officials.Carney said Monday that Canada's negotiations with the United States are in an "intense phase" after President Donald Trump clinched a critical agreement with the European Union.Trump told reporters last week that Canada wasn't a priority ahead of his Aug. 1 deadline to make trade deal
canadian-government-may-introduce-bail-reform-bill-in-fall
CanadaJul 30, 2025

Canadian government may introduce bail reform bill in fall

During this spring’s federal election, the Liberals promised to "move aggressively" to implement stricter bail laws by introducing a reverse onus for a number of offences. A reverse onus moves the burden of proof from the prosecutor to the accused — meaning they would have to justify being granted bail. The Criminal Code already has a reverse onus for bail in place for many serious offences, including murder. The Liberals would add new offences to that list, including car thefts involving violence or those conducted for a criminal organization, and home invasions and some human trafficking
coquitlam-rcmp-announce-guilty-plea-after-lengthy-firearm-related-offence-investigation
BCJul 29, 2025

Coquitlam RCMP announce guilty plea after lengthy firearm related offence investigation

Following a lengthy police investigation into a 2021 shooting incident that occurred in Coquitlam, 36-year-old Sukhdeep Singh Pansal of Delta, British Columbia, has plead guilty to firearms related charges and has been sentenced to 38 months in prison. On January 16, 2021, at approximately 12:05 a.m., Coquitlam RCMP frontline officers responded to a report of shots fired from a high-rise building located in the 600 block of Whiting Way, Coquitlam. A woman was found with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was taken to hospital. The Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team (ERT) ass