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b-c-opposition-leader-warns-premier-against-responding-to-u-s-tariff-threat
BCJan 24, 2025

B.C. Opposition Leader Warns Premier Against Responding to U.S. Tariff Threat

B.C.’s main opposition leader, John Rustad, has cautioned Premier David Eby against making a statement in response to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. Rustad advised that while a trade war could be initiated, the reality is that Canadians would ultimately bear the cost. As leader of B.C.’s Conservative Party, Rustad emphasized that the United States has historically been Canada’s strongest ally. His remarks came as a 25 percent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods is set to take effect on February 1. While acknowledging the potential damage caused by the tariffs, Rustad made it clear that t
b-c-government-faces-challenge-as-contracts-of-400-000-public-sector-workers-expire
BCJan 23, 2025

B.C. Government Faces Challenge as Contracts of 400,000 Public Sector Workers Expire

The B.C. government is facing a challenging situation as the contracts of 400,000 public sector workers are set to expire this year, in both the spring and fall. Amid fiscal issues and potential tariffs from the Trump administration, the province will need to negotiate new contracts with unions regarding wages and other demands. These workers include nurses, hospital staff, and post-secondary school instructors and support staff. The challenge comes as the provincial government projects a $9.4-billion deficit for this fiscal year and has pledged to take steps to reduce it. The nurses’ union
john-rustad-supports-deporting-zain-haq-to-pakistan-for-violating-study-permit
BCJan 22, 2025

John Rustad supports deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for violating study permit

B.C.’s opposition leader John Rustad has voiced support for deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for allegedly violating his study permit. Haq is accused of participating in protests instead of focusing on his studies. In 2021, Haq was arrested along with 17 others during a demonstration on Burrard Bridge that disrupted traffic, including access to St. Paul’s Hospital. Rustad emphasized that individuals coming to B.C. to study should not break the law. Zain Haq, a prominent climate activist in B.C., was ordered deported on January 25. He and his wife Sophie are appealing to Immigration Minister
sleeping-driver-leads-to-drugs-guns-being-seized-mounties-say
BCJan 22, 2025

Sleeping driver leads to drugs, guns being seized: Mounties say

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say they seized guns and a "significant" amounts of drugs after finding a man sleeping inside a running vehicle at a restaurant parking lot. A statement from the RCMP says officers saw "numerous weapons" in plain view as they approached the truck Monday to check on the driver. Police say they found a loaded handgun, ammunition, and body armour, along with a modified rifle and loaded magazines. Supt. Jeff Pelley says police also seized more than 1.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and 85 grams of cocaine. The statement says the man in his late 30s was arrested and rele
targeted-shooting-first-homicide-of-the-year-in-delta-b-c-police
BCJan 22, 2025

'Targeted' shooting first homicide of the year in Delta, B.C.: police

A man has died after being shot in what Delta, B.C., police call a targeted attack. A statement from the Delta Police Department says officers are now treating the shooting of 29-year-old Delta resident Gurvinder Uppal as a homicide. Officers say they were called Monday to a shooting at a home in Delta where Uppal was injured and he later died in hospital. Police say a white Ford pickup truck left the scene after the shooting and was located a short time later on fire. They say the shooting is the first homicide in Delta in 2025 and that the community recorded no homicides last year. Delta pol
b-c-government-warns-of-tariff-retaliation-against-u-s-products-from-republican-controlled-states
BCJan 21, 2025

B.C. Government Warns of Tariff Retaliation Against U.S. Products from Republican-Controlled States

B.C.'s David Eby government has announced that if Trump implements tariffs starting Feb. 1, the province will target products from Republican-controlled U.S. states. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said British Columbia will respond in kind if Trump moves forward with tariffs. She did not name any specific U.S. products but pointed to a press conference held by Eby last week, in which he indicated that U.S. alcohol sold in B.C. liquor stores, Florida orange juice sold in B.C. grocery stores, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles sold in the province would be targeted. Bailey said she wants to reiter
winnipegs-abjeet-kingra-denied-bail-in-ap-dhillon-home-shooting-case
BCJan 17, 2025

Winnipeg’s Abjeet Kingra Denied Bail in AP Dhillon Home Shooting Case

Abjeet Kingra, a Winnipeg resident facing charges related to the shooting at Punjabi singer AP Dhillon’s home in Colwood, B.C., was denied bail by a Victoria court on Wednesday. He will remain in custody until the case is resolved. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Vikram Sharma, another suspect in the case. Police reported that Sharma, who was residing in Winnipeg, is believed to have fled to India. The incident occurred on September 2 last year, when AP Dhillon’s Colwood home on Vancouver Island was shot at, and two vehicles parked in the driveway were set on fire. Kingra was a
eby-calls-trump-tariffs-economic-war-that-would-cost-b-c-69-billion
BCJan 16, 2025

Eby calls Trump tariffs 'economic war' that would cost B.C. $69 billion

British Columbia Premier David Eby says U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has made a "declaration of economic war" on Canada and B.C. with his proposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Eby and Finance Minister Brenda Bailey released costings that suggest the tariffs and a similar response from Canada would cumulatively cost B.C. $69 billion by 2028. The costings also estimate 124,000 fewer jobs in the province by 2028 and that the unemployment rate would rise to 7.1 per cent next year.
bc-premier-backs-federal-plan-against-trumps-proposed-tariffs
BCJan 16, 2025

BC Premier Backs Federal Plan Against Trump’s Proposed Tariffs

BC Premier David Eby has voiced support for the federal government’s plan to counter Trump’s proposed tariffs. The plan includes possible export taxes or targeted restrictions on Canadian supplies of key goods to the United States. Eby emphasized that the premiers are united in their commitment to eliminating interprovincial trade barriers and exploring trade partnerships beyond the U.S. However, while most premiers oppose Trump’s tariffs and support measures like banning exports of certain goods to the U.S., Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has declined to back the federal plan. Smith st

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fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms
CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u
worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park
BCDec 12, 2025

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E
alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th
IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a