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canada-will-expand-drug-strategy-to-prevent-more-overdose-crisis
CanadaOct 30, 2023

Canada will expand drug strategy to prevent more overdose crisis

The federal government is expanding its drug and substance use strategy to try to save more lives and provide more services to people disproportionately affected by Canada's overdose crisis.The Public Health Agency of Canada says the drug landscape has changed with an increasingly toxic supply since the strategy was first developed in 2016.It also says the COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in the government's approach and the need for a more holistic, integrated response.The strategy's priorities include funding more community-based programs for prevention, treatment and support.It also includes
federal-court-dismisses-applications-filed-against-trudeaus-gun-ban
CanadaOct 30, 2023

Federal Court dismisses applications filed against Trudeau's gun ban

The Federal Court today dismissed a legal challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's May 2020 regulations banning some 1,500 styles of firearms.Justice Catherine Kane says in a decision released today that the applicants raised issues around the matter of guns and public safety but the court only explored the question of whether Trudeau's cabinet went beyond its powers in passing the regulations.A few weeks after a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 22 people in April 2020, the Liberals announced they were banning 1,500 models of firearms that it considered too dangerous to be society.The Canadian
breast-cancer-screening-age-lowered-from-50-to-40-in-ontario
CanadaOct 30, 2023

Breast cancer screening age lowered from 50 to 40 in Ontario

Ontario is lowering the age for regular, publicly funded breast cancer screenings from 50 to 40, which Health Minister Sylvia Jones says will help with early detection.Jones is set to make the announcement later today and says the expansion will mean an additional 130,000 mammograms are completed in the province each year.The move follows a draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force earlier this year that said screenings in that country should start at 40 instead of 50, because evidence suggests that would have a moderate benefit in reducing deaths.The change in Ontario
feds-ban-wechat-kaspesky-apps-from-government-issued-devices-over-security-concerns
CanadaOct 30, 2023

Feds ban WeChat, Kaspesky apps from government-issued devices over security concerns

The federal government is banning WeChat and Kaspersky applications from its phones over security concerns.WeChat is a social network, messaging and payments app from Chinese company Tencent, while Kaspersky was founded by Russian entrepreneur Eugene Kaspersky and offers cybersecurity and antivirus software.The government says both apps will be removed from its devices today and users will be blocked from downloading WeChat or Kaspersky products in the future.It says it made the move because the chief information officer of Canada determined that the WeChat and Kaspersky apps present "an unacc
israel-hamas-war-joly-appeals-for-humanitarian-pause
CanadaOct 30, 2023

Israel-Hamas war: Joly appeals for humanitarian pause

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says time is running out to help people in Gaza.In a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto this afternoon, Joly is expected to plead for humanitarian pauses in the Israel-Hamas conflict to allow more aid to get into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which is home to more than two million Palestinians.Joly's speech will also urge that the more than 200 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza must be released.Her call comes as the Canadian Armed Forces confirms it has sent special forces to Canada's embassy in Tel Aviv, after Global Affairs C
at-united-nations-canada-to-speak-about-humanitarian-pauses-in-israel-hamas-war
CanadaOct 27, 2023

At United Nations, Canada to speak about humanitarian pauses in Israel-Hamas war

Canada's ambassador to the United Nations is expected to speak later today about a UN effort to establish a temporary pause in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.Bob Rae will take the podium on Day 2 of a special emergency session of the UN General Assembly as delegates debate a draft resolution calling for a pause in hostilities.The resolution also calls on the two sides to comply with international humanitarian law and to allow essential supplies and services into the war-torn region.Canada is also proposing an amendment to the resolution that would expressly condemn the Oct. 7 Ha
sikh-activists-in-bc-emboldened-by-trudeaus-comments-on-india-ahead-of-referendum
BCOct 27, 2023

Sikh activists in BC emboldened by Trudeau's comments on India ahead of referendum

Organizers of an upcoming vote on an independent Sikh state say Canada's allegations of an Indian link to the killing of an activist in Surrey have significantly bolstered support for their cause.A lawyer for Sikhs For Justice says many supporters of an independent Sikh state in India had been reluctant to voice their opinions over fear of being labelled terrorists.But Gurpatwant Singh Pannun says discussions about India's possible role in the killing are allowing supporters to discuss the issue without fear.Sikhs For Justice will hold a second round of voting for its unofficial referendum ab
immigration-minister-announces-new-rules-to-curb-international-student-fraud
CanadaOct 27, 2023

Immigration Minister announces new rules to curb international student fraud

Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced new rules aimed at protecting international students from fraud, following an investigation this summer into more than 100 cases involving fake admission letters.The immigration department launched a task force in June to investigate a scheme that dates back to 2017, which saw immigration agents issue fake acceptance letters to get international students into Canada.Of the 103 cases reviewed so far, roughly 40 per cent of students appeared to be in on the scheme, while the rest were victims of it.Miller says schools that accept international stude
funeral-today-for-montreal-man-killed-by-hamas-in-attack-on-israel
CanadaOct 26, 2023

Funeral today for Montreal man killed by Hamas in attack on Israel

A Montreal man who was killed in Israel during a surprise attack by Hamas earlier this month is being remembered as a hero and a "larger-than-life" personality at a funeral today.A casket draped in the flag of Israel was carried into the packed chapel of a Jewish funeral home in Montreal as the service for Alexandre Look began at 2 p.m.Look's father, Alain Look, said his son died a hero while protecting others at the onset of Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7.The 33-year-old was among the hundreds who were killed while attending a musical festival near the border between Israel and Gaza.One o

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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
north-vancouver-rcmp-seek-publics-help-identifying-suspect-in-series-of-break-and-enters
BCJul 29, 2025

North Vancouver RCMP seek public’s help identifying suspect in series of Break and Enters

North Vancouver RCMP are seeking public assistance in identifying a suspect involved in three separate break and enter incidents. On July 8, 2025, North Vancouver RCMP received a report of a break and enter at a residential building in the 2100 block of Chesterfield Avenue, North Vancouver. CCTV footage from the building captured a male suspect gaining access at approximately 4:00 a.m. Nothing was stolen, but damage was caused to the property. On July 10, 2025, police received a second report from the same residential building. The suspect entered the premises and stole approximately $600 in c
seniors-advocate-says-b-c-will-need-almost-16-000-new-long-term-care-beds-by-2036
BCJul 29, 2025

Seniors advocate says B.C. will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036

A report from British Columbia's seniors' advocate say the province will need almost 16,000 new long-term care beds by 2036 to meet the demands of an aging society. Dan Levitt's report tabled at the provincial legislature pegs the current shortfall at over 2,000 beds, and predicts the gap will "grow exponentially" over the next decade. It says the number of people waiting for beds has grown significantly in the past 10 years to 7, 212 in 2025, and people are also waiting longer. The average wait time for a long-term care bed had almost doubled to 290 days by 2024, according to the report, whic
vpd-investigates-strong-arm-robbery-of-senior
BCJul 29, 2025

VPD investigates strong-arm robbery of senior

Vancouver Police have released video of suspects in the alleged strong-arm robbery of an 84-year-old woman downtown on Sunday. The senior was standing near Homer and West Pender Street shortly before 11:30 a.m. on July 27 when she was approached by a man and woman who accused her of stealing from them. One suspect allegedly took the woman’s cane, while the other tried to take the purse off her shoulder. The senior held on to the purse until another person intervened. The suspects were last seen walking north on Homer Street. “Every indication suggests this senior was targeted because s
starmer-says-uk-will-recognize-palestinian-state-unless-israel-agrees-to-a-ceasefire
WorldJul 29, 2025

Starmer says UK will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the U.K. will recognize a Palestinian state in September – unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza and takes steps toward long-term peace. Starmer called ministers together for a rare summertime Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. He told them that Britain will recognize a state of Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly, “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term