Raging Canadian wildfires that choked North America under clouds of smoke last year may have contributed to a spike in doctor visits for lung and heart problems thousands of kilometres away. U.S. researchers published peer-reviewed findings Friday that suggest doctor visits in the Baltimore area for heart and lung problems increased by almost 20 per cent on six "hotspot" days linked to wildfire smoke from Western Canada. Canada's worst wildfire season on record saw plumes of smoke drift across the continent made up of fine-particle pollution that's tiny enough to get deep in the lungs and crea

Police in Surrey, B.C., say a section of Highway 99 remains closed the day after a nine-vehicle crash that sent six people to hospital. The Surrey Police Service says a transport vehicle was involved in collisions in the northbound lanes before crossing the median into oncoming southbound traffic near the Highway 91 interchange around 5:30 p.m. Thursday. They say the southbound lanes from the interchange and northbound from King George Boulevard were closed after the crash. They say the section of highway will likely be closed for "a few hours" Friday, affecting the morning commute, as officer

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon will hold a news conference this morning to provide an update on the strike at Canada Post. The minister is set to speak with journalists on Parliament Hill at 10 a.m. ET. It's Day 29 of the labour dispute, with Christmas fast approaching and still no apparent movement at the bargaining table. The two sides have been bandying criticisms back and forth, but there's no indication yet that federal mediation is set to restart after it was paused in late November. MacKinnon has so far rebuffed calls for Ottawa to intervene, saying it's up to the two sides to

Parents expecting Canada Child Benefit (CCB) cheques will experience delays due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), payments have been issued since Friday, but cheque deliveries will be delayed by up to a week. The CRA stated that Canada Post will deliver the checks on December 20. However, recipients with direct deposit will receive their payments on schedule tomorrow. Canada Post confirmed that the union has agreed to prioritize the delivery of social program checks despite the strike. In December, under the CCB program, parents can receive a maxi

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2024. This marks his second such honor, having previously received the title in 2016. Last year, the distinction was awarded to pop singer Taylor Swift. Time magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Sam Jacobs, explained that Trump earned the title for his historic comeback and his role in reshaping the American presidency, as well as changing America's position on the global stage. It is notable that Trump triumphed over Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race, despite facing multiple challenges, includi

Family of an Indigenous man whose braids were cut and thrown away while he was staying in an Edmonton hospital want answers. Eve Adams says this past spring she went to visit her husband Dexter at Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital only to find the 84-year-old's braids, his eagle feather and some medicine had been put in the garbage can. Dexter's niece Kathleen Crowe says in the months that have followed the family has never received an explanation or an apology from hospital staff. Crowe says the braids held a deep cultural meaning, and to have them cut off without her uncle's

Canada Post and the union representing postal workers are in a war of words as a countrywide strike enters its 27th day. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers pushed back on recent criticisms from Canada Post in a bulletin to members Tuesday evening, giving a list of proposals it said are meant to bring the two parties closer together. The statement came after Canada Post said Monday that the union's latest proposals widen the gap between the two parties, claiming in some cases the union has increased its demands. The union said its latest proposals included wage increases lower than previously

Premier David Eby has called for reducing trade barriers between provinces to mitigate the impact of challenges posed by Trump’s tariffs in the new year. He also suggested exploring trade opportunities with provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba, as well as with countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. Eby stated that this could be a beneficial strategy. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business gave B.C. a B grade for interprovincial trade in a report released in July. The report highlighted that the province's dispute with Alberta over alcohol sales indicates the

The Bank of Canada cut its key policy rate by 50 basis points on Wednesday to take it to 3.25 per cent. Here is the text of the central bank's decision: The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate to 3.25 per cent, with the Bank Rate at 3.75 per cent and the deposit rate at 3.25 per cent. The Bank is continuing its policy of balance sheet normalization. The global economy is evolving largely as expected in the Bank’s October Monetary Policy Report (MPR). In the United States, the economy continues to show broad-based strength, with robust consumption and a solid labour