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BCDec 21, 2023

Federal government’s ban on single-use plastic goes into effect

Shoppers should expect to see no single use plastic bags, straws or utensils in stores and restaurants starting tomorrow, as newfederal single-use plastics rules take effect. Cities like Vancouver and Victoria have already have their own rules in place. The BC government says food service providers will no longer be able to offer single-use plastic utensils, lids and other items like plastic sushi grass. It says such items can only be given out if a customer asks for them. federal rules will mean businesses are banned from giving out, manufacturing, and importing for sale checkout bags, cutle
quebec-to-continue-detaining-migrants-for-cbsa-into-2024
CanadaDec 21, 2023

Quebec to continue detaining migrants for CBSA into 2024

The Quebec government has extended for six months the permission for the Canada Border Services Agency to detain immigrants in the province's jails at the request of the federal government. Earlier, the controversial agreement with the state Border Services Agency was due to expire on December 31, 2023. Now its new deadline has been fixed as 30 June 2024. The Ministry of Public Security of Quebec gave this information in a statement. Let it be known that the Border Services Agency can keep any such foreign national in jail regarding whom it feels that his identity is not clear or he may be a
untitledno-charges-in-b-c-2022-christmas-eve-bus-crash-that-left-4-dead
BCDec 20, 2023

No charges in BC 2022 Christmas Eve bus crash that left 4 dead

The British Columbia Prosecution Service says there will be no charges stemming from a bus crash on an icy highway in the province's Interior last Christmas Eve that killed four people. Service spokesman Dan McLaughlin says it reached the decision after the Crown counsel assessing the allegations concluded that the standard for charges had not been met. The prosecution service guideline says in order for charges to be approved, there must be a "substantial likelihood of conviction" based on the strength of the evidence as well as the public interest being served in a prosecution. The crash of
quebec-labour-unions-threaten-unlimited-strike-in-new-year-if-no-deal-is-reac
CanadaDec 20, 2023

Quebec labour unions threaten unlimited strike in new year if no deal is reac

Four Quebec public sector unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers say they will launch an unlimited strike early in the new year if they don't reach a deal with the government.The four unions, which are negotiating together and calling themselves the "common front," say it's still possible to settle before the end of 2023 but add that negotiations need to intensify for that to happen.Common front leaders told reporters today they have not set a date for an unlimited general strike in 2024.The unions, which represent 420,000 public sector workers, including teachers, education supp
record-shattering-2023-wildfires-voted-canadian-news-story-of-the-year
BCDec 20, 2023

Record-shattering 2023 wildfires voted Canadian news story of the year

The wildfires that disrupted the lives of thousands of Canadians and shattered records for the amount of forest burned have been voted 'The Canadian Press story of the year'. An unusually mild and dry winter in much of the country set the stage for an unprecedented season that led to 200,000 people fleeing their homes. The fires consumed an area three times the size of Nova Scotia, more than doubling the previous record set in 1995. From Halifax to British Columbia to Yellowknife, Canadians were forced from their homes as the fires burned, and the resulting smoke made for hazardous air conditi
b-c-losing-people-to-alberta-amid-high-interprovincial-migration-statcan
BCDec 20, 2023

BC losing people to Alberta amid high interprovincial migration: StatCan

British Columbia is experiencing interprovincial migration and has recently experienced record increases. Since July 2022, approximately 12,800 people have left BC and moved to another Canadian province.This is the first time in a decade that there have been more people leaving the province than people coming in for 15 consecutive months, according to Statistics Canada. From July to September 2023, 4,634 people moved to other provinces and the majority to Alberta.Despite this, 1,51,437 people from outside Canada have come to the province, bringing the population of the province to 5.6 million
mcgill-announces-3k-award-to-offset-tuition-hike-for-most-out-of-province-students-2
CanadaDec 20, 2023

McGill announces $3K award to offset tuition hike for most out-of-province students

McGill University says it will offer a $3,000 annual award to new undergraduate students from other provinces to offset a tuition hike imposed by the provincial government.The university says roughly 80 per cent of Canadian undergraduate students who apply to the university would be eligible for the award, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.The new Canada Award will be guaranteed for up to four years of study as the university tries to maintain enrollment in the face of the province's plan to increase tuition for out-of-province students to $12,000 per year from from $8,992.McGill Universi
india-will-investigate-the-allegations-made-by-the-us-about-the-conspiracy-to-kill-the-sikh-leader-modi
CanadaDec 20, 2023

India will investigate the allegations made by the US about the conspiracy to kill the Sikh leader: Modi

After being accused of plotting the murder of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in America, Indian Prime Minister Modi has given his statement for the first time. Prime Minister Modi said that if they get evidence, he will definitely look into it, but some incidents cannot affect the relationship between the US and India. In an interview to The Financial Times, Modi said, "If anyone gives us information, we will definitely investigate it. We have full commitment to the law." Meanwhile, Modi also expressed serious concern over the activities of some extremist groups in foreign coun
cra-has-fired-185-employees-for-inappropriately-claiming-covid-19-cerb-benefits
CanadaDec 20, 2023

CRA has fired 185 employees for 'inappropriately' claiming COVID-19 CERB benefits

The Canada Revenue Agency says 185 employees have been fired to date for claiming a federal COVID-19 benefit when they were not eligible for it. That's an increase of 65 since the CRA last updated the public on its review in September. The CRA is reviewing approximately 600 cases in which current employees received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or CERB during the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefit was worth $2,000 a month to Canadians whose jobs were lost or downgraded as a result of public-health restrictions. The CRA says that just because someone was employed by the agency, that does

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BCMar 04, 2026

Former Vancouver Island hockey coach sentenced to 12 months for child luring

A former Vancouver Island hockey coach has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after being convicted of child luring involving a 15-year-old girl during a 2020 hockey camp in Port Alberni. According to a B.C. Provincial Court ruling, Foster Chadwick Martin was found guilty in December of luring a child after sending explicit messages to the teen through Instagram and Snapchat during a hockey camp. Court documents state Martin was 20 years old at the time of the offence. The court heard that Martin later worked as a jail guard with the Victoria Police Department. He was removed from his positio
carney-appoints-blackrock-economist-glen-purves-as-deputy-minister-of-international-trade
CanadaMar 04, 2026

Carney appoints BlackRock economist Glen Purves as deputy minister of international trade

Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Glen Purves, a senior economist at BlackRock, as Canada’s new deputy minister of international trade, according to a federal government announcement. The appointment is aimed at expanding Canadian exports beyond the United States and strengthening access to global markets. The government said Purves will help guide international trade policy as Canada works to diversify trade partnerships. Purves has served since January 2025 as global head of macro research at the BlackRock Investment Institute in New York. He previously spent 12 years in the federal
sri-lanka-recovers-87-bodies-after-u-s-submarine-sinks-iranian-warship-in-indian-ocean
WorldMar 04, 2026

Sri Lanka recovers 87 bodies after U.S. submarine sinks Iranian warship in Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka’s navy says it has recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people after a U.S. submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean off the island nation’s southern coast. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament that authorities received information the vessel, identified as IRIS Dena, was in distress with about 180 people on board. He said Sri Lanka dispatched naval ships and air force aircraft to carry out a search-and-rescue operation. According to Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath, there was no sign of the ship when rescue teams arrived.
edmonton-man-wanted-on-canada-wide-warrant-in-toronto-homicide
BCMar 04, 2026

Edmonton man wanted on Canada-wide warrant in Toronto homicide

The Toronto Police Service says a 19-year-old man from Edmonton is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with a fatal shooting in Rexdale last month. At a joint update with York Regional Police, Det. Sgt. Sandra Arruda of the homicide and missing persons unit said officers responded at about 3:26 p.m. on Feb. 7 to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of Woodbine Shopping Centre, near Rexdale Boulevard and Highway 27. According to police, officers located a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and later pronounced dead. Inv
anand-says-canada-balancing-india-trade-ties-with-domestic-security-rule-of-law-concerns
CanadaMar 04, 2026

Anand says Canada balancing India trade ties with domestic security, rule of law concerns

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Ottawa is working to strengthen trade and defence ties with India while continuing discussions around domestic security and respect for the rule of law. Anand made the remarks Tuesday while attending a security and defence event in Ottawa. According to her public comments at the event, Canada views India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region but considers issues related to domestic security and the rule of law equally significant. She said Canada is deepening defence relationships with partners such as India as part of its broad