Statistics Canada says the country’s rate of police-reported drug crime has increased for the first time in more than a decade, marking a 13 per cent jump between 2023 and 2024. The new data shows the rise was driven by higher numbers of possession and trafficking charges involving cannabis, cocaine and opioids other than heroin. Despite the recent uptick, the national rate remains well below its historical peak. The 2024 figure stood at 128 incidents per 100,000 people – down 61 per cent from a high of 330 in 2011. The Northwest Territories recorded the highest rate of drug crime last yea

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the U.S. ambassador to Canada should apologize to the province’s trade representative in Washington following reports of a heated exchange over an anti-tariff advertisement. Sources told The Canadian Press that Ambassador Pete Hoekstra shouted at Ontario’s representative, David Paterson, during an event in Ottawa earlier this week. The reported confrontation centred on an Ontario government ad that aired in the United States criticizing tariffs and featuring a clip of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan saying tariffs do not work in the long term. The ad repo

Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to attend a formal dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung today, marking the first public appearance of the two leaders together since trade negotiations between Ottawa and Washington were abruptly halted last week. The dinner takes place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Seoul, where seven world leaders have been invited by the South Korean president. Diplomatic observers say the event may test whether tensions between Canada and the United States continue to spill i

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers has released its annual list of British Columbia’s five most wanted criminals, calling on the public to help locate them as Halloween approaches. The announcement was made Tuesday at Cougar Creek’s House of Horrors in Surrey, where officials urged residents to share any information that could lead to arrests. The list includes Omid Mashinchi, 43, and Gurkirat Singh, 26, who also appear on BOLO Canada’s national 25 Most Wanted list. Other fugitives include Amir Navarchi, 40, John Norman MacKenzie, 64, and Jean-Sébastien Philippe Eric Ferland, 43. Mashinchi

Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) are preparing to return to the bargaining table later this week as rotating strikes continue to disrupt mail delivery across the country. Both sides have confirmed they will meet with a federal mediator, though no specific date has been set. The renewed discussions mark the latest attempt to resolve nearly two years of tense negotiations over a new collective agreement covering about 55,000 postal employees. Union members launched rotating strikes more than a month ago, shortly after the federal government announced a series of policy

The number of extortion related files with Surrey police in 2025 has reached 74. Of these, 39 cases were shooting related. Just around a couple of weeks ago, this number was reported to have reached 57. Meanwhile, shots were also fired in the 7800 block of 124 Street in Surrey at around 2:45 a.m. yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 25). There were people inside the house at the time of the incident, but no one was injured. It has not yet been confirmed that this incident is related to extortion, although the matter is suspected to be extortion-related. Connect FM reached out to Staff Sgt. Lindsey Hough

The United States government will soon require all non-citizens, including Canadians, to have their photos taken when entering or leaving the country under new security regulations announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the policy will take effect on December 26, though officials acknowledge full implementation could take several years. The DHS says the updated rule aims to strengthen border security and prevent visitors from overstaying their visas. Under the new system, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will expand it

A newborn baby discovered inside a bus shelter on Montreal’s South Shore early Monday has died, according to Longueuil police. Officers say they were called to the scene on Chambly Road around 6:30 a.m. after reports of an infant left inside the shelter. Paramedics provided first aid and transported the baby to hospital, but police confirmed the child was pronounced dead shortly before 8 a.m. Authorities have not released further details on how long the newborn may have been at the site or whether the parents have been located. Police say this marks the second incident involving an abandoned

The federal government plans to dedicate millions of dollars in its upcoming budget to expand training and credential recognition for workers in key sectors. Employment Minister Patty Hajdu says $75 million over three years will go toward strengthening the Union Training and Innovation Program, which supports apprenticeships in the building trades. Ottawa is also setting aside $97 million from existing Employment and Social Development Canada resources to help provinces and territories accelerate the recognition of foreign professional credentials. The move is aimed at reducing labour shortage