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CanadaJul 29, 2025

Potential Alberta separation referendum question referred to judge for approval

A potential referendum question on separating from Canada has been referred to a judge to confirm it doesn't violate the Constitution. The proposed question seeks a yes or no answer to whether people agree with Alberta becoming its own country. Alberta's chief electoral officer says provincial laws require potential referendum questions to respect more than 30 sections of the Constitution, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The question was submitted earlier this month by Mitch Sylvestre with the Alberta Prosperity Project, which has been touring the province to promote inde
CanadaJul 29, 2025

Alberta, provincial employee union agree to renewed mediation in last attempt at deal

Alberta and the union representing thousands of provincial government employees say they have agreed to a new round of mediated bargaining. Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president Guy Smith says the renewed talks are considered the final opportunity for getting a new deal for some 23,000 government workers after 18 months of bargaining. Smith credits Finance Minister Nate Horner for stepping in to restart talks and recognizing the importance of continuing negotiations. The union and the government have agreed not to disclose their bargaining positions publicly but Smith says
10-candidates-in-alberta-byelection-to-debate
CanadaJul 29, 2025

10 candidates in Alberta byelection to debate

Ten candidates vying to represent Battle River-Crowfoot in the House of Commons are to debate tonight in the riding's largest municipality. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's press secretary Sarah Fischer says he will be attending the event hosted by the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce ahead of the Aug. 18 byelection. Poilievre is looking to win in the sprawling eastern Alberta riding after he lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in the April general election. The writ was dropped last month after Conservative Damien Kurek, who handily won the seat in the April vote, step
basketball-canadas-michelle-plouffe-announces-retirement
CanadaJul 28, 2025

Basketball: Canada's Michelle Plouffe announces retirement

Canada’s three-time Olympian basketball player Michelle Plouffe has announced her retirement from international basketball. Michelle Plouffe, 32, from Edmonton, was part of the Canadian basketball team at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2016 Rio Olympics and a part of the Canadian 3X3 team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Michelle Plouffe led the Canadian team to a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics and was instrumental in Canada's victories at the 2015 and 2017 FIBA AmeriCup championships. Many basketball fans loved to watch Michelle Plouffe play 3x3 basketball alongside her twin sister,
surrey-council-to-vote-on-15-9-m-contract-for-major-road-projects
CanadaJul 28, 2025

Surrey Council to vote on $15.9 M contract for major road projects

At Monday’s Regular Council Meeting, Surrey City Council will consider a combined contract award for improvements to 192 Street, from 16 Avenue to 28 Avenue in Campbell Heights, and the first phase of preloading for the 72 Avenue extension between 152 Street and Highway 15. The $15.9M combined contract will help advance these major road projects to reduce congestion and support the city’s growth and economy. “I’m thrilled that we’re moving ahead on the latest phase of the 72 Avenue Corridor Project, which is the largest municipal road investment in B.C.’s history,” said Mayo
CanadaJul 28, 2025

Structure fire claims 2 lives

On July 25, 2025, at 2:23 p.m. Prince George RCMP was notified that Prince George Fire Rescue was responding to a residential fire at the corner of Strathcona Avenue and Quince Street. Sadly, the RCMP confirms that two people lost their lives in the fire. The fire is not considered suspicious. BC Coroners Service has conduct of the investigation and any further inquiries should be directed to them. There are no further details at this time.
federal-government-should-impose-equivalent-tariffs-on-us-doug-ford
CanadaJul 28, 2025

Federal government should impose equivalent tariffs on US: Doug Ford

As the deadline for the end of trade talks in Canada and the US approaches on August 1, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has demanded that the federal government be prepared to impose equivalent tariffs on the US if no trade deal is reached by Friday, he said that the retaliatory measures should also include an equivalent 50 percent tariff on US aluminum and steel. Ford's comments come after Trump recently threatened to impose a 35 percent tariff on several Canadian goods from August 1 amid ongoing negotiations with Canada. Ford said that my position is clear that if Trump continues the trade war,
world-swimming-championships-canadas-summer-mcintosh-wins-gold-in-200m-im
CanadaJul 28, 2025

World Swimming Championships: Canada's Summer McIntosh wins Gold in 200m IM

Canada's Summer McIntosh has won her second consecutive gold medal in two days at the World Swimming Championships being played in Singapore. In the women's 200-meter individual medley event held on Monday, 18-year-old Summer McIntosh won the gold medal in this event with a timing of 2 minutes 6.69 seconds. This event was a double success for Canada as Canada's Mary-Sophie Harvey won the bronze medal in this event. The silver medal in this event went to Alex Walsh of the United States. On winning the event, Summer McIntosh said that she was not satisfied with her timing but was happy to win g
can-canadians-expect-any-relief-on-interest-rate
CanadaJul 28, 2025

Can Canadians expect any relief on interest rate?

Canadians expect no relief on interest rate front. Ahead of the Bank of Canada meeting, most economists and market analysts say that the central bank is likely to keep interest rates steady at 2.75 per cent for the third consecutive time, given the strength in core inflation and jobs. Doug Porter, chief economist at BMO Capital Markets, said that according to the Bank of Canada, core inflation is still slightly above 3 per cent. He said that the impact of Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles was limited to these sectors, while other sectors saw good job growth in June. Meanwhil

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blue-jays-playoff-run-drives-tourism-surge-and-business-gains-in-toronto
BCNov 06, 2025

Blue Jays’ playoff run drives tourism surge and business gains in Toronto

Toronto’s hospitality and tourism sectors saw a significant boost this fall, thanks to the Blue Jays’ extended post-season run and the World Series games held in the city. Destination Toronto reported that hotel demand during the four home games of the World Series rose by an average of 15 per cent compared to the same nights last year, adding more than 11,000 room nights. Across the team’s entire playoff run, hotel demand increased by an average of 11 per cent, accounting for over 20,000 additional room nights. Andrew Weir, President and CEO of Destination Toronto, said the surge in vis
BCNov 06, 2025

Audit finds gaps in B.C. livestock tracking system used for emergency response

British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food needs stronger measures to ensure it can quickly locate farm animals during disease outbreaks or natural disasters, according to a new report from the Office of the Auditor General. The audit reviewed the ministry’s Premises ID program, which was created to help emergency officials identify where poultry and livestock are kept and who owns them. Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds said the system could play a vital role in protecting animals and food supply chains during crises such as bird flu outbreaks, wildfires, or floods. However, th
record-number-of-shelter-spaces-opening-before-winter
BCNov 06, 2025

Record number of shelter spaces opening before winter

British Columbia is opening a record number of shelter spaces this winter to help people experiencing homelessness find warmth and safety as temperatures drop. The Province, through BC Housing, is funding 6,486 shelter spaces across 58 communities — the highest total to date. The expanded network includes 4,158 permanent shelters operating year-round, 1,154 temporary seasonal spaces, 771 extreme-weather response (EWR) beds activated during severe conditions, and 403 new Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) spaces — nearly two and a half times more than last year.
CanadaNov 06, 2025

Ottawa man pleads guilty in mass stabbing that killed mother, four children, and family friend

A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty to six counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with a mass stabbing that shocked Ottawa last year. Febrio De-Zoysa entered guilty pleas today in an Ottawa courtroom to four charges of first-degree murder and two of second-degree murder, as well as one charge of attempted murder. The killings took place in 2024 at a rented townhouse in the Barrhaven area. The victims were 35-year-old Darshani Ekanayake, her four children aged between two months and seven years, and 40-year-old family friend Gamini Amarakoon. The children’s father,
quebec-lowers-permanent-immigration-target-to-45-000-per-year-focuses-on-french-language-integration
CanadaNov 06, 2025

Quebec lowers permanent immigration target to 45,000 per year, focuses on French-language integration

The Quebec government has announced it will reduce its annual target for new permanent residents to 45,000, marking a significant shift from the roughly 61,000 people expected to settle in the province this year. The revised plan outlines a more moderate approach than earlier proposals that would have lowered the figure to as few as 25,000 newcomers annually. The government’s new immigration framework emphasizes language integration, setting a goal for nearly 80 per cent of new immigrants to achieve at least intermediate-level French by 2029. In 2019, that figure was 50 per cent. Officials s