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commons-finance-committee-to-begin-probing-we-charitys-volunteering-contract
CanadaJul 16, 2020

Commons finance committee to begin probing WE Charity's volunteering contract

The first of multiple parliamentary investigations of the federal government's aborted deal with WE Charity to run a volunteering program begins this afternoon.The House of Commons finance committee is set to hear from Youth Minister Bardish Chagger and some senior public servants as it probes how WE got a sole-sourced contract to administer the $900-million program.The Canada Student Service Grant is aimed at students who haven't been able to find work this summer, offering up to $5,000 toward education costs in exchange for 500 hours of volunteering.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has admitte
covid-19-cases-show-rising-trend-in-canada
CanadaJul 16, 2020

COVID-19 cases show rising trend in Canada

There are 108,829 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 56,859 confirmed (including 5,636 deaths, 26,097 resolved) Ontario: 37,052 confirmed (including 2,732 deaths, 32,920 resolved) Alberta: 8,994 confirmed (including 163 deaths, 8,127 resolved) British Columbia: 3,149 confirmed (including 189 deaths, 2,753 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,067 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 1,002 resolved) Saskatchewan: 881 confirmed (including 15 deaths, 791 resolved) Manitoba: 319 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 318 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 262 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 258 resolved)
david-sidoo-sentenced-for-3-months-for-college-admissions-scam-in-united-states
CanadaJul 15, 2020

David Sidoo sentenced for 3 months for college admissions scam in United States

A former Canadian Football League player was sentenced Wednesday to three months in prison for hiring someone take the SATs in place of his two sons.David Sidoo, who played professional football for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and B.C. Lions, lowered his head into his hands and cried as U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton chided him for his actions. Sidoo told the judge he's "deeply ashamed.""I make no excuses. I broke the law. I pled guilty to a crime and now I must pay for my actions," Sidoo said.Sidoo appeared before the Boston federal court judges via videoconference because of the coron
bloc-leader-yves-francois-blanchet-denies-anonymous-allegations-against-him
CanadaJul 15, 2020

Bloc leader Yves-Francois Blanchet denies anonymous allegations against him

The leader of the Bloc Quebecois is categorically denying allegations that were made against him Tuesday night in an anonymous Facebook post.Yves-Francois Blanchet reacted today through his spokeswoman, Carolane Landry.Landry says in a statement that Blanchet "unequivocally denies" the allegations, adding the Bloc leader is inviting the person who published the post to make an official complaint to authorities.Landry says it is Blanchet's continued wish that the justice system be used to protect real victims of criminal acts.She says Blanchet will continue his professional activities as Bloc l
jagmeet-singh-on-sver-wala-show-if-evidence-emerges-police-should-also-investigate-we-charity-contract
BCJul 15, 2020

Jagmeet Singh on 'Sver Wala Show': If evidence emerges, police should also investigate WE Charity contract

Leader of the Federal NDP, Jagmeet Singh shared his views on important political issues, on Connect FM's 'Sver Wala Show' this morning.Singh says that Public Services and Procurement Canada is a highly capable agency, and government should have undertaken the responsibility of administering Canada Student Service Grant on their own instead of giving it away to WE Charity.He says if substantial relevant evidence emerges out of the WE Charity probe, then police should also investigate the issue.About Canada's China policy, he agreed with government's decision to not swap Meng Wanzhou for the two
bank-of-canada-holds-rate-forecasts-gdp-decline-of-7-8-this-year
CanadaJul 15, 2020

Bank of Canada holds rate, forecasts GDP decline of 7.8% this year

The Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent in response to what it calls the ``extremely uncertain'' economic outlook from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to keep it there until the picture improves.In its updated outlook, the bank expects the economy to contract by 7.8 per cent this year.The central bank's report pegs the annual inflation rate at 0.6 per cent this year, rising to 1.2 per cent in 2021 and 1.7 per cent in 2022.Its inflation target is 2 per cent, and the bank says it will maintain the current rate until that target is achieved.The forecasts come with a
331-cases-reported-in-canada-alberta-showing-consistency-in-increasing-number-of-covid-19-cases
CanadaJul 15, 2020

331 cases reported in Canada, Alberta showing consistency in increasing number of COVID-19 cases

There are 108,486 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 56,730 confirmed (including 5,633 deaths, 26,025 resolved) Ontario: 36,950 confirmed (including 2,723 deaths, 32,785 resolved) Alberta: 8,912 confirmed (including 163 deaths, 8,048 resolved) British Columbia: 3,128 confirmed (including 189 deaths, 2,730 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,066 confirmed (including 63 deaths, 1,000 resolved) Saskatchewan: 876 confirmed (including 15 deaths, 785 resolved) Manitoba: 319 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 318 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 262 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 258 resolved)
nearly-270-000-conservatives-eligible-to-vote-in-leadership-contest
CanadaJul 14, 2020

Nearly 270,000 Conservatives eligible to vote in leadership contest

The national Conservative party says it has 269,469 members eligible to vote in the current leadership race.About 100,000 of those memberships were purchased since the start of the year, when the contest to replace current leader Andrew Scheer officially began.The party released the figures today and says it is the largest membership in party history.Tories say the largest growth in membership has come in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Alberta.Conservatives use a points system to elect a leader — each riding gets 100 points, and how many points a candidate receives depend
senators-call-for-changes-to-covid-19-aid-and-more-transparency-on-spending
CanadaJul 14, 2020

Senators call for changes to COVID-19 aid and more transparency on spending

The Senate's finance committee says the Trudeau Liberals need to tell people very soon what they will do for those who max out a key federal COVID-19 benefit in the fall without jobs to go back to.The $500-a-week Canada Emergency Response Benefit is set to run out in September for millions of workers who have seen their incomes shrink or dry up entirely.The committee's report recommends the government provide declining CERB payments as incomes rise, rather than applying the current strict cut-off.Senators are also calling on the Liberals to consider a guaranteed income program to make sure all

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prince-george-rcmp-arrest-teen-in-2024-fentanyl-related-youth-death
BCJan 15, 2026

Prince George RCMP Arrest Teen in 2024 Fentanyl-Related Youth Death

Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has arrested a 17-year-old in connection with a 2024 fentanyl-related overdose that claimed the life of a 16-year-old. Police were first called to a home in the College Heights neighbourhood after a youth was found unconscious. The teenager was transported to hospital, where they later died. Toxicology results confirmed high levels of fentanyl in the youth’s system. Following an investigation, the B.C. Prosecution Service approved a manslaughter charge. On January 13, 2026, officers executed an arrest warrant, and the accused was brought to court and
nanaimo-man-faces-multiple-charges-after-downtown-coffee-shop-incident
BCJan 15, 2026

Nanaimo man faces multiple charges after downtown coffee shop incident

Nanaimo RCMP say a local man is facing several criminal charges following an incident at a downtown coffee shop earlier this week. Police were called around noon on January 13 to a business at 8–90 Front Street after a confrontation between a customer and the store manager. The situation escalated, resulting in an assault and damage to property, according to RCMP. The following day, the BC Prosecution Service approved five charges against 40-year-old Aiden Tye of Nanaimo. He faces charges of assault, assault with a weapon, mischief, committing an indecent act in public, and exposure of an in
alberta-government-launches-review-of-calgary-water-main-breaks-requests-city-records
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Alberta government launches review of Calgary water main breaks, requests city records

The Alberta government has initiated a formal review of Calgary’s recurring water main failures, requesting extensive records from the city spanning the past 20 years. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said in a letter to Calgary officials, shared publicly on social media, that the review aims to ensure the city’s 1.6 million residents have access to safe and reliable water services. Williams noted that while the city is actively addressing the latest rupture, the province must take steps to prevent future incidents. The concerns focus on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, a key pipelin
federal-privacy-watchdog-probes-sexualized-deepfakes-on-x-platform
CanadaJan 15, 2026

Federal privacy watchdog probes sexualized deepfakes on X platform

Canada’s federal privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into sexualized deepfakes circulating on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Philippe Dufresne, who oversees federal private sector privacy compliance, has expanded an existing probe into X and opened a separate inquiry into xAI, the company behind Grok, the artificial intelligence tool used to generate the content. The office of the privacy commissioner said the investigations will determine whether X and xAI collected, used, or disclosed personal information without valid consent in the creation of deep
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Two seriously injured after pit bulls attack caretakers in Vermilion area

Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by two pit bulls at a rural property near Vermilion, east of Edmonton, according to RCMP. Mounties say officers were called Wednesday to a home in the Vermilion area, roughly 190 kilometres east of Edmonton, after the dogs turned on their caretakers. Police did not release details about the extent of the injuries but confirmed both victims required medical treatment. Following the attack, the dogs escaped from the property, prompting authorities to warn residents about the potential risk of the animals being loose in