Alberta’s auditor general says the province’s attempt to shift community lab testing to a private operator resulted in significant financial losses and gaps in government oversight. A new report from Auditor General Doug Wylie estimates taxpayers absorbed roughly $109 million after the privatization effort collapsed. Wylie’s review found that senior officials in government advanced the plan despite internal warnings that the projected savings were unlikely. He says weaknesses in record keeping, financial analysis and contract oversight contributed to the breakdown of the agreement with D

Emergency crews in Brampton are investigating a deadly house fire that claimed the lives of two adults and left four others, including a child, in critical condition early Thursday. Peel Regional Police say the blaze erupted around 2:30 a.m. at a home on Banas Way, in a residential area near McLaughlin Road and Remembrance Road. Firefighters arrived to find the home heavily engulfed in flames. Two adults were pronounced dead at the scene. Police say three other adults and one child were transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities have not released the ages of the victim

A man who carried out a violent home invasion in Port Moody last year as part of an attempt to steal cryptocurrency has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Court records show Tsz Wing Boaz Chan entered a guilty plea to break and enter, sexual assault and forcible confinement in connection with the April 27, 2024 incident. Port Moody Police say Chan was taken into custody last summer when he returned to Canada through Vancouver International Airport. Investigators allege the motive behind the robbery was the theft of digital currency, though police have not released information about the v

Police in Prince George evacuated several homes Wednesday after officers uncovered an explosive device while carrying out a drug related search warrant at a residence on Eighth Avenue. The discovery halted the ongoing search and prompted a call for a bomb disposal team from the Lower Mainland, which was expected to arrive later in the day. RCMP said officers who initially entered the home withdrew for safety reasons but have remained on site to secure the area. The incident has caused temporary displacement for nearby residents as police work to stabilize the scene. Authorities have not releas

Environment Canada has issued a wind warning for Haida Gwaii as a powerful frontal system moves across British Columbia’s north coast. Forecasters say the system is expected to generate gusts reaching 110 kilometres an hour, with conditions easing later in the day. The agency is advising residents to secure outdoor items and prepare for possible service disruptions, including impacts to power, ferry travel and local transportation. High winds frequently affect coastal communities at this time of year, and emergency officials in B.C. typically encourage households to keep basic supplies ready

Seven Canadian residents have been taken into custody across three provinces as part of a United States investigation into an alleged international drug-trafficking network linked to former Team Canada athlete Ryan Wedding. RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme joined senior U.S. justice officials in Washington to outline the cross-border charges, describing the arrests as part of an ongoing effort to curb organized crime operating between Canada, the U.S. and Latin America. Canadian authorities confirmed that arrests were made this week in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta following U.S. extradition req

Ukrainian officials say at least 25 people have been killed, including three children, after a wave of Russian drone and missile strikes hit residential areas in the western city of Ternopil. Local authorities report that two apartment buildings were heavily damaged and more than 70 residents were injured during the overnight barrage. Ukraine’s military says air defence units intercepted most of the hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles launched across the country. The attack marked one of the largest overnight assaults in recent weeks and comes as communities with Ukrainian ties in Albe

Provincial anti-gang investigators say two Metro Vancouver residents are facing fraud charges following an alleged scheme that targeted multiple casinos across the Lower Mainland. British Columbia’s Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit says it launched an investigation in April after casino operators reported irregular transactions involving tens of thousands of dollars. According to police, the activity took place over roughly two weeks between mid-March and April, generating about 45,000 dollars in alleged illicit proceeds. Investigators have not released detailed information about how

Alberta’s next generation of licence plates will feature one of the province’s most recognizable mountain landscapes after residents selected Moraine Lake as the new image. The provincial government said more than 240,000 people participated in an online vote, making this the first major redesign of the plate in more than four decades. The change follows the government’s earlier decision to retire the long standing Wild Rose Country slogan and replace it with Strong and Free, a phrase drawn from Alberta’s official motto and referenced in Canada’s national anthem. Officials say the up