Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age

The Bank of Canada has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 per cent in its final policy decision of the year, signalling that borrowing costs remain at a level the central bank views as appropriate for maintaining price stability. Governor Tiff Macklem said major global economies continue to show signs of resilience, even as uncertainty persists and the United States maintains a protectionist approach to trade. He noted that the current policy rate is helping keep inflation near the bank’s two per cent target, suggesting no immediate need to raise or cut interest rates. Mackle

A welfare workshop was organized by the Vaapsi Seva Society this weekend at the Khalsa School, located near 120th Street and Old Yale Road in Surrey. The aim of this workshop was to educate people about addiction and mental health. The event continued from 1 pm to around 5 pm. Audience listens to the speaker at a welfare forum organized by Vaapsi Seva SocietyDuring this, various speakers shared their views and explained to the nearly 300 people who attended the workshop, based on their knowledge and experiences, the harms of substance use and addictions and its impact on the community. Audien

Statistics Canada is expected to release its November employment report this morning, providing the last major economic indicator before the Bank of Canada delivers its final interest rate decision of the year next week. Economists say the data will help shape expectations about whether the central bank sees enough evidence of a cooling economy to justify future rate cuts. A survey of economists conducted by Reuters suggested the national unemployment rate likely rose to seven per cent in November, with a modest loss of about 5,000 jobs. Analysts at Royal Bank, however, anticipate the jobless

John Rustad has resigned as leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., ending a tense standoff that unfolded over the past two days between him, his caucus and the party’s executive. His departure comes less than 24 hours after he publicly rejected calls to quit, insisting he still held the mandate to lead. In a written statement released today, Rustad said the internal dispute was not the result of a hostile takeover by former BC Liberal members, responding to concerns raised by some supporters after last year’s political realignment that saw several MLAs cross over to the Conservatives. H

Canada is increasing its financial and military support for Ukraine, with federal ministers confirming more than $200 million in new commitments as the conflict with Russia continues to dominate international security discussions. National Defence Minister David McGuinty said Canada will join NATO allies in purchasing a package of critical military capabilities sourced from the United States, with Canada contributing $200 million toward the shared procurement plan. The announcement was made as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand attended a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Anand

A months-long enforcement initiative involving the RCMP and several other police agencies across Canada has resulted in the seizure of 386 kilograms of fentanyl along with large quantities of other illegal drugs. The coordinated effort ran from late May to the end of October and focused on production sites, trafficking groups and the financial networks that support the illicit drug trade. Police say the operation led to thousands of arrests and charges nationwide. That included 217 individuals accused of trafficking fentanyl while already out on bail, highlighting what investigators describe a

Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand is travelling to Brussels this week for a series of high-level engagements with European Union and NATO officials, the federal government confirmed Monday. The trip marks a significant step in Ottawa’s ongoing efforts to deepen transatlantic cooperation on security, economic resilience and Arctic strategy. During her visit, Minister Anand is set to meet senior EU leaders on Tuesday. The agenda is expected to include discussions on strengthening supply chains, advancing shared economic-security objectives and coordinating further sanctions and measures