CanadaJun 01, 2020
Most federal candidates saw false information as problem, survey suggests
A newly released survey report suggests nearly two-thirds of candidates in the last federal election felt there was a problem with the spread of false information online.The survey, conducted for Elections Canada by Ekos Research Associates, found that among those who saw false information as a headache during the campaign, 30 per cent said it had a major impact on the election outcome.Over two in five felt that foreign countries or groups were using social media and other means to influence the political opinions of Canadians.Support for online voting among candidates was low, with just over
CanadaJun 01, 2020
Bird strike might have caused Snowbird crash, early investigation finds
The Royal Canadian Air Force says it's focusing on a bird strike as the reason a Snowbird plane crashed in British Columbia last month. A preliminary investigation report posted today says a close look at video footage of the plane just before the crash showed a bird very close to the plane's right engine intake ``during the critical phase of take-off.''The crash near Kamloops killed air force Capt. Jenn Casey, a public-affairs officer riding as a passenger, and seriously injured the pilot. Though the plane crashed in a populated area, nobody on the ground was badly injured.The Snowbirds were
CanadaJun 01, 2020
Trudeau promises to speed $2B in funding for strapped cities
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is rushing $2.2 billion in expected infrastructure funding to Canada's cities.He says sending gas-tax funds months sooner than planned should ease municipalities' cashflow concerns, which is why the government is sending the money in one shot.Speaking outside his Ottawa residence, Trudeau says the money can be used for construction projects to meet local infrastructure needs and put people to work.Municipalities have seen steep losses in revenues through the COVID-19 pandemic as fewer people pay for transit or parking, and recreation ce
BCJun 01, 2020
Minimum wage goes up June 1 in B.C. as businesses face COVID-19 challenges
BC's Labour Minister Harry Bains says he understands the pressures facing employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but workers are also struggling and the minimum wage will increase as planned on Monday.The BC government announced a series of minimum wage increases in 2018 and the June 1st wage boost goes up 75 cents per hour to $14.60.Bains says Labour Ministry data shows 60 per cent of people earning minimum wage in BC are female and 93 per cent of the province's minimum wage paying jobs are in the service sector, including cleaning services, grocery stores and restaurants.He says businesses
WorldMay 29, 2020
Minneapolis: Police officer who knelt on black man in custody arrested
A white police officer seen on video kneeling on a black man's neck for eight minutes as he pleaded he couldn't breathe has been arrested. The arrest of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd follows three nights of increasing violence in Minneapolis. Last night, protesters torched the police station where Chauvin and three other officers seen in the video worked. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz says the state is taking over the response to the protests and will show respect and dignity for those who are suffering.
BCMay 29, 2020
Racism not ruled out as motive in unprovoked tripping of Burnaby senior
Police in Metro Vancouver are searching for a woman who casually approached a senior who was using a walker, tripped her from behind and walked away.Burnaby RCMP have released video of the April 3 assault that was caught on surveillance cameras mounted at the Metrotown SkyTrain station.Police say the 84-year-old victim, who is of Asian descent, was shaken but not seriously hurt. The suspect is described as a woman, possibly Asian, wearing a face mask, a long, dark puffy jacket, dark tights, light shoes and carrying a large, beige purse.Investigators say there is no immediate indication the ca
CanadaMay 29, 2020
Large cruise ships barred from Canadian waters until end of October
The cruise-ship season in Canada is all but dead as Ottawa extends a ban on ships in Canadian waters until the end of October.Transportation Minister Marc Garneau says passenger ships with overnight accommodations for more than 100 passengers can't operate in Canadian waters until at least Oct. 31.In March the government barred ships with more than 500 passengers until July 1 but Garneau is expanding that ban today.He says he understands that this will have a big economic impact on the tourism industry and that the government is looking at what to do about that.Last year 140 cruise ships brou
WorldMay 29, 2020
Minneapolis police station torched amid George Floyd protest
Minneapolis police station torched amid George Floyd protestProtesters angered by the death of a black man who died while pleading for air as a white police officer kneeled on his neck have torched a Minneapolis police station that the department abandoned.Thursday marked a third night of violent protests following the death of George Floyd, who died in a confrontation with officers outside a grocery store. Fires burned Friday morning in Minneapolis and nearby St. Paul.National Guard members were being stationed in locations to help stem looting.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's defended the cit
BCMay 29, 2020
Outbreak at the Mission prison declared over, 9 new cases reported in B.C.
The COVID-19 outbreak at the Mission prison in BC's Fraser Valley has been declared over. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says there have been no new cases for two incubation periods in what was one of the largest outbreaks in the province. More than 130 inmates and staff tested positive for the virus and one inmate died. Henry says the protocols that were developed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the prison are being used in federal correctional facilities across the country. Two more people died in the province and nine others were diagnosed with the virus, while two thousan