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payette-fiasco-shows-need-for-stronger-gg-vetting-process-leblanc
CanadaJan 22, 2021

Payette fiasco shows need for stronger GG vetting process: LeBlanc

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc concedes Julie Payette's resignation as governor general shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting vice-regal appointments.Payette resigned Thursday, about a week after the government received the damning findings of an independent investigation into allegations that she presided over a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall.LeBlanc says the report, commissioned by the Privy Council Office which he oversees, came to ``compelling'' and ``stark'' conclusions.He says the debacle of Payette's tenure shows that the vetting system for such
564-new-covid-19-cases-and-15-deaths-reported-in-b-c
BCJan 22, 2021

564 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths reported in B.C.

BC reported 564 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, bringing the province's total since the pandemic started to 62,976. There are 4,450 actives cases and 15 new deaths. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say in a joint statement that despite the number of COVID-19 cases trending downward, the province is continuing to see new community outbreaks and clusters. They say residents need to work to break the chains of transmission. To date, 104,901 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in B.C., 1,663 of which are second doses. COVID-19 community cluste
julie-payette-issues-statement-confirming-resignation-as-governor-general
CanadaJan 22, 2021

Julie Payette issues statement confirming resignation as Governor General

Julie Payette has resigned as Governor General following an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall. She issued a statement apologizing for tensions in her office but did not take direct responsibility for creating such an atmosphere. Says Payette, "We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better, and be attentive to one another's perceptions." She also suggests the move was made for personal reasons, citing her father's declining health. The allegations against Payette include that she belittled and publicly humiliated employees, redu
new-covid-19-outbreak-reported-at-st-pauls-hospital
BCJan 22, 2021

New COVID-19 outbreak reported at St. Paul's hospital

St. Paul's Hospital in downtown Vancouver is reporting a new outbreak of COVID-19, this time in the renal unit on the sixth floor. Providence Health Care, which operates St. Paul's, says the outbreak was announced yesterday and is in addition to outbreaks earlier this month in two units of the hospital's Heart Centre and in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Services of the renal unit are being maintained in other areas while new admissions and transfers are halted. The rest of the busy hospital, including its emergency room, remains open. Providence Health Care is also dealing with a C
judge-rejects-dangerous-offenders-bid-to-change-indeterminate-sentence-tremblay-was-convicted-for-deaths-of-two-teenage-girls
BCJan 22, 2021

Judge rejects dangerous offender's bid to change indeterminate sentence; Tremblay was convicted for deaths of two teenage girls

A BC man convicted of two counts of criminal negligence causing death has lost an appeal of the indeterminate sentence he received after being declared a dangerous offender. Martin Tremblay was convicted for the March 2010 deaths of two teenagers who were plied with alcohol and drugs before being sexually assaulted in Tremblay's Richmond home. His trial heard he invited 16 year old Kayla Lalonde and 17 year old Martha Jackson to his home, gave them drugs and alcohol until they passed out, sexually assaulted them and then failed to get help when their conditions deteriorated.The BC Court of Ap
powerball-jackpot-winner-worth-731-1m-sold-in-maryland
WorldJan 22, 2021

Powerball jackpot winner worth $731.1M sold in Maryland

Someone hit it very big in a hard-luck Appalachian coal-mining community, where a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket worth $731 million was sold this week. The Maryland Lottery says the fifth-largest lottery prize in U.S. history was won by someone who bought a ticket at Coney Market in Lonaconing. That's in a remote corner of Maryland where jobs are few and poverty runs deep. Maryland is a state that allows lottery winners to remain anonymous. Shop owner Richard Ravenscroft told The Associated Press he hopes whoever won it will use it wisely and enable others to benefit as well.
b-c-premier-health-officials-to-discuss-next-steps-in-covid-immunization-plan
BCJan 21, 2021

B.C. Premier, health officials to discuss next steps in COVID immunization plan

Health officials have called off the regular COVID-19 briefing in British Columbia as they prepare to update the province's strategy for immunization against the virus. An advisory from the premier's office says the briefing by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix is cancelled. Instead they will join a news conference Friday with Premier John Horgan and Dr. Penny Ballem, who is leading B.C.'s COVID-19 immunization rollout. The four are expected to comment on the next steps in the immunization program that has been complicated by a hiccup in vaccine supply f
gov-gen-julie-payette-resigns
CanadaJan 21, 2021

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette resigns

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette is resigning. The news comes as the results of an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace environment at Rideau Hall are expected to be released. The Privy Council Office revealed last year that Quintet Consulting Corp. had been hired to conduct a third-party investigation into allegations of workplace harassment in the office of the Governor General. That came after CBC reports alleged that Payette belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit. That prompted the Privy Council Office to launch a workplace revie
b-c-liberals-announce-organizing-committee-to-choose-new-leader-for-party-renewal
BCJan 21, 2021

B.C. Liberals announce organizing committee to choose new leader for party renewal

A former British Columbia finance minister and a current member of the legislature are part of a seven-member committee overseeing the upcoming Liberal leadership campaign to replace former leader Andrew Wilkinson. Colin Hansen, a former Liberal cabinet minister, has been appointed co-chair of the party's Leadership Election Organizing Committee, sharing the job with Victoria lawyer Roxanne Helme. Wilkinson resigned after the Liberals not only lost the election last fall, but seats that were once considered safe for the party. Prince George Liberal Shirley Bond is currently serving as interim

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bc-govt-recognizes-significant-concern-regarding-the-ongoing-extortion-attempts
BCJun 13, 2025

BC govt. recognizes significant concern regarding the ongoing extortion attempts

Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg has released the following statement amid community concerns about public safety while extortion threats and organized crime stories are making headlines. “We recognize the significant concern within the South Asian community regarding the ongoing extortion attempts by organized criminals. “Recently, the Delta Police Department, with assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team and the Peel Regional Police arrested two suspects in the murder case of an individual in Brampton, who was a victim of extortion. This ser
vancouver-police-seek-suspect-in-west-side-break-ins
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Vancouver Police seek suspect in West-side break-ins

Vancouver Police are sharing images of a suspect in multiple early-morning break-ins on the city’s west-side, and encourage people to lock their doors and windows to prevent additional crimes. “We are actively working to identify and arrest this suspect, who is linked to break-ins throughout Marpole, Kerrisdale, Arbutus Ridge, Oakridge and Shaunghnessey,” says Constable Tania Visintin. “Until we find him, we’re asking people to take extra precautions and to call police immediately if you encounter him.” The suspect, believed to be an Asian man in his 30s, has struck 16 times since
over-the-past-six-months-there-have-been-10-reports-of-extortion-in-surrey
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Over the past six months, there have been 10 reports of extortion in Surrey

Following a number of extortions being reported to police in Surrey, Surrey Police Service (SPS) and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) are working to advance these investigations and determine any linkages. SPS and SPOSU are also meeting regularly with other regional police agencies who have similar investigations and they are in contact with the RCMP National Coordination and Support Team (NCST), which is providing national coordination and tools to help advance extortion investigations. Numerous police agencies in Canada have reported that individuals or businesse
jagmeet-singhs-brother-says-canadians-warned-about-risk-to-their-life-deserve-protection
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Jagmeet Singh's brother says Canadians warned about risk to their life deserve protection

The brother of former federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who has been active in Canadian politics for many years, has demanded that Canadians who have been warned of a threat to their lives should be provided with security. Gurrattan Singh raised this issue after Sikh Organization of Canada spokesperson Balpreet Singh told a press conference yesterday that dozens of Sikh Canadians are currently on active duty to warm. This notice is given by the police to alert a person when they suspect a credible threat. Gurrattan Singh said that immediate steps should be taken to provide security to those
police-seeking-witnesses-after-uptown-assault
CanadaJun 13, 2025

Police seeking witnesses after Uptown assault

The New Westminster Police Department is seeking witnesses and encouraging victims to come forward following an incident in the Uptown neighbourhood on the evening of Saturday, June 7 at approximately 6:20pm. Officers responded to reports of a man chasing people and throwing objects at members of the public. Witnesses shared the man ripped off a tree branch and struck several people with it. The suspect was located by officers near the New Westminster Public Library and arrested. “This may have been a frightening experience for those who witnessed it or were directly impacted,” stated Serg