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CanadaDec 21, 2023

At least 15 people are dead after a mass shooting at a Prague university, police chief says

Prague's police chief says an armed man who killed at least 15 people was a student at a university where the mass shooting took place. Police and the Czech Republic's interior ministry earlier said the suspect was dead. He has not been named publicly. Officers sealed off Jan Palach Square and evacuated the philosophy department building of Charles University, which is where Thursday's shooting took place. They are still searching the area, including the building's balconies, for possible explosives.
BCDec 21, 2023

Federal government’s ban on single-use plastic goes into effect

Shoppers should expect to see no single use plastic bags, straws or utensils in stores and restaurants starting tomorrow, as newfederal single-use plastics rules take effect. Cities like Vancouver and Victoria have already have their own rules in place. The BC government says food service providers will no longer be able to offer single-use plastic utensils, lids and other items like plastic sushi grass. It says such items can only be given out if a customer asks for them. federal rules will mean businesses are banned from giving out, manufacturing, and importing for sale checkout bags, cutle
quebec-to-continue-detaining-migrants-for-cbsa-into-2024
CanadaDec 21, 2023

Quebec to continue detaining migrants for CBSA into 2024

The Quebec government has extended for six months the permission for the Canada Border Services Agency to detain immigrants in the province's jails at the request of the federal government. Earlier, the controversial agreement with the state Border Services Agency was due to expire on December 31, 2023. Now its new deadline has been fixed as 30 June 2024. The Ministry of Public Security of Quebec gave this information in a statement. Let it be known that the Border Services Agency can keep any such foreign national in jail regarding whom it feels that his identity is not clear or he may be a
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BCDec 20, 2023

No charges in BC 2022 Christmas Eve bus crash that left 4 dead

The British Columbia Prosecution Service says there will be no charges stemming from a bus crash on an icy highway in the province's Interior last Christmas Eve that killed four people. Service spokesman Dan McLaughlin says it reached the decision after the Crown counsel assessing the allegations concluded that the standard for charges had not been met. The prosecution service guideline says in order for charges to be approved, there must be a "substantial likelihood of conviction" based on the strength of the evidence as well as the public interest being served in a prosecution. The crash of
quebec-labour-unions-threaten-unlimited-strike-in-new-year-if-no-deal-is-reac
CanadaDec 20, 2023

Quebec labour unions threaten unlimited strike in new year if no deal is reac

Four Quebec public sector unions representing hundreds of thousands of workers say they will launch an unlimited strike early in the new year if they don't reach a deal with the government.The four unions, which are negotiating together and calling themselves the "common front," say it's still possible to settle before the end of 2023 but add that negotiations need to intensify for that to happen.Common front leaders told reporters today they have not set a date for an unlimited general strike in 2024.The unions, which represent 420,000 public sector workers, including teachers, education supp
record-shattering-2023-wildfires-voted-canadian-news-story-of-the-year
BCDec 20, 2023

Record-shattering 2023 wildfires voted Canadian news story of the year

The wildfires that disrupted the lives of thousands of Canadians and shattered records for the amount of forest burned have been voted 'The Canadian Press story of the year'. An unusually mild and dry winter in much of the country set the stage for an unprecedented season that led to 200,000 people fleeing their homes. The fires consumed an area three times the size of Nova Scotia, more than doubling the previous record set in 1995. From Halifax to British Columbia to Yellowknife, Canadians were forced from their homes as the fires burned, and the resulting smoke made for hazardous air conditi
b-c-losing-people-to-alberta-amid-high-interprovincial-migration-statcan
BCDec 20, 2023

BC losing people to Alberta amid high interprovincial migration: StatCan

British Columbia is experiencing interprovincial migration and has recently experienced record increases. Since July 2022, approximately 12,800 people have left BC and moved to another Canadian province.This is the first time in a decade that there have been more people leaving the province than people coming in for 15 consecutive months, according to Statistics Canada. From July to September 2023, 4,634 people moved to other provinces and the majority to Alberta.Despite this, 1,51,437 people from outside Canada have come to the province, bringing the population of the province to 5.6 million
mcgill-announces-3k-award-to-offset-tuition-hike-for-most-out-of-province-students-2
CanadaDec 20, 2023

McGill announces $3K award to offset tuition hike for most out-of-province students

McGill University says it will offer a $3,000 annual award to new undergraduate students from other provinces to offset a tuition hike imposed by the provincial government.The university says roughly 80 per cent of Canadian undergraduate students who apply to the university would be eligible for the award, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.The new Canada Award will be guaranteed for up to four years of study as the university tries to maintain enrollment in the face of the province's plan to increase tuition for out-of-province students to $12,000 per year from from $8,992.McGill Universi
india-will-investigate-the-allegations-made-by-the-us-about-the-conspiracy-to-kill-the-sikh-leader-modi
CanadaDec 20, 2023

India will investigate the allegations made by the US about the conspiracy to kill the Sikh leader: Modi

After being accused of plotting the murder of Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in America, Indian Prime Minister Modi has given his statement for the first time. Prime Minister Modi said that if they get evidence, he will definitely look into it, but some incidents cannot affect the relationship between the US and India. In an interview to The Financial Times, Modi said, "If anyone gives us information, we will definitely investigate it. We have full commitment to the law." Meanwhile, Modi also expressed serious concern over the activities of some extremist groups in foreign coun

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BCJul 15, 2026

Elderly woman distracted and robbed of gold necklace in Vancouver, police seek suspects

A 76-year-old woman was allegedly robbed of her gold necklace after being distracted by an unknown woman in Vancouver's East 11th Avenue and Victoria Drive area on Tuesday, according to the Vancouver Police Department. Police said the incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. while the senior was waiting for family members. An unidentified woman approached her and claimed she looked like her mother, whose birthday she said it was. The suspect then hugged the victim and, during the interaction, allegedly removed the woman's gold necklace and replaced it with a fake one. The victim reportedly discov
AlbertaJul 15, 2026

Alberta launches online bike lane complaint form ahead of planned legislation

The Alberta government has launched an online public feedback form inviting residents to report concerns about bike lanes as it prepares legislation expected this fall. According to the Alberta government, Albertans can use the online form to share concerns about bike lanes in their communities, including whether they believe a lane is underused, has reduced on-street parking, contributed to traffic congestion, affected local businesses, or delayed emergency response times. The province says the feedback will help inform future transportation policy decisions. Transportation Minister Devin Dre
canada-pauses-new-parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship-applications-for-2026
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Canada pauses new parent and grandparent sponsorship applications for 2026

The federal government says it will not accept any new applications this year under Canada's Parents and Grandparents Program as it works to reduce processing times and manage a large backlog of existing files. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 60,500 sponsorship applications are currently being processed. The department said it expects to approve about 15,000 parents and grandparents each year over the next two years from applications already in the system. IRCC said the temporary pause is intended to improve processing efficiency. The department
federal-government-names-new-members-to-independent-senate-appointments-advisory-board
CanadaJul 15, 2026

Federal government names new members to independent Senate appointments advisory board

The federal government has announced new appointments to the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney named four new senators to the upper chamber. According to a federal government news release, the advisory board will continue to provide non-binding recommendations to the prime minister on Senate appointments. The board was established in 2016 to support a merit-based and independent appointments process. The government said the board will continue to include three federal members, including a chair, along with two additional members from
BCJul 15, 2026

Surrey man sentenced to nearly five years in prison in extortion-related shooting and arson case

A Surrey Provincial Court judge has sentenced Abhijeet Kingra to nearly five years in prison for his role in a 2024 extortion-related shooting and arson targeting a Surrey home. According to court records, Kingra pleaded guilty on July 6 to charges of discharging a firearm at a residence and committing arson. The offences stem from an Aug. 10, 2024 incident in which a home belonging to a person who had reportedly received extortion threats was shot at and set on fire. The court imposed a two-year sentence for arson and a sentence of four years, 10 months and 19 days for the shooting offence. T