The Canadian government has introduced a new penalty system to crack down on fraudulent immigration agents. Under the new rules issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals who provide false immigration advice or charge fees for immigration services without proper authorization could face fines ranging from $5,000 to as much as $1.5 million. According to the new guidelines, anyone acting as an immigration representative without a valid licence or required authorization will face a minimum fine of $5,000. Additionally, individuals who deliberately submit false or m

Former B.C. NDP ministers Nikki Sharma and Ravi Parmar have expressed disappointment over the party’s election defeat, acknowledging that calling an early election was a major mistake. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party caucus meeting in Victoria, former Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the party and former Premier David Eby had clearly made the wrong decision by calling an early election. Former Attorney General Nikki Sharma said Wednesday’s virtual meeting of the outgoing caucus was highly emotional. She said Eby apologized for the decision to call the election and took f

Calgary police have arrested two men in connection with the kidnapping and hostage-taking of a woman, while a third suspect remains at large. Police received information about the incident on October 12. The following day, the tactical unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 block of 37 Street Southeast, where officers safely rescued the victim and arrested two suspects. Calgary residents Joseph Richard Frederick Sarrazin and Jordan Barry Taylor have been charged with forcible confinement and several other criminal offences. Police believe the kidnapping was a targeted incide

Elections Alberta released the official results Thursday of the October 19 referendum on immigration, constitutional reforms and Alberta’s separation from Canada. According to the results, 70.4 per cent of Alberta voters participated in the questions on requiring proof of citizenship to vote and whether the province should separate from Canada. These two questions recorded the highest voter participation. Official results showed that 74.95 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. On the remaining nine questions, a majority of voters supported several immigration-rel

A 50-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a cement truck near Vancouver International Airport in Richmond on Wednesday. According to the RCMP, the incident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. in the area of Russ Baker Way and Miller Road. Emergency crews closed the roadway completely for several hours while investigating the collision. Sergeant Pak Yim expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family. Police said the truck driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with investigators. The RCMP is asking drivers who travelled through the a

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has sent a strongly worded letter to Stelco President Paul Simon, demanding the immediate reinstatement of laid-off workers at the Ontario-based steelmaker. Joly said she is willing to meet with Stelco representatives and Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of its U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs. However, she made it clear that reinstating the laid-off workers would be a precondition for any discussions. Criticizing Goncalves, Joly said the company cannot use U.S. tariffs, which are hurting businesses on both sides of the border, as an excuse for the layoff

Surrey’s outgoing Mayor Brenda Locke has blamed David Eby’s snap election call for her defeat, saying the unexpected decision to hold a provincial election between municipal elections created confusion among voters during the final two to three weeks of the campaign and fuelled political change. Locke claimed that there was no major demand for change in the municipal election until Eby announced the provincial election, after which the political situation began to shift. Reflecting on her tenure, Locke described improving Surrey’s environment and launching projects such as new sports fie

Three masked suspects broke into a home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighbourhood early Thursday morning and opened fire on a family, seriously injuring a father and his two adult daughters. The incident occurred at around 3:45 a.m. at a residence on Hyde Park Circle. According to police, the three suspects entered the home through the back door armed with handguns and a hammer. They targeted a couple and their two adult daughters. When the family resisted the robbery, the suspects opened fire, shooting the father and both daughters. The mother was also injured after being struck with a hammer.

A 17-year-old has died following a road collision in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. According to the RCMP, the crash occurred at around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Extension Road in the southern part of the city, involving a dirt bike and a car. First responders rushed to the scene and made extensive efforts to save the teenager’s life. However, the victim succumbed to serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Following an initial investigati