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CanadaOct 15, 2020

Chinese envoy warns Canada against granting asylum to Hong Kong protesters

The Chinese ambassador to Canada is warning the Trudeau government not to grant asylum to Hong Kong residents fleeing a widely criticized national security law imposed by Beijing. Ambassador Cong Peiwu brands pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong as violent criminals and says if Canada grants them asylum that amounts to interference in China's internal affairs. Cong says if Canada cares about 300,000 Canadian citizens in Hong Kong and the Canadian companies doing business there it should support Chinese efforts to fight what he calls fight violent crime. Cong also flatly rejects Prime Ministe
london-faces-new-restrictions-as-city-sees-higher-virus-risk
WorldOct 15, 2020

London faces new restrictions as city sees higher virus risk

The British government has moved London to its second-highest COVID-19 alert level. Authorities seek to slow the exponential rise in infection rates across the country. The government also increased the risk level in seven other areas, meaning millions of people will be barred from meeting socially with anyone from outside their households and they will be asked to minimize travel. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons that he recognized these restrictions are hard on individuals and businesses, but says tough decisions are needed now to keep people safe.
online-hate-racist-hiring-practices-among-targets-of-15m-federal-anti-racism-funds
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Online hate, racist hiring practices among targets of $15M federal anti-racism funds

At least a dozen new projects to go after online hate are being funded through Ottawa's anti-racism strategy today. Diversity Minister Bardish Chagger says 85 projects are getting money through the anti-racism action program. That program is part of the $45 million the federal government set aside in 2019 for the anti-racism strategy. The Liberals promised to double the funding for the strategy in the 2019 election campaign but that has not yet happened. Projects to target online hate were given priority in the action program and a dozen were approved, including one by the Canadian Anti-Hate
BCOct 15, 2020

Advance polling starts today in B.C. for provincial elections

Advance polling has started in BC for the provincial elections. Elections BC says almost 139-thousand vote-by-mail packages had been returned as of Tuesday. That's about 20 per cent of the estimated 699-thousand voters who asked for mail-in ballots. All three main parties in the BC election have now released platforms outlining their promises if elected on October 24th. The Greens unveiled their platform on Wednesday, with Sonia Furstenau promising a stronger, more equitable and sustainable province. Part of the platform includes bolstering income security with a move towards a basic income p
opposition-mps-brace-for-marathon-liberal-filibuster-over-we-documents-demand
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Opposition MPs brace for marathon Liberal filibuster over WE documents demand

Opposition MPs are bracing for another marathon meeting of the House of Commons ethics committee today as they ramp up efforts to revive their investigation into the WE Charity affair. Indeed, Conservative MP Michael Barrett says he and his colleagues are prepared for the meeting to drag on for days, if that's what it takes to finally force an end to a filibuster by Liberal committee members who've been blocking opposition demands for more documents. At issue is a motion put forward by Barrett last week calling on Speakers' Spotlight, the agency that arranged speaking engagements for Prime Mi
number-of-active-cases-of-covid-19-in-b-c-has-ticked-up-to-just-under-1-500-as-158-new-cases-reported
BCOct 15, 2020

Number of active cases of COVID-19 in B.C. has ticked up to just under 1,500 as 158 new cases reported

The number of active cases of COVID-19 has ticked up to just under 1,500 as B.C. reports 158 new cases on Wednesday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say in a joint news release that 84 people are in hospital, including 24 in intensive care. They say no one else has died from the illness since the province's last update, leaving the death toll at 250. The outbreak at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver is now over, while outbreaks are ongoing at two other acute care facilities and 17 assisted living or long-term care homes. More than 3,600 peopl
CanadaOct 15, 2020

Canadians spend more money and time online during COVID pandemic: StatCan

The COVID-19 pandemic has Canadians spending more time and money online. Statistics Canada says a survey conducted last month found that 44 per cent of Canadians had dropped more money on technology, including computers, laptops and tablets, and 42 per cent had sprung for more video streaming services. The survey also found about a third of Canadians say they've received attempted identity-theft attacks and 14 per cent reported at least one attack related to COVID-19 test results, a potential cure for the virus or about the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Analyst Christopher Collins says t
BCOct 14, 2020

192,000 customers lost power at some point during the storm on Tuesday: BC Hydro

BC Hydro says all but a handful of customers on the south coast were able to have a warm breakfast this morning after a powerful windstorm blacked out large areas of the region yesterday and overnight. Hydro says 192-thousand customers lost power at some point during the storm that began yesterday morning, hammering parts of Vancouver Island and the eastern Fraser Valley. Its website shows about 3,000 customers, mostly in Chilliwack or the Duncan area are still in the dark. The rest had power restored before sunrise this morning.
political-parties-being-criticized-for-failing-to-include-the-issue-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women-in-their-election-platforms
BCOct 14, 2020

Political parties being criticized for failing to include the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in their election platforms

BC's three main political parties are being criticized for failing to include the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in their election platforms. A coalition of 18 groups, including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, has sent a letter to the New Democrat, Liberal and Green leaders expressing ``grave concern and disappointment'' about the lack of any policies to implement the findings of a national inquiry into murdered and missing women. The coalition says the COVID-19 pandemic proves governments can move quickly when lives are at risk, yet the failure to act on missing and murdered w

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b-c-records-more-than-300-wildfires-so-far-this-season-most-now-extinguished
BCJun 22, 2026

B.C. records more than 300 wildfires so far this season, most now extinguished

More than 300 wildfires have been recorded in British Columbia since April 1, with most of them now extinguished, according to the BC Wildfire Service and provincial officials. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said there are currently 20 active wildfires across the province. Five of those fires were reported within the past 24 hours. According to Parmar, 14 of the active fires were caused by human activity, while four were sparked by lightning. The causes of the remaining two fires are still under investigation. Data from the BC Wildfire Service shows that 333 wildfires have been recorded in Briti
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AlbertaJun 22, 2026

Former Alberta finance minister Joe Ceci will not seek re-election in 2027

Longtime Alberta politician Joe Ceci says he will not seek re-election in the province's next general election, scheduled for the fall of 2027. Ceci served as Alberta's finance minister in former premier Rachel Notley's New Democratic government from 2015 to 2019, becoming the province's only NDP finance minister. During his time in cabinet, the government increased the minimum wage and expanded funding for family and community support programs. His tenure also coincided with a sharp downturn in oil prices that contributed to significant provincial budget deficits. The NDP government argued th
AlbertaJun 22, 2026

Alberta MLA expense claims draw scrutiny over high-end meals and minor purchases

A review of Alberta legislators' expense disclosures for the last fiscal year shows elected officials across party lines claimed expenses ranging from high-end restaurant meals to small everyday purchases, prompting questions from political observers about public perception and accountability. Under Alberta's legislative rules, members of the legislative assembly receive budgets to operate constituency offices, cover travel costs and host constituents and stakeholders. MLAs are also required to publicly disclose expense reports with itemized receipts. Among the larger expenses, Municipal Affai
AlbertaJun 22, 2026

Edmonton area residents urged to conserve water as heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems

Officials in Edmonton and several neighbouring communities are urging residents to reduce water use after heavy rainfall caused localized flooding and pushed stormwater and sewer systems toward capacity. The City of Edmonton issued a water supply alert, saying flooding and sewer backups have been reported in surrounding areas and warning that additional problems could occur if the stormwater system continues operating above capacity. Utility provider Epcor asked customers to delay activities that use large amounts of water, including showering, running washing machines and dishwashers, and to
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CanadaJun 22, 2026

Canada’s inflation rate rises to 3.2% in May as gasoline prices surge

Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 3.2 per cent in May, up from 2.8 per cent in April and marking its highest level since December 2023, according to Statistics Canada. The federal statistics agency said the increase was driven largely by a sharp rise in gasoline prices. Gas prices were up 33.2 per cent compared with the same month a year earlier, reflecting concerns over crude oil supplies linked to conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Statistics Canada said Canadians faced the highest prices for gasoline and diesel since June 2022, pushing inflation above