Canada’s chief negotiator with the United States, Janice Charette, says talks on the North American trade agreement could stretch beyond the July 1 deadline, adding to uncertainty for businesses across the region. Charette made the remarks during a business forum in Ottawa, where she said ongoing negotiations on the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement may take longer than anticipated. U.S. officials have also previously signalled that a delay is possible, according to public statements. Experts say missing the July 1 target could prolong uncertainty for companies that rely on cross-border

Some residents may still be inside an evacuation zone in northeastern British Columbia after road access was closed due to landslide risk, according to the Peace River Regional District. In a social media update, the regional district said a co-ordinated evacuation took place Monday night in the community of Old Fort, about five kilometres south of Fort St. John, but some residents may not have left the area. Authorities are urging anyone still inside the zone to conserve supplies and stay away from the slide area. The district declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations called on the United Nations on Tuesday to support First Nations leaders opposing proposed changes to British Columbia’s Indigenous rights law. Speaking at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the province’s plan to amend or suspend parts of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act violates international standards. According to her remarks to the forum, First Nations rights are protected under international human rights law and “cannot be suspended, amended or paused by

Corrections officers at Mission Institution in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley seized a package containing suspected drugs and contraband after it was discovered inside the prison grounds earlier this month, according to police. The RCMP said in a news release that staff located the package on April 9 after it had been dropped over the facility’s perimeter fence overnight. The parcel was disguised to resemble a patch of loose turf, with real cut grass attached to the outside of a bubble mailer to blend in with the surrounding ground. According to police, the package contained more than 30

The federal government has introduced legislation that would establish a regulatory framework for launching spacecraft from Canadian territory. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon tabled the proposed Canadian Space Launch Act on Tuesday. According to a Transport Canada technical briefing, the legislation would give the federal government authority to oversee both launches and the re-entry of spacecraft. Officials said the proposed rules are intended to enable launches of satellites and rockets from within Canada, supporting both civilian and military applications. The framework would also set

Surrey Memorial Hospital has added six new chemotherapy treatment chairs, bringing the total to 39, in an effort to address growing demand for cancer care in the region. According to health officials, the expansion will allow up to 420 additional patients to receive treatment each month. Dr. Sylvie Bourque, executive medical director at BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, said demand for chemotherapy services in Surrey continues to rise. She said the expanded capacity is expected to help the hospital meet a key target: starting first treatment for more than 90 per cent of patients within two weeks of

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has signed a joint statement with South Korea that includes the removal of a three per cent tariff on crude oil exports from the province, according to an Alberta government release. The province says eliminating the tariff is expected to expand market access for Canadian energy producers exporting bitumen and other crude products. Alberta exported $400 million in crude oil to South Korea last year, and the government estimates that figure could increase to as much as $1 billion annually following the change. The agreement comes as Smith has set a target to doubl

Members of Alberta’s legislature are expected to vote today on a government motion to revisit proposed electoral boundary changes ahead of the province’s next general election in 2027. Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government has introduced the motion to reconsider a recent electoral boundaries commission report. Smith said the move follows a recommendation from the panel’s chair to examine adding more constituencies to better reflect representation in rural areas. According to statements from the premier, the government argues that population shifts and geographic consi

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says authorities will investigate a shooting at the Teotihuacán pyramids that left one Canadian tourist dead and another injured. The incident occurred Monday at the historic site northeast of Mexico City, according to statements posted by federal officials. Sheinbaum said on social media the shooting “deeply pains” her government and confirmed she has been in contact with the Canadian Embassy. Details about the victims have not been fully released by Canadian officials. Mexican security officials identified the suspected gunman to The Associated Press