The British Columbia legislature has passed Bill 5, the Trade Recognition Act, with support from all parties, a move the provincial government says will reduce interprovincial trade barriers and expand market access for businesses. The legislation allows goods and services that are legally sold in another Canadian province or territory to be sold in British Columbia without requiring duplicate provincial certification, according to the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon said the measure builds on previous efforts to streamline i

An Australian coroner says a 19-year-old woman from British Columbia drowned after being attacked by a pack of dingoes during an early morning walk on an island off Queensland. Piper James was on a backpacking trip and had been working on K'Gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she died on Jan. 19. According to the Coroners Court of Queensland, a forensic pathologist with Queensland Health determined James drowned after sustaining multiple injuries during the attack. A spokesperson for the coroner said the injuries occurred “due to or as a consequence of” the dingo attack. Authoritie

The Government of Canada has issued an updated travel advisory for Canadians travelling to Pakistan, warning that the security situation in parts of the country remains fragile. According to the advisory published by Global Affairs Canada, rising tensions in the Middle East and ongoing military clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border have increased safety concerns for travellers. Canadian officials say risks in Pakistan include terrorism, kidnapping and sectarian violence, and travellers are advised to exercise a high degree of caution. The advisory recommends that Canadians avoid all

Former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper is in India this week and took part in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he met with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The annual conference brings together political leaders, security officials and policy experts from around the world to discuss global security, geopolitics and economic cooperation. Scott Moe, the premier of Saskatchewan, is also attending the event. Speaking to reporters during the conference, Moe said he was encouraged by meetings held earlier this week between Canadian and Indian representative

The United States says it will allow India to continue purchasing Russian oil for 30 days as global energy markets face pressure during the ongoing conflict involving Iran. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the temporary waiver is intended to help maintain stability in global oil supply while shipments already in transit are completed. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday the decision was made to prevent disruptions in the international oil market. Bessent said the measure applies only to oil cargoes that are already moving through maritime routes and would other

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Friday as he wrapped up the final leg of a three-country Indo-Pacific tour focused on trade and strategic cooperation. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders announced a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aimed at expanding cooperation in defence, energy and technology. Carney also presented Takaichi with a birthday cake made using Canadian maple syrup during the meeting. The visit is part of Canada’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to diversify trade relation

Usually, when media has interactions with the police, it is related to some serious incidents/announcements or some serious business. But in contrast, the media's interaction with the police on Wednesday at the BC RCMP headquarters at Green Timbers in Surrey took place in a very lively atmosphere where police officials and media-persons were visibly happy. Police officers, who usually appear alert, cautious and serious, were seen playing with little puppies in the media room of BC RCMP headquarters. This occasion seemed joyous and relaxing for the officers. This relates to an annual contest du

A former Vancouver Island hockey coach has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after being convicted of child luring involving a 15-year-old girl during a 2020 hockey camp in Port Alberni. According to a B.C. Provincial Court ruling, Foster Chadwick Martin was found guilty in December of luring a child after sending explicit messages to the teen through Instagram and Snapchat during a hockey camp. Court documents state Martin was 20 years old at the time of the offence. The court heard that Martin later worked as a jail guard with the Victoria Police Department. He was removed from his positio

Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Glen Purves, a senior economist at BlackRock, as Canada’s new deputy minister of international trade, according to a federal government announcement. The appointment is aimed at expanding Canadian exports beyond the United States and strengthening access to global markets. The government said Purves will help guide international trade policy as Canada works to diversify trade partnerships. Purves has served since January 2025 as global head of macro research at the BlackRock Investment Institute in New York. He previously spent 12 years in the federal