B.C. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says new legislation will speed up major public and private projects, including mines and other natural resource enterprises.The government of Premier David Eby has previously promised to speed up permitting to improve the provincial economy after last year's election, then amid tariff and annexation threats from United States President Donald Trump.Ma says in the legislature that the Infrastructure Projects Act tabled on Thursday will designate projects that are significant to the province and oversee the planning, procurement and delivery of major capit

Alberta's government is seeking a court ruling on the constitutionality of Ottawa's clean electricity grid regulations. The regulations were finalized late last year and lay out a plan to decarbonize electricity grids across Canada by 2025. Abandoning the regulations is one of nine demands Premier Danielle Smith laid out for the next federal government in advance of Monday's election. But she says she's received no indication that the government under Prime Minister Mark Carney will take action. Smith says Ottawa is overstepping its jurisdiction and that the regulations will harm the affordabi

Buying a new electric car in B.C. could be expensive. The province’s car dealers have issued the warning in response to Premier David Eby government halting the electric vehicle rebate program. They say the federal government ended its rebate earlier this year and now B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix has said the province is halting its rebate program as it reviews its Clean B.C. climate program. Car dealers say the move will put the price of new electric cars out of reach for many. Blair Quayle, president of the New Car Dealers Association, said electric cars are still more expensive than

Ontario is reporting its highest increase in measles cases since its outbreak began, with 223 new infections in the province over the past week. That brings the total number of people in the province who have fallen ill from the virus to 1,243 since October. Public Health Ontario said in a report today that 84 people have been hospitalized _ including 63 children _ during the course of this outbreak. Eight patients have been admitted to intensive care. The agency notes that its southwestern public health unit has had 57 new infections, compared to 15 the previous the week. Neighbouring Grand

Vancouver Whitecaps have made history by defeating Lionel Messi's Inter Miami to reach the final of the CONCACAF Championship. Vancouver's football team defeated Inter Miami 3-1 in the second match of this championship at Chase Stadium in Florida on Wednesday night. Earlier, Inter Miami had lost 2-0 to the Whitecaps at BC Place Stadium. Thus, the Canadian team won the two semi-final matches with a total score of 5-1. This is the first time in the history of the Vancouver Whitecaps club that the team has reached the final of the CONCACAF Championship Cup. Before this, it had only reached the

Shiromani Akali Dal president and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has attacked BJP on Bhakra water issue and has also warned of launching a big front to protect Punjab's waters. It is learnt that Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini had written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, informing about the shortage of drinking water in many parts of Haryana, demanding 8500 cusecs of water. According to Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Haryana has used its share of water allocated for this year till March 31 and is demanding three times more wate

The Canadian government is reviewing a $19-billion purchase of US-made fighter jets, but defense experts warn it could anger Trump as Ottawa and Washington prepare to negotiate a new economic and security relationship. Mark Carney, who took office as prime minister in March, ordered a review of the F-35 fighter jet purchase from Lockheed Martin as the trade war between Canada and the United States escalated. A Department of National Defence spokesman said Wednesday that the F-35 purchase is under review but could not say when it would be completed. However, experts believe it is unlikely t

The Quebec government is expanding its cellphone ban in schools, prohibiting the devices on the grounds of the province's elementary and high schools for the entire school day. Education Minister Bernard Drainville says the measure will encourage young people to socialize and will help prevent cyberbullying. Cellphones have already been prohibited in Quebec classrooms since January 2024, with a few exceptions. The new ban takes effect this fall and will apply from the beginning to the end of the school day, including during lunch breaks and in hallways, cafeterias and schoolyards. The ban was

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with both countries to reduce rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Rubio on Wednesday appealed to Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar separately during phone calls to reduce tensions. In his conversation with Jaishankar, Rubio also expressed grief over the deaths in the Pahalgam attack. Hours after his phone conversation with the US Secretary of State, Jaishankar on Thursday said that the perpetrators, supporters and conspirato