Strong job data in Canada's labor market has dampened expectations of further interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada. Statistics Canada said in a report released on Friday that the Canadian economy added 91,000 jobs in December, the largest monthly increase in the past two years. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent from 6.8 percent, indicating that the Canadian economy is responding to the Bank of Canada's easing of monetary policy. Following the latest labor market data, financial markets have reduced the likelihood of another rate cut at the Bank of Canada's next m

Sukhbir Singh Badal has given his first reaction after the Shiromani Akali Dal's working committee accepted his resignation. Badal explained that when he was to appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, he had made up his mind to go as a humble Sikh, which led him to send his resignation to the party's working committee. In his statement, Sukhbir Singh Badal also expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunity to lead in the past years. It is notable that his resignation was accepted at a time when the party has announced a major conference on the occasion of Maghi Mela.

The four individuals arrested in connection with the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar will have their next court appearance on February 11 for a pre-trial conference. They will also appear in court on February 12. Meanwhile, BC Prosecution Service Executive Communications Advisor Ann Seymour has denied reports in Indian media that the accused have been granted bail. Seymour stated that none of the accused in the Nijjar case has been released from custody and that they are not expected to be released, as they face serious charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to co

At least 10 people have been confirmed dead as a wildfire in the Los Angeles area of California spreads into the city. Officials say the actual death toll will not be known until it is safe for investigators to fully enter the area. At least four major wildfires are currently burning in Los Angeles County, with 29,000 acres of land scorched in the past four days. More than 10,000 buildings have been destroyed, and nearly 30,000 homes have been damaged. The Palisades and Eaton fires, both of which started on Tuesday, are the two largest fires in Los Angeles. Firefighters expect strong winds an

New data shared by British Columbia's Centre for Disease Control shows the province has one of the worst flu rates in Canada, as a holiday-season spike in respiratory illnesses continues. But the data also shows the province has one of the lowest COVID-19 test positivity rates in the country, at about half the national rate. Dr. Jennifer Vines, interim medical director for public health response at the B.C. CDC, says respiratory illness has been “steadily climbing” over the past several weeks, with RSV and influenza “driving the increase right now.” The report says about 13.5 per cent

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is out of the running to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, a Liberal source confirms to The Canadian Press. Joly is expected to talk to media today outside a Canada-U.S. relations cabinet committee meeting on Parliament Hill. The Liberal leadership race is fully underway, now that the party has set a date for the race. More big-name candidates are expected to announce soon whether they intend to run or sit this one out. Leadership hopefuls only have until Jan. 23 to declare and must pay a $350,000 fee to enter the race, which is set to conclude on

The Liberal Party of Canada will choose its next leader and the country's next prime minister on March 9, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to step down as leader and prime minister after holding the reins for nine years. "After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election," the party said in a statement. The party's national council announced the date after a series of meetings this week. The entry fee for potential candidates has been set at CAD $350,000 (approximately $2

Finally bowing before the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) working committee on Friday accepted the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as the party president. The development comes two days after the Akal Takht Jathedar took a tough stance on the issue in a meeting with the SAD leaders, who had not implemented his directions on re-organisation of the party. SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema announced this here after the working committee meeting. The SAD had been arguing that the party's constitution and its registration as a political party under the Constitution demanded it to

B.C.’s main opposition leader, John Rustad, has called for an independent investigation into the 2024 legislative election. Rustad claimed that a team investigating his candidate’s defeat in Surrey-Guildford found multiple irregularities that could have potentially altered the final results. He also questioned the electoral process, alleging that BC Elections did not verify whether those who voted were Canadian citizens. Rustad called for electoral reforms to ensure that only Canadian citizens are eligible to vote. The party further alleged that someone in Surrey-Guildford had voted twice