Sonia Furstenau has resigned as leader of the BC Green Party following her loss in the October 2024 legislative election. Although Furstenau, 54, had led the party since 2020, she decided to step down after her defeat. Furstenau had served as the MLA for Cowichan Valley since 2017. However, in the most recent election, she chose to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill, where she was defeated by NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore by 3,688 votes. The BC Greens now have only two MLAs in the province. Born in Edmonton, Sonia Furstenau earned a degree in education from the University of Victoria before workin

The B.C. government, under Premier David Eby, has set a five-year housing target aimed at delivering a total of 27,256 homes in Surrey by June 30, 2029. The provincial government has requested that the city submit an annual progress report to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. The housing target, which began on July 1, 2024, outlines specific milestones for new construction: 4,233 homes are expected to be built by June 30, 2025, followed by 4,639 homes between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, 5,248 homes are planned, followed by 6,060 new homes between July 1,

The Justice Marie-Josee Hogue Commission, which investigated foreign interference in Canada, released its final report today. The commission dismissed allegations that some Members of Parliament (MPs) were involved in foreign interference to secure success in their election campaigns. Justice Hogue stated that there was no evidence indicating that any MP had conspired with foreign countries against Canadian interests. This finding contrasts with claims made in June, when a committee of MPs and senators suggested that some MPs had deliberately met with foreign representatives to meddle in Cana

Despite strong opposition from Sikh organizations in Punjab and the SGPC, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has once again been granted parole. Reports confirm he walked out of Sunaria Jail on Tuesday morning under tight security. This marks the first time since his imprisonment that he has been permitted to stay at the Dera in Sirsa. This is Ram Rahim’s 12th release on parole since his conviction in 2017 for sexual harassment and the murder of two sadhvis. Previously, during his parole periods, he was only allowed to stay at the Baghpat Ashram in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, his latest p

The race for the Liberal Party leadership, which will determine Canada’s next prime minister, now features six candidates. After Chandra Arya was dropped from the contest, the party cleared former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, Nova Scotia MP Jamie Batiste, former government House leader Karina Gould, former Brampton MP Ruby Dhalla, and former Montreal Liberal MP Frank Baylis. These candidates are awaiting approval from Elections Canada to officially enter the race. Ruby Dhalla, the only Indian-origin candidate, has announced her intention to deport i

US President Donald Trump, during an event in Florida, threatened to impose high tariffs on countries like India, China, and Brazil. He emphasized that it is time for America to return to the economic system that made it rich and powerful. Trump claimed that these countries are pursuing their own interests, which is harming the United States. He stated that the US will increase its wealth by imposing taxes on other countries. He further added that foreign companies seeking to avoid high tariffs must set up their manufacturing plants in the US. Trump also warned American industries about the r

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit the US in February to meet President Donald Trump. On Monday, PM Modi spoke to Trump over the phone. Following the conversation, Trump informed the media that Modi is expected to visit the US in February. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet confirmed the visit. Trump also mentioned that the two leaders discussed immigration issues during their call. He stated that Modi would take appropriate steps regarding Indian immigrants who have entered the US illegally. Reports suggest that preparations are underway to repatriate Indians li

Serbia’s populist Prime Minister Milos Vucevic said Tuesday he is stepping down following weeks of massiveanti-corruption protestsover the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy in November. “It is my unconditional decision to resign,” Vucevic said at a press conference. The canopy collapse,which killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad, has become a flashpoint reflecting wider discontent with the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbia’s populistPresident Aleksandar Vucic.He has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms in Serbia despite formally seeking European Union me

The organization representing Alberta physicians is calling out a government panel's COVID-19 report as “anti-science.” Dr. Shelley Duggan, head of the Alberta Medical Association, says the report sows distrust by going against proven preventive health measures while promoting fringe methods. She says the report advances misinformation, speaks against international scientific consensus, and its recommendations have the potential to cause harm. The $2-million report calls for the government to halt COVID-19 vaccines without the full disclosure of risks and to end their use for healthy chi