The NDP and Bloc Québécois have called on the Trudeau government to extend the $250 rebate to retirees. This move could significantly increase the cost of the government's proposed relief package. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a $6.28-billion relief package for Canadians, including a GST exemption and a $250 rebate. Of this total, $4.68 billion is allocated to send $250 checks to Canadians. The government needs the support of at least one party in Parliament to implement the full package, but Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet has said he will only support the Liberals' plan i

The teenager who is infected with the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza acquired in Canada remains in critical care at BC Children’s Hospital, officials said Tuesday. Speaking at a news conference in Victoria, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the young person is stable, but still very sick. “Our thoughts remain with them and their family, and we remain hopeful, as they have made some progress in the last few days, that they will recover from this very severe infection,” she said. Over the past two weeks, public health officials have tested and monitored dozens of h

Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada is considering a number of measures at the American border, including additional resources. This comes after president-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports unless action is taken to stem the flow of both migrants and illegal drugs crossing the border. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, its officers recorded nearly 200,000 encounters at the northern border in the fiscal year that ended in September. That figure includes apprehensions, people who are deemed inadmissible and those who

BC Premier David Eby has criticized Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs and called on the Trudeau government to respond forcefully. Eby argued that the tariffs would not only harm Canada but also negatively impact the United States. He emphasized that Trump’s move would affect both countries equally. It is important to note that the United States is the largest market for British Columbia, accounting for about 54 percent of the province's total exports. According to provincial government figures, BC's exports to the United States in 2023 were valued at over $30 billion, with the province prim

In a significant blow to Canada, Donald Trump has announced that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico as soon as he takes office as President of the United States in the new year. This move is expected to cause major damage to Canadian businesses, jobs, and the economy, as the United States is Canada's largest trading partner. The impact can be gauged by the fact that in 2023, Canada's exports to the United States totaled $593 billion, which accounted for more than 77 percent of Canada's total exports. Trump has warned that the tariffs will remain in place un

Tourism body Destination Vancouver says Taylor Swift will bring an estimated $157 million economic impact to the city next week with the three final concert dates of the record-breaking Eras Tour. Destination Vancouver says the forecast includes $97 million in direct spending on items including accommodation, food and transport. It says the Eras Tour is expected to bring more than 150,000 Swifties to BC Place over the three shows from Dec. 6 to 8, and has resulted in more than 82,000 rooms booked across the region. The tourism organization made the calculations with BC Pavilion Corporation, wh

A commercial food processing company is facing 26 charges after an Edmonton worker became trapped in a smokehouse and died. Ontario-based Sofina Foods Inc. is charged with offences under Alberta health and safety laws. The province says the facility supervisor had gone to check the temperature of the smokehouse in March 2023 and was trapped inside. The employee was found by a co-worker and later died due to heat exposure. Smokehouses are used to process and preserve meat. It's alleged the company failed to ensure the smokehouse was well maintained and not a risk for staff.

British Columbia is making disaster financial assistance available to victims of floodwaters that gushed through several communities when an atmospheric river dumped hundreds of millimetres of rain on parts of the province last month. The province says flood-affected residents of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, the Squamish First Nation and North and West Vancouver are eligible. The financial aid of up to $400,000 per claim is aimed at compensating for "sudden, unexpected and uninsurable losses," such as damage to a principal residence and debris removal. The deadline for applications is Feb. 23 ne

Alberta Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi says a decision not to mail out voter registration cards due to the Canada Post strike could hurt turnout in a provincial byelection that's been called for a week before Christmas. Nenshi, who leads the province's NDP, says in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure that the cards are ``one of the few remaining supports provided by Elections Alberta to promote access to democracy.'' Premier Danielle Smith announced last week that a byelection for Lethbridge-West will be held Dec. 18, to fill the vacancy that opened up when former ND