B.C. Conservative MLA for Abbotsford-South Bruce Banman has left the party and announced that he will sit as an independent member in the legislature. Banman is the sixth MLA to leave the party this month amid growing concerns over leader Karin Kirkpatrick Findlay’s leadership. In a statement, Banman said he had been receiving consistent feedback from residents that Findlay, who currently does not hold a seat in the legislature, is unable to lead the party to an election victory. He said the party needs to broaden its political appeal to defeat Premier David Eby’s NDP government, but argue

Quebec’s provincial election campaign has officially heated up ahead of the October 5 vote, with U.S. President Donald Trump and the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade war emerging as major campaign issues. The focus on international economic tensions has, at least for now, pushed traditional provincial issues and the independence referendum debate further into the background. Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette launched her campaign by portraying Trump as her party’s “real adversary.” She argued that Trump’s tariffs and economic policies pose a seri

Canada’s economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.3% in the second quarter of 2026, marking its strongest quarterly expansion since early 2023 and easing concerns that the country could slip into a technical recession. The latest figures from Statistics Canada showed a sharp rebound from the first quarter, which was revised upward to 0.3% growth. The growth was driven by a strong increase in exports, which rose 3.6%, along with stronger household spending and a recovery in business investment. Auto exports, in particular, provided a significant boost to Canada’s international trade. Busines

The Canadian government has added several products to its counter-tariff list in response to U.S. tariffs. According to the office of Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, the changes are intended to match U.S. tariffs on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The ministry also said seafood that had previously been proposed for the list was removed because the United States is not imposing tariffs on Canadian seafood. The revised list includes charcoal, copper wire, plaster products such as boards, seats and tiles, printed materials including pictures and photographs, and products used for packag

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order seeking to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America” with immediate effect, amid escalating tensions between Canada and the United States over trade. The lake, which lies along the Canada-U.S. border, has become the latest target of Trump’s symbolic naming campaign after trade talks between Washington and Ottawa broke down completely. Trump had threatened in recent days to take the symbolic step, although it was initially unclear whether the U.S. president was serious about actually changing the name. Canadian officials, however, have al

Two people were killed in a serious crash involving a Volkswagen Jetta and a Kia Sedona minivan on Highway 19 near Lantzville on Vancouver Island early Friday morning. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 3 a.m. near the intersection of Ware Road, involving two vehicles travelling in the southbound lanes. Police said two occupants of the Volkswagen died at the scene. The 16-year-old girl driving the Kia minivan was also injured and remains in hospital for treatment. The teenage driver has been charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous operation of a m

Metro Vancouver is set to ease its water restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 starting Sept. 1, allowing residents and businesses to water their lawns once a week. Under Stage 1, residential properties with even-numbered addresses can water their lawns on Saturdays, while odd-numbered addresses can do so on Sundays. Automatic watering is permitted from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., while manual watering is allowed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. For commercial properties, lawn watering will be allowed on Mondays for even-numbered addresses and Tuesdays for odd-numbered addresses. Trees, shrubs and flowers can als

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has confirmed that 30 Canadian citizens and permanent residents are among the hundreds of people reported missing following severe flooding and landslides in the border region between Nepal and Tibet. In a statement issued Thursday, Anand said Canadian officials are in continuous contact with local authorities and international partners to support the safe return of Canadians in the affected areas and assist their families. However, the minister said there is currently no confirmed information about the whereabouts or well-being of the missing Ca

A 43-year-old man, Dustin Gastel, has been sentenced to three years in prison for desecrating human remains in connection with a 2023 homicide in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The case came to light on January 3, 2023, when Vancouver Fire Rescue Services discovered burned human remains while extinguishing a suspicious outdoor fire near Powell Street and Raymur Avenue. Police later identified the victim as 34-year-old Jeff Genty, who was the first homicide victim recorded in Vancouver that year. According to Vancouver police, Gastel was sentenced by the court on August 10. His three-year sen