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weighing-our-options-ottawa-open-to-further-pause-to-expand-assisted-dying-rules
CanadaDec 15, 2023

'Weighing our options': Ottawa open to further pause to expand assisted dying rules

The federal government is considering whether to pause its original plan to broaden the rules that govern medically assisted dying so they include patients whose only underlying condition is a mental disorder. "We're weighing our options," Justice Minister Arif Virani said Thursday. It would be the second time the federal Liberals have hit pause on the plan. The first came in February, when the government decided to impose a one-year delay amid widespread public and political concern. That decision established a new deadline of March 2024, one that now appears in jeopardy. Cabinet will consid
speaker-greg-fergus-apologizes-in-house-of-commons-again-for-partisan-video
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Speaker Greg Fergus apologizes in House of Commons again for partisan video

The Speaker of the House of Commons has once again apologized for filming a video played at a partisan event, after a parliamentary committee called on him to show more contrition. Speaker Greg Fergus says he made a "serious mistake" in recording a video in tribute to the outgoing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals. He was wearing his ceremonial robes in the video, which was shot in his Parliament Hill office and played at the provincial party's recent leadership convention. The procedure and House affairs committee said in a report released Thursday that there should be clearer guidelines
online-news-act-funding-capped-for-private-broadcasters-cbc-report
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: Report

The final regulations for the Online News Act show the amount of funding both private broadcasters and the CBC will get through Ottawa's 100-million-deal with Google will be limited. The regulation shows private broadcasters will receive at most 30-million-dollars from the fund, while CBC/Radio-Canada will see no more than 7 million dollars. The rest of the money is earmarked for other qualifying news outlets like newspapers and digital platforms Last month Google agreed to contribute 100-million-dollars a year to Canadian news publishers, indexed to inflation, leaving it exempt from havin
senate-passes-liberal-bill-that-enshrines-handgun-freeze-targets-ghost-guns
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Senate passes Liberal bill that enshrines handgun freeze, targets ghost guns

Senators have passed a government bill that cements restrictions on handguns, increases penalties for firearm trafficking and aims to curb homemade ghost guns. The legislation also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition. Senators voted 60 to 24 in favour of the bill at third reading today. Upon introducing the bill last year, the Liberals announced a plan to implement a freeze on importing, buying, selling or otherwise transferring handguns to help reduce firearm-related violence. Federal regulations aimed at capping the number of handguns in Cana
death-toll-among-b-c-s-homeless-rising-hits-342-people-last-year-coroners-report
BCDec 15, 2023

Death toll among BC's homeless rising, hits 342 people last year: Coroner's report

British Columbia's Coroners Service says there's been a sharp increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness. A statement from the coroners service says the deaths of 342 people experiencing homelessness were reported last year, an increase of almost 140 over the past two years. The coroners service says there were 1,464 deaths of people who were homeless in B.C. in the period between 2015 and 2022, averaging about 183 deaths per year. Most of those deaths were in Vancouver, Victoria and Surrey, BC, and 82 per cent of them were male. However, the coroners service says the number of
BCDec 14, 2023

World Health Organization calls for ALL flavored vapes to be banned worldwide

The World Health Organization has advocated a ban on all flavored vapes. The World Health Organization has urged governments to ban e-cigarettes on the same lines as tobacco.The United Nations agency said that the time has come to take necessary steps to control them. The World Health Organization cited the study as saying that there is little evidence that vapes have released cigarette butts. The agency said flavored vapes pose a risk to non-smokers, particularly as they may increase nicotine addiction among children and youth. According to the agency, children aged 13 to 15 are using it more
canadian-home-sales-down-in-november-average-price-up-from-year-ago-crea
BCDec 14, 2023

Canadian home sales down in November, average price up from year ago: CREA

The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales fell in November as the average price of a home sold inched highercompared with a year ago. The association says November home sales fell 0.9 per cent compared with the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, November home sales were also down 0.9 per cent compared with October this year. The number of newly listed homes fell 1.8 per cent on a month-over-month basis in November. CREA says with new listings down more than sales in November, the national sales-to-new listings ratio rose for the first time since April to come in
trucker-who-caused-broncos-crash-loses-latest-bid-to-stay-in-canada
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Trucker who caused Broncos crash loses latest bid to stay in Canada

Truck driver who caused deadly Broncos crash loses latest bid to stay in Canada A judge has dismissed applications from the truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan and was fighting deportation back to India. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu was sentenced to eight years for causing the 2018 crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. He was granted parole earlier this year, but the Canada Border Services Agency had recommended he be deported Sidhu's lawyer argued before the Federal Court in September that border services officials didn't consider Sidhu's previou
israel-claimed-to-have-arrested-dozens-of-hamas-fighters-from-the-hospital-in-gaza
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Israel claimed to have arrested dozens of Hamas fighters from the hospital in Gaza

The Israeli military has claimed to have arrested dozens of Hamas fighters at a hospital in northern Gaza. Army has declared more than 70 people arrested from Kamal Advan Hospital as terrorists and seized dozens of weapons from the hospital. Israel says Hamas fighters at the hospital surrendered with their weapons. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Health Ministry alleged that the Israeli army tried to stop the care of 10 patients, resulting in two deaths.Meanwhile, internet and phone services have been disrupted in Gaza. Hamas' health ministry says more than 18,700 of its people have been killed in Ga

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prince-george-rcmp-arrest-teen-in-2024-fentanyl-related-youth-death
BCJan 15, 2026

Prince George RCMP Arrest Teen in 2024 Fentanyl-Related Youth Death

Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit has arrested a 17-year-old in connection with a 2024 fentanyl-related overdose that claimed the life of a 16-year-old. Police were first called to a home in the College Heights neighbourhood after a youth was found unconscious. The teenager was transported to hospital, where they later died. Toxicology results confirmed high levels of fentanyl in the youth’s system. Following an investigation, the B.C. Prosecution Service approved a manslaughter charge. On January 13, 2026, officers executed an arrest warrant, and the accused was brought to court and
nanaimo-man-faces-multiple-charges-after-downtown-coffee-shop-incident
BCJan 15, 2026

Nanaimo man faces multiple charges after downtown coffee shop incident

Nanaimo RCMP say a local man is facing several criminal charges following an incident at a downtown coffee shop earlier this week. Police were called around noon on January 13 to a business at 8–90 Front Street after a confrontation between a customer and the store manager. The situation escalated, resulting in an assault and damage to property, according to RCMP. The following day, the BC Prosecution Service approved five charges against 40-year-old Aiden Tye of Nanaimo. He faces charges of assault, assault with a weapon, mischief, committing an indecent act in public, and exposure of an in
alberta-government-launches-review-of-calgary-water-main-breaks-requests-city-records
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Alberta government launches review of Calgary water main breaks, requests city records

The Alberta government has initiated a formal review of Calgary’s recurring water main failures, requesting extensive records from the city spanning the past 20 years. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams said in a letter to Calgary officials, shared publicly on social media, that the review aims to ensure the city’s 1.6 million residents have access to safe and reliable water services. Williams noted that while the city is actively addressing the latest rupture, the province must take steps to prevent future incidents. The concerns focus on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, a key pipelin
federal-privacy-watchdog-probes-sexualized-deepfakes-on-x-platform
CanadaJan 15, 2026

Federal privacy watchdog probes sexualized deepfakes on X platform

Canada’s federal privacy commissioner has launched an investigation into sexualized deepfakes circulating on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Philippe Dufresne, who oversees federal private sector privacy compliance, has expanded an existing probe into X and opened a separate inquiry into xAI, the company behind Grok, the artificial intelligence tool used to generate the content. The office of the privacy commissioner said the investigations will determine whether X and xAI collected, used, or disclosed personal information without valid consent in the creation of deep
AlbertaJan 15, 2026

Two seriously injured after pit bulls attack caretakers in Vermilion area

Two people were taken to hospital with serious injuries after being attacked by two pit bulls at a rural property near Vermilion, east of Edmonton, according to RCMP. Mounties say officers were called Wednesday to a home in the Vermilion area, roughly 190 kilometres east of Edmonton, after the dogs turned on their caretakers. Police did not release details about the extent of the injuries but confirmed both victims required medical treatment. Following the attack, the dogs escaped from the property, prompting authorities to warn residents about the potential risk of the animals being loose in