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canadians-facing-huge-increase-in-property-tax-this-year
CanadaJan 12, 2024

Canadians facing huge increase in property tax this year

Canadians are facing a huge increase in property taxes this year. Toronto homeowners will see their biggest increase yet in the series as the city proposed a 10.5 per cent increase in property taxes in the budget and warned that property taxes could rise to 16.5 per cent if funding for refugee support is not forthcoming from the federal government. Meanwhile, property taxes in Montreal are going up about 5 percent this year. This is the biggest increase in the 13-year history of the city. On the other hand, the property tax in Vancouver is currently 7.5 percent after increasing by 10.7 perce
entry-248222
CanadaJan 12, 2024

Meta offered $51 million to Canadian Facebook users

Some of the Canadian Facebook users have been offered $51 million in a class action lawsuit by Meta. The lawyer who is representing the case against the giant social media company said that this settlement proposal sent by Meta is a positive sign for other companies as well. Meta is facing lawsuits from four states over an advertising program on Facebook called Sponsored Stories that ran from 2011 to 2014. People's names and pictures were used in this program without their knowledge. Now Meta is offering $51 million to settle these lawsuits. The lawsuit was filed in 2019 by a BC woman, who
us-britain-launch-strikes-against-houthis-in-yemen
WorldJan 12, 2024

US-Britain launch strikes against Houthis in Yemen

The air strikes on Yemen by America and Britain have been criticized by the leaders of Yemen's Houthi movement. According to a report published on a houthi-backed website, bombs were dropped on Yemen's capital Sana'a, the coastal province of Al-Hudaydah, the northern province of Saada, Hajja, Dhamar and Taez. According to the report, apart from Dilmi Air Base, Hudaydah and Hajjah airports were also targeted in the attack. This morning, a faction of Houthi fighters released a statement on Al-Masriha TV broadcast by their spokesman Yahya Yaha Sariya. This statement is also posted on X.
city-of-surrey-refuses-to-pay-new-sps-recruits-union
BCJan 12, 2024

City of Surrey refuses to pay new SPS recruits: Union

A dispute between the City of Surrey and the Surrey Police Union has escalated after the city refused to pay salaries for newly recruited officers, citing budget overruns. Union spokesperson Ryan Buehring said members were shocked to learn just before Christmas that the city would not add recruits to its payroll. “These officers joined in good faith, and to be told days before the holidays that they would not be paid is unacceptable,” Buehring told Connect Newsroom. The city confirmed it sent a letter on December 19 advising the Surrey Police Service that additional hires should not have b
the-uk-prime-minister-is-in-kyiv-to-announce-a-new-support-package-for-ukraine
WorldJan 12, 2024

The UK prime minister is in Kyiv to announce a new support package for Ukraine

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is visiting Kyiv on Friday to announce a new package of support, including an increase in military funding, a statement from his office said. Sunak is expected to announce an increase in military funding for Ukraine for the next financial year to 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion), the statement said.
surrey-rcmp-releases-new-video-on-gang-danger
BCJan 11, 2024

Surrey RCMP releases new video on gang danger

The Surrey RCMP Gang Enforcement Team has launched a new campaign aimed at steering children and teenagers away from gangs, with videos set to be shown in schools across the district starting this week. The video features Eileen Mohan, whose son was killed in the Surrey Six massacre, alongside a convicted murderer who reflects on his own role in gang life. Police say the contrasting stories are intended to highlight the devastating consequences of gang involvement for both victims’ families and offenders. Inspector Ryan Element said the goal is to deliver a message that resonates with youth.
health-professionals-call-for-reforms-as-hospitals-across-canada-face-overcrowding
CanadaJan 11, 2024

Health professionals call for reforms as hospitals across Canada face overcrowding

Hospitals across Canada are facing a crisis due to overcrowding. According to the Canadian Medical Association, despite the tireless efforts of doctors, nurses and other providers, patients in some areas are waiting 20 hours or more for treatment. The association has requested the help of the provincial governments to deal with the situation. Kathleen Ross, president of the medical association, said that the number of patients with influenza, Covid and respiratory viruses are on the rise, while access to high-quality primary care is low and hospital emergency rooms are becoming overcrowded du
metro-vancouver-victoria-join-the-rest-of-b-c-alberta-saskatchewan-in-bitter-cold
BCJan 11, 2024

Metro Vancouver, Victoria join the rest of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan in bitter cold

Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, and the Fraser Valley are expecting frigid wind chills to arrive tonight, joining much of the rest of Western and Northern Canada under various cold weather warnings. Environment Canada says Arctic air combined with strong winds gusting to 60 km/h in the region will generate wind chill values that feel like -20 until at least Saturday. Extreme cold warnings remain in place for parts of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, B.C., northern Saskatchewan, and all of Alberta. Communities have been grappling with bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills that feel as
government-was-warned-two-years-ago-high-immigration-could-affect-housing-costs
CanadaJan 11, 2024

Government was warned two years ago high immigration could affect housing costs

Federal public servants warned the government two years ago that large increases to immigration could affect housing affordability and services, internal documents show. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press through an access-to-information request show Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada analyzed the potential effects immigration would have on the economy, housing and services, as it prepared its immigration targets for 2023 to 2025. The deputy minister, among others, was warned in 2022 that housing construction had not kept up with the pace of population growth. "In Canada, popul

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BCJul 24, 2026

Woman fatally shot in Toronto's Etobicoke; suspect arrested, police say

A woman was fatally shot in Toronto's Etobicoke neighbourhood early Saturday morning, and a suspect has been arrested, according to Toronto Police. Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting at about 7:20 a.m. near Humberwood Boulevard and Rexdale Boulevard. The woman was found with gunshot injuries and was pronounced dead. Police have not publicly identified the victim or the accused, and the investigation remains ongoing. An eyewitness told media the victim appeared to be a woman in her early 20s and was walking from a nearby bus stop when a man approached her from behind, brief
BCJul 24, 2026

Surrey Council to Vote on Contract for 56 New Speed Bumps Near Schools and Parks

The City of Surrey is moving ahead with plans to install 56 new speed bumps near schools and parks as part of efforts to improve safety for children and pedestrians. Surrey City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on a contract to carry out the project. According to the council agenda, the project will be funded through the City's 2026 transportation budget. If approved, installation is expected to begin later this month, with work targeted for completion by the end of September ahead of the new school year. The proposed construction schedule would allow work to take place Monday through Frida
roundtable-to-examine-canadas-proposed-safe-social-media-act
EnglishJul 24, 2026

Roundtable to examine Canada's proposed Safe Social Media Act

The federal government is set to hold a roundtable discussion on Monday to examine the proposed Safe Social Media Act, known as Bill C-34, as consultations continue on new digital safety measures. According to the government, Canadian Culture Minister Mark Miller will co-chair the discussion with British Columbia Member of Parliament Patrick Weiler. The meeting is expected to focus on key provisions of the proposed legislation and broader digital safety regulations. The government introduced Bill C-34 in the House of Commons in June. The proposed legislation would prohibit children under the a
BCJul 24, 2026

Livingstone Avenue closed through the weekend in Abbotsford for Highway 1 widening project

Abbotsford Police have issued a traffic advisory as construction continues on the Highway 1 widening project through the Fraser Valley. According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, Livingstone Avenue in Abbotsford will be fully closed through the weekend. The closure begins Friday and is expected to remain in effect until Monday morning. The affected section extends from east of Mall Access Road to west of Gardner Park. According to Abbotsford Police, access to local businesses and residential properties will be maintained throughout the closure. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate
BCJul 24, 2026

Wildfire smoke degrades air quality across parts of B.C.; warnings remain in effect

Smoke from ongoing wildfires in British Columbia continues to reduce air quality across several parts of the province, with Kelowna experiencing hazardous conditions on Thursday. According to IQAir, Kelowna's Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 300 at one point Thursday afternoon, making it the city with the poorest air quality in the world during that period. Earlier in the week, Ashcroft recorded Canada's worst air quality on Monday morning. Environment Canada has maintained high-impact air quality warnings for several regions, including the Fraser Canyon, Merritt and Kelowna. The agency says w