Sentencing arguments begin today for 62-year-old Richard Mantha, who was convicted of sexually assaulting three vulnerable women and drugging one of them. Mantha was found guilty of six offences following a trial that lasted more than two years. The full day has been set aside for the Crown and defence to present their arguments on what sentence he should receive. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault, as well as choking while committing a sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Mantha was also found guilty of assault with a weapon and uttering threats against a fourth

A 27-year-old man has died after getting into distress while swimming near Goldstream Falls in Goldstream Provincial Park on Monday evening. West Shore RCMP said officers responded to the incident at around 7:35 p.m. on August 17. The man reportedly went underwater while swimming near the waterfall and did not resurface. Bystanders pulled him from the water and immediately began life-saving measures. Police, BC Emergency Health Services and Langford Fire Department later arrived and continued the emergency response. The man was taken to hospital for further treatment but later succumbed to his

Canada’s main opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, has launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government over its electric vehicle policy. Poilievre alleges that while the government is moving to scrap the existing EV sales mandate, it is planning to bring back a similar requirement through the “back door” using tougher emissions standards. According to a notice published in the Canada Gazette, the government has recently started the process of repealing the previous EV Sales Mandate, which required 20 per cent of new vehicles sold in 2026 to be electric. Reacting to

Unionized Metro Vancouver outside workers have stepped up job action, with picket lines established at two water main projects in Vancouver and North Vancouver. The Greater Vancouver Regional District Employees’ Union says the projects must be completed before planned dredging beneath the Second Narrows Ironworkers Memorial Bridge can begin in September. The dredging is intended to allow larger oil tankers carrying greater loads to navigate Burrard Inlet. The plan has received support from the federal government. The outside workers and Metro Vancouver have been without a new collective agre

Nanaimo RCMP are investigating a hit-and-run collision that occurred on August 16 and resulted in the death of a pedestrian. According to police, the incident happened at around 1:48 a.m. at the intersection of Albert Street and Dunsmuir Street, where a vehicle struck a pedestrian. The driver fled the scene in the vehicle immediately after the collision. A frontline officer arrived at the scene and transported the seriously injured man to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Police initially took one driver into custody, but the individual was released after investigators determ

Ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) is considering fielding jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh from Dhuri, the constituency represented by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. According to information, Amritpal Singh has expressed interest in contesting from Dhuri in addition to Khadoor Sahib. The party is also considering Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul as possible options. A party leader from Kotkapura said Amritpal Singh is interested in contesting from Dhuri. He said all options are being discussed and, based on the outcome of the meeting, a formal proposal

The bodies of around nine migrants have been recovered from the coast over the past two days following a boat capsizing incident in the Tajoura area, east of Libya’s capital, Tripoli. The Tripoli Red Crescent said the bodies were found in the Tajoura area, about 22 kilometres from Tripoli. Local authorities said around 19 people were believed to have been aboard the boat, raising fears that more bodies could wash ashore in the coming days. The Red Crescent said search and recovery operations are continuing in coordination with the relevant authorities. Meanwhile, the rescue ship Ocean Viking

Elections Alberta has confirmed that a by-election in the Calgary-Shaw provincial constituency will be held Sept. 14. The official writ for the election has now been issued. The seat has been vacant since May, when former Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz resigned following a recall petition launched against her. The United Conservative Party has nominated Mike Dery to contest the riding, while the NDP has nominated Kyle Campbell. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said electing Campbell would send a message to Premier Danielle Smith about her government's approach to separatists.

A petition calling for the removal of U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra has surpassed 225,000 signatures, reflecting growing opposition to his comments and actions in Canada. The petition, launched by Calgary woman Lee Walker, alleges that Hoekstra’s statements have undermined Canada’s sovereignty. It calls for him to be declared persona non grata under the rules of the United Nations’ Vienna Convention and expelled from Canada. However, experts say Hoekstra’s actions have not reached the threshold that would normally justify such a diplomatic step. Green Party Leader Elizabeth M