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economists-expect-inflation-slowed-again-in-october-as-high-interest-rates-take-hold
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Economists expect inflation slowed again in October as high interest rates take hold

Forecasters anticipate Canada's inflation rate took another dip in October as gasoline prices fell from the previous month and grocery prices rise more slowly.Statistics Canada is set to release its consumer price index report tomorrow, coinciding with the federal government's fall economic statement. BMO expects the annual rate to come in at 3.2 per cent for October, while RBC is forecasting the rate fell to 3.1 per cent. Canada's inflation rate came in at 3.8 per cent in September. A further slowdown would be welcome news for the Bank of Canada as it looks for evidence of a sustained slowdo
quebec-to-appoint-conciliator-as-labour-unions-prepare-for-major-strikes-this-week
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Quebec to appoint conciliator as labour unions prepare for major strikes this week

The province says it will appoint a conciliator to help bridge the gap in stalled contract negotiations with public sector unions ahead of major strikes this week.The conciliator's recommendations, however, won't be binding.A labour group representing about 420,000 public sector workers in education, health, and social services asked for a conciliator to help talks advance.The group, which calls itself the "common front" will hold a three-day strike starting Tuesday.The common front has rejected Quebec's latest contract offer — a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years and a one-time
no-word-on-status-of-135-canadians-cleared-to-leave-gaza-strip-over-weekend
CanadaNov 20, 2023

No word on status of 135 Canadians cleared to leave Gaza Strip over weekend

Canadians with loved ones trapped in the embattled Gaza Strip are still waiting to learn whether the 135 people cleared to leave the territory on Sunday were able to make the journey.A daily list from Gaza's General Authority for Crossings and Borders, which contains the names of foreign passport holders cleared to cross into Egypt via the Rafah land crossing, expanded to include 135 people with ties to Canada on Sunday.But Global Affairs Canada did not provide any details on Sunday as to how many of those people were able to leave the war-torn enclave.The agency's last update, provided on Fri
canadian-mps-spent-14-6m-on-travel-in-first-half-of-2023
CanadaNov 20, 2023

Canadian MPs spent $14.6M on travel in first half of 2023

Canadian Members of Parliament spent more than $14.6 million of taxpayer dollars on travel in the first six months of 2023, up nearly 10 percent from the previous six months. This amount works out to about $80,000 per day. This taxpayer money is spent on commercial airfare,, ground transportation, accommodation and meals for Members of Parliament and their families and staff. According to the report, from January 1 to June 30, 338 MPs spent an average of $43,000, or more than $7,200 per month, on work and constituency-related travel.Among them were the travel bills of Canada's two main opposit
heres-the-truth-about-plane-wreckage-found-near-kamloops
BCNov 17, 2023

Here's the truth about plane wreckage found near Kamloops

Plane wreckage that made headlines this week when officials announced a hunter had stumbled on what police thought was a decades-old crash site in the B.C. Interior was actually placed there deliberately for training purposes.A notice posted Tuesday on the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System says the RCMP inspected the site north of Kamloops and "verified" the wreckage was at least 20 to 25 years old, and it carried no registration or identifying marks.But Fred Carey, executive director with volunteer air safety group PEP-Air, says their group planted the fuselage there two years
federal-govt-should-accept-sc-decision-regarding-plastic-ban-alberta
AlbertaNov 17, 2023

Federal govt should accept SC decision regarding plastic ban: Alberta

Alberta has urged the federal government to accept the Supreme Court's decision regarding the plastic ban. In fact, the Alberta government is pleased with the court's ruling that found Canada's plastic ban too broad when it came to determining what plastic is toxic to the environment. The Federal Court on Thursday found the Cabinet order that all things made of plastic are harmful, not reasonable. The decision may therefore lead to changes in the ban on six single-use plastic items, including straws, grocery bags and takeout containers. The rules currently ban the manufacture and import of tho
six-top-executives-removed-in-alberta-health-services
AlbertaNov 17, 2023

Six top executives removed in Alberta Health Services

The board of Alberta Health Services says six of the organization's top executives are no longer in their positions.Last week, Premier Danielle Smith announced sweeping changes to dismantle the provincewide health-care provider, reducing it to one of four new service delivery organizations reporting directly to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.She appointed Lyle Oberg, who's a doctor and former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister, to run the AHS board.He says in a statement that the transition over the next 18 months requires new ideas, voices and leadership.Oberg says the board has made
number-of-covid-19-patients-in-bc-hospitals-rises
BCNov 17, 2023

Number of Covid-19 patients in BC hospitals rises

New data suggest that COVID-19 activity in British Columbia is trending downward, while influenza and RSV are on the rise. A weekly update provided Thursday by the BC Centre for Disease Control says COVID-19 cases, new hospitalizations and deaths are all declining from a peak in the first week of October.It says there were 25 deaths of patients with COVID last week, down from 70 three weeks earlier. But the number of people in hospital with COVID-19, including new and previous admissions, has risen to 263 as of Thursday.The CDC says Influenza A is behind a rise in flu activity, accounting for
federal-unit-of-rcmp-faces-staff-crunch-many-positions-vacant
CanadaNov 17, 2023

Federal unit of RCMP faces staff crunch, many positions vacant

The RCMP's federal unit, which investigates Canada's serious crime cases, is facing staff shortages.According to RCMP spokesperson Marie-Eve Breton, the federal policing wing is short about 1,000 positions.At present, the wing has 507 fewer police officers than a decade ago and 500 more posts are vacant.Breton said federal policing currently has about 5,000 employees.The RCMP has two main policing units, one that provides local and regional law enforcement officers to the states and the other is a federal policing wing that investigates cases related to national and international crimes such a

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b-c-conservative-mla-donegal-wilson-announces-decision-to-join-milobars-new-party
BCSep 14, 2026

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson announces decision to join Milobar’s new party

B.C. Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson has announced that she is joining Peter Milobar’s new political party, becoming the seventh MLA in the newly formed group. Wilson, who represents Boundary-Similkameen, said in a statement that she left the B.C. Conservatives because of disagreements with party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s policies. She said Milobar’s new party aims to provide British Columbians with a strong alternative to the B.C. NDP. With Wilson’s move, the new party will now become the third-largest group in the B.C. legislature. The governing NDP currently holds 47 seats, while
home-sales-in-b-c-decline-4-7-in-august
BCSep 14, 2026

Home Sales in B.C. Decline 4.7% in August

Home sales in British Columbia declined in August compared with the same month last year, according to the B.C. Real Estate Association. The association said 5,653 residential units were sold across the province last month, down 4.7 per cent from August 2025 and 25.4 per cent below the 10-year average for the month. B.C. Real Estate Association chief economist Brendon Ogmundson said the housing market continues to show signs of a gradual recovery. However, he noted that new tariffs and a recent rise in long-term interest rates remain risks for the housing market. The report said the average ho
russia-welcomes-trump-appeal-for-ukraine-to-halt-attacks-on-fuel-facilities
WorldSep 14, 2026

Russia welcomes Trump appeal for Ukraine to halt attacks on fuel facilities

Russia on Monday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeal for Ukraine to stop targeting Russian diesel production and fuel infrastructure. Trump on Sunday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to target Russia’s diesel facilities, saying the attacks were contributing to fuel shortages and causing wider harm. Ukraine has carried out long-range drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in recent months. The strikes have affected fuel production, with shortages of gasoline and other fuels reported in parts of Russia. Ukraine has said its attacks
canada-deports-111-foreign-nationals-linked-to-extortion-and-organized-crime
CanadaSep 14, 2026

Canada deports 111 foreign nationals linked to extortion and organized crime

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says 111 foreign nationals have been removed from Canada in cases involving extortion and organized crime, with 188 removal orders issued as of Sept. 3. According to figures released by the agency, 58 people were removed from British Columbia, 30 from the Prairie region and 23 from the Greater Toronto Area. The CBSA has also released the names and photographs of individuals involved in four recent cases. They include Palwinder Singh, Jasmer Singh, Amritoj Bajwa and Sahibjot Singh. The agency said the cases involved allegations or criminal activity relat
BCSep 14, 2026

Surrey municipal election nominations close with seven mayoral candidates

Nomination proceedings have closed for the upcoming municipal election in Surrey, with about 100 candidates seeking 15 positions, including one mayor, eight city councillors and six school trustees. Seven candidates are running for mayor: Linda Annis, Brenda Locke, Doug McCallum, Honveer Singh Randhawa, Mike Starchuk, Troy Van-Vliet and Eagle Emans. A total of 65 candidates are contesting the eight city council seats, while 23 candidates are running for the six school trustee positions. Among the school trustee candidates are Harjit Kaur Bhullar, Amrit Warring, Gurleen Kaur Chahal, Meena Kocha