7.71°C Vancouver

News

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
new-gordie-howe-international-bridge-to-open-to-public-traffic-monday
CanadaJul 24, 2026

New Gordie Howe International Bridge to open to public traffic Monday

The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will open to public traffic on Monday, marking a major milestone for cross-border transportation between Canada and the United States. Federal Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson made the announcement during the bridge's official opening ceremony on the Canadian side in Windsor. According to the federal government, the new cable-stayed bridge spans the Detroit River and provides a direct highway-to-highway connection between Ontario Highway 401 and Michigan Interstate 75. The six-lane bridge is expect
sonam-wangchuk-ends-hunger-strike-reports-claim-congress-mp-vivek-tankha-helped-break-deadlock
IndiaJul 24, 2026

Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike; reports claim Congress MP Vivek Tankha helped break deadlock

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike after what he described as two days of continuous talks with the central government. Reports claim Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha played a key role in facilitating backchannel discussions that helped resolve the impasse. According to the reports, backchannel negotiations continued for nearly three days, with efforts made at multiple levels to reach a consensus. Some Ladakhi leaders are also reported to have acted as intermediaries during the discussions. Tankha has previously represented Wangchuk in the Supreme Court in a case re
canada-ecuador-sign-free-trade-agreement-ottawa-says-deal-will-expand-opportunities-for-exporters
CanadaJul 24, 2026

Canada, Ecuador sign free trade agreement, Ottawa says deal will expand opportunities for exporters

The Government of Canada has officially signed a free trade agreement with Ecuador, marking a new step in expanding Canada's trade relationships in Latin America. According to the Government of Canada, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Luis Alberto Jaramillo, signed the agreement during a ceremony in Ottawa on Friday. The federal government said the agreement is expected to create new opportunities for Canadian businesses, workers and exporters. Federal officials said the agreement will improve market access across several
AlbertaJul 24, 2026

Experts say latest U.S. tariff threats could affect provinces unevenly

Economists say the latest U.S. tariff threats are expected to have different impacts across Canada, with Alberta and Saskatchewan among the least exposed provinces based on current export patterns. University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe said Alberta and Saskatchewan are each expected to see about one per cent of their total exports affected by the latest U.S. tariff list. According to Tombe, that is a lower level of exposure than many other provinces. The Trump administration has cited Canadian restrictions on U.S. alcohol sales as one of the reasons for the proposed tariffs. A
nenshi-says-alberta-referendum-promotion-has-cost-taxpayers-at-least-365-000
AlbertaJul 24, 2026

Nenshi says Alberta referendum promotion has cost taxpayers at least $365,000

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says the provincial government has spent at least $365,000 promoting its planned referendum on Alberta separation, arguing taxpayers are covering the cost of a political campaign. According to Nenshi, government contracts show the spending includes the production and distribution of a televised address and promotional videos for social media platforms. He said the costs are tied to efforts to inform the public about the upcoming referendum. Premier Danielle Smith has defended the referendum, saying the vote is intended to settle the question of Alberta separati

Just In

b-c-ndp-pledges-legally-enforced-nurse-to-patient-ratios-in-hospitals
BCOct 22, 2026

B.C. NDP Pledges Legally Enforced Nurse-to-Patient Ratios in Hospitals

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby announced during a campaign event in Vancouver on Thursday morning that his party would legally establish nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, setting limits on the number of patients each nurse can care for. Eby said the policy would initially be implemented in emergency departments. He also claimed that British Columbia is the first province in Canada to offer such a guarantee, adding that more than 4,700 nurses have already been added to the health-care system under the initiative. As part of its election platform, the NDP is also promising to add 1,000 new traini
bc-conservative-leader-lorne-doerkson-accuses-ndp-of-failing-surrey-residents
BCOct 22, 2026

BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson Accuses NDP of Failing Surrey Residents

BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has sharply criticized David Eby’s BC NDP government, accusing it of making empty promises to Surrey residents over the past nine years. Doerkson said Surrey continues to face overcrowded schools, emergency room closures, a shortage of doctors and a growing extortion problem. He alleged that the Eby government has failed to deliver on its promises to the city, while major projects have gone over budget and areas such as Newton have been neglected. Unveiling his Surrey Success Plan, Doerkson pledged that a BC Conservative government would fulfill its comm
punjab-cms-osd-rajbir-ghuman-skips-cbi-questioning-in-alleged-corruption-case
IndiaOct 22, 2026

Punjab CM’s OSD Rajbir Ghuman Skips CBI Questioning in Alleged Corruption Case

Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, did not appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Chandigarh for questioning in an alleged corruption case. This is the third time the CBI has summoned Ghuman for questioning. During two previous sessions, the agency reportedly asked him a total of 90 questions. Meanwhile, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia targeted the Punjab government over allegations of corruption. He called for investigations into various matters, including alleged bribery in the transfer
CanadaOct 22, 2026

Direct Flights Between Canada and Türkiye to Nearly Double

Canada and Türkiye have signed a new air transport agreement to increase passenger flights between the two countries. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that trade negotiators from both countries will begin discussions in Ankara next month to lay the groundwork for a first round of free trade agreement talks. Carney said bilateral trade between Canada and Türkiye has increased by 50 per cent over the past five years, highlighting significant potential for further growth. During his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Carney also signed a defence cooperation agree
AlbertaOct 22, 2026

Alberta Reports Sharp Rise in Flu Cases, 5 Deaths and 26 ICU Admissions

Alberta is seeing a significant rise in influenza cases well before the official flu season begins. As of October 11, the province had recorded 366 laboratory-confirmed flu cases, compared with just 42 during the same period last year. Hospitalizations have also increased, with nearly 300 Albertans hospitalized due to influenza since August. Among them, 26 patients, including two young children, have required intensive care. Five people have died from influenza since August, including four in the Calgary zone. Flu vaccines became available to the general public on October 19. So far, approxima