CanadaJun 19, 2023
Fire situation eases slightly, but risks remain as more than 400 wildfires still burn
More than 200 wildfires are still burning out of control in Canada this morning as the country's record-setting forest fire season continues to raze thousands of square kilometres every day.Rain helped ease the fire situation in parts of Alberta and Quebec over the weekend, but the fire risk remains high in most of the country.As of this morning, 420 fires were burning in nine provinces and two territories, and 207 of those are still considered to be out of control.More than 58,000 square kilometres has burned so far this year, or an area almost twice the size of Vancouver Island.Environment C
BCJun 19, 2023
Gurudwara president shot dead in Surrey
The president of a Sikh gurdwara who was accused of murder and terrorism in India has been shot dead outside his temple in Surrey, British Columbia.The general secretary of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society said Hardeep Singh Nijjar was alone in his pickup truck when he was attacked Sunday night as he was leaving the gurdwara's parking lot.Surrey RCMP said in a news release that the shooting happened at about 8:30 p.m. and the victim died at the scene.They said they are searching for suspects and trying to confirm a motive for the homicide.India's National Investigation Agency last year iss
CanadaJun 16, 2023
Flag lowered to half-mast on Peace Tower in honour of Manitoba crash victims
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the flag has been lowered to half-mast on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in honour of the victims of the deadly Manitoba crash.Fifteen people died yesterday after a bus carrying seniors to a casino collided with a semi truck on the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry, west of Winnipeg.Six of 10 others injured are in hospital in critical condition.Trudeau says there are lots of questions right now, but mostly there are lots of tears and Canadians will be there for each other. He says he can't imagine what families are going through as they await word on the
BCJun 16, 2023
Surrey voted to move forward with the plan to maintain the RCMP
Brenda Locke, the mayor of Surrey, B.C., says the council has voted to revert its policing back to the RCMP, a move than will cost the city millions of dollars.In a news conference at Surrey City Hall on Friday morning, Mayor Brenda Locke announced the decision, saying both SPS and RCMP deserve certainty about their future in the City of Surrey. The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue its transition to the independent Surrey Police Service, offering $150 million over five years to help the city cover costs, but saying it would not pay the estimated $72 million in severanc
BCJun 15, 2023
Four found dead in Prince Rupert, B.C. home; police say deaths considered homicide
Four people have been found dead in a home in British Columbia's northwest in what police are calling a homicide.Prince Rupert RCMP say officers responded to a call on Tuesday evening to the 100 block of Silversides Drive.Once there, police say they found four individuals dead in the home and began a homicide investigation.Police say they do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in the case at this time, and there should be no further risk to the public.Prince Rupert is located about 1,200 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.
CanadaJun 15, 2023
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole steps into top role at global strategy firm
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole has been named as the president and managing director of risk advisory firm ADIT North America.The firm provides services to companies, investment funds and agencies that operate or invest globally.It describes itself as specializing in strategic intelligence, business diplomacy, due diligence, security and compliance.The regional branch of the Paris-based firm that O'Toole will helm encompasses operations in both Canada and Mexico.O'Toole, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Stephen Harper, announced in March that he would not return to t
BCJun 14, 2023
B.C. becomes first province to provide universal coverage for opioid treatments
B.C. is expanding the program it uses to help patients kick their dependence on opioids.A statement from the Health Ministry says B.C. will now provide universal coverage for eligible drugs which include methadone that are rated as opioid agonist treatment medications.The statement says the expanded program differs from safer supply which provides alternatives to illicit drugs and will help the roughly 1600 B.C. patients who can't get PharmaCare coverage for the drugs needed to manage their opioid-use disorder.Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says removing cost barriers
CanadaJun 14, 2023
Deportations for international students caught in fraud scheme put on hold
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says deportation orders for international students caught up in a fraud scheme have been put on hold while a task force investigates each case.Hundreds of students might have been affected by the scheme, which saw immigration agents issue fake acceptance letters to get international students into Canada.Some students had no idea their documents were forged until it came time for them apply for permanent residency.Fraser says the department is aware of only few dozen who have been ordered to leave the country, and that process will be paused.A task force of seni
CanadaJun 12, 2023
Justice Russell Brown retires from Supreme Court, ending judicial conduct review
Justice Russell Brown is retiring from the Supreme Court of Canada effective immediately, ending a probe into alleged misconduct.The Canadian Judicial Council, the body tasked with disciplining judges, says it no longer has jurisdiction to continue investigating allegations of misconduct stemming from an event at an Arizona hotel in January.Brown has vigorously denied accusations that he was intoxicated and harassed a group of friends at an event in Scottsdale, Ariz., honouring another judge.The justice, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2015 by then-prime minister Stephen Harper, had