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BCApr 21, 2021

Wildfire in the southern Interior in B.C. is still burning out of control

The BC Wildfire Service says a wildfire in the southern Interior is still burning out of control. The service says 42 firefighters were at the scene yesterday, 18 kilometres northwest of Merritt. Two helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment are also being used to bring the one-square-kilometre fire under control. An evacuation alert issued Sunday by the Thompson Nicola Regional District remains in place, affecting 54 properties in Canford and the Miller Estates Subdivision. BC Wildfire Service on Twitter: The #BCWildfire Service continues to respond to the Petit Creek wildfire (K60293).
judge-to-deliver-decision-today-on-request-to-delay-meng-extradition-case
BCApr 21, 2021

Judge grants Meng's request to delay extradition hearings

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has granted Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou's request to delay the final leg in her extradition hearings, days before they were set to begin. Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes says she will deliver reasons for her decision in writing in the next week or so and a date to resume proceedings will be determined later. The hearings were scheduled to begin Monday but Meng's lawyers said they needed more time to review documents related to the case obtained through a Hong Kong court. They asked Holmes on Monday to adjourn proceedings until Aug. 3, a delay they argued wo
inflation-rose-2-2-per-cent-in-march-compared-to-the-same-month-last-year-statistics-canada
CanadaApr 21, 2021

Inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year: Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada says inflation rose 2.2 per cent in March compared to the same month last year, riding mostly on the back of 35.3 per cent year-over-year increase in gasoline prices. TD senior economist James Marple says headline inflation only hit a pandemic-era high because it was compared to very weak prices at the onset of the pandemic last year. He says the country may see stronger price growth later this year if high-contact services re-open and bring back displaced workers. Marple also says inflation may feel higher for many Canadians who have shifted spending towards larger homes, fo
three-confidence-votes-to-determine-fate-of-minority-liberal-government
CanadaApr 21, 2021

Three confidence votes to determine fate of minority Liberal government

A pair of proposed changes to the federal budget put forward by opposition parties will determine whether the minority Liberal government will fall, which could trigger an election.The government says it has informed opposition parties that two votes in the House of Commons — on a Bloc Québécois sub-amendment today and on a Conservative amendment Thursday — are considered confidence votes.A third opportunity to pass judgment on the massive budget comes Monday, when the House votes on the main motion to approve the government's budget policy.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal govern
covid-19-haryana-govt-to-vaccinate-and-test-protesting-farmers
IndiaApr 21, 2021

COVID-19: Haryana govt to vaccinate and test protesting farmers

Amid growing cases of coronavirus, Haryana government decided has decided to vaccinate protesting farmers and also test them for coronavirus. "It is my duty to worry about everyone in Haryana. Farmers are protesting here in large numbers. We have decided to vaccinate them and get them tested for COVID-19,"said Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij.
849-new-covid-19-cases-reported-in-b-c-as-hospitalizations-break-new-record
BCApr 21, 2021

849 new COVID-19 cases reported in B.C. as hospitalizations break new record

Health officials are urging eligible British Columbians to register online for a vaccine in order to reduce growing pressure on health-care workers getting "pushed to the limits" at hospitals. Provincial health officer Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix say those aged 35 and up can now register for a vaccine as part of the province's age-based vaccination stream. Dix and Dr. Henry say 849 more people have become infected with COVID-19 and one more person has died for a total of 1,539 fatalities since the pandemic began. They say 456 people are in hospital and 148 of them are i
millions-for-addiction-and-mental-health-in-b-c-s-budget-for-unprecedented-need-people-give-mixed-reviews-on-the-budget
BCApr 21, 2021

Millions for addiction and mental health in B.C.'s budget for 'unprecedented need'; People give mixed reviews on the budget

The provincial deficit is predicted to hit a record this year with billions of dollars in new spending promised for infrastructure and supports for families and businesses. Finance Minister Selina Robinson forecasts a 9.7-billion-dollar deficit this fiscal year and says it may take seven to nine years to balance the books. She says the province will help the recovery with 8.7 billion dollars in infrastructure spending over three years that will create 85 thousand jobs. Another 1.6 billion dollars is promised for poverty reduction strategies and an extra 3.1 billion for the health-care and men
pm-trudeau-and-deputy-pm-both-say-they-are-seeking-appointments-at-a-pharmacy-to-get-vaccinated
CanadaApr 20, 2021

PM Trudeau and Deputy PM both say they are seeking appointments at a pharmacy to get vaccinated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland both say they are seeking appointments at a pharmacy to get vaccinated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19. Both Trudeau, 49, and Freeland, 52, became eligible today when Ontario dropped the age to get that vaccine to 40 and above. Trudeau says he is still working out the details for getting his shot. Freeland says she has her children online trying to get her an appointment and is now on a waitlist. Extension of hotel quarantines in Canada Canada is extending the use of quarantine hotels for international
ex-cop-guilty-of-all-three-charges-of-murder-and-manslaughter-in-floyd-case
WorldApr 20, 2021

Ex-cop guilty of all three charges of murder and manslaughter in Floyd case

More than 3,000 National Guard soldiers, along with police officers, sheriffs deputies and other law enforcement personnel have flooded Minneapolis in the wake of a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged with murder in the death last year of George Floyd. The jury on Tuesday found Chauvin guilty on all charges: second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. But in the city that has come to epitomize America's debate over police killings, there remain places where Minneapolis can feel almost like a police state. Concret

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b-c-launches-new-forestry-and-emergency-management-testbed-under-look-west-plan
BCDec 16, 2025

B.C. launches new forestry and emergency management testbed under Look West plan

The B.C. government has launched a new Forestry Innovation and Emergency Management Testbed aimed at helping local companies develop and scale technologies to better protect communities from wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events. The initiative is part of the province’s Look West economic plan, which focuses on strengthening domestic industries and reducing reliance on external markets. Delivered through Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace, the provincewide testbed will allow B.C. businesses to pilot technologies in real-world settings tied to wildfire and flood prevention, f
five-month-nanaimo-rcmp-probe-leads-to-drug-trafficking-and-firearm-charges
BCDec 16, 2025

Five-month Nanaimo RCMP probe leads to drug trafficking and firearm charges

A five-month investigation by Nanaimo RCMP has resulted in multiple drug and firearm-related charges against two Nanaimo residents, following the seizure of controlled substances, weapons and body armour from a local residence. Police say the investigation began in early November 2024 after general duty officers received information that a home in Nanaimo was being used to traffic illegal drugs. With assistance from the RCMP General Investigation Section and the Projects Drug Unit, officers executed a search warrant at the residence on April 17, 2025. During the search, investigators seized qu
federal-buy-canadian-procurement-rules-take-effect-prioritizing-domestic-industries
CanadaDec 16, 2025

Federal ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement rules take effect, prioritizing domestic industries

The federal government’s new ‘Buy Canadian’ procurement policy came into force today, marking a significant shift in how Ottawa purchases goods and services for major public projects. The policy, announced earlier this fall, is designed to give preference to Canadian-made products and Canadian workers in federal contracting. The government says the approach is aimed at strengthening domestic industries and protecting supply chains during a period of ongoing global trade uncertainty. In its first phase, the policy applies to federal contracts valued at $25 million or more. These projects
AlbertaDec 16, 2025

Inmate convicted in Edmonton prison killing was already serving life sentence for Calgary murder

A man already serving a life sentence for the murder of a Calgary caseworker has been convicted in the killing of a fellow inmate at a maximum-security federal prison in Edmonton. Brandon Newman was found guilty last week of manslaughter in the 2022 stabbing death of 33-year-old Bretton Fisher at the Edmonton Institution. Newman is currently incarcerated for the second-degree murder of Deborah Onwu, a caseworker who was stabbed 19 times at an assisted-living facility in Calgary in 2019. Court heard that tensions escalated inside the prison after Fisher confronted Newman over the earlier killin
heavy-rain-warnings-remain-in-southwest-b-c-as-flood-recovery-continues-in-fraser-valley
BCDec 16, 2025

Heavy rain warnings remain in southwest B.C. as flood recovery continues in Fraser Valley

Residents in parts of southwestern British Columbia are being warned to prepare for more heavy rainfall as cleanup efforts continue following recent flooding in the Fraser Valley. Environment Canada says up to 70 millimetres of rain could fall across areas including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley through Wednesday morning. The forecast comes as floodwaters linked to the Nooksack River in Washington state begin to recede, allowing cleanup operations to start earlier this week in several low-lying Fraser Valley communities. Provincial officials say the flood threat is not over. B.C. Emerg