BCJun 18, 2021
Suspect breaks into family home while residents sleeping
A local Kamloops family fell victim to a residential break and enter and theft of their vehicle while they slept in their family home.On June 12th, 2021 at 630am, Kamloops RCMP frontline officers received a report of a break and enter and theft of a vehicle that occurred from a residence on Sydney Avenue the previous evening. The homeowner said that while his family was sleeping, a suspect was able to gain entry to their home through an unlocked basement door. Once inside, the suspect quietly stole several valuable items, vehicle keys, and ate food from the refrigerator before departing the re
BCJun 17, 2021
City launches ‘surrey slow streets’ residential speed limit reduction pilot
Today, the City of Surrey launched the Surrey Slow Streets: Residential Speed Limit Reduction Pilot. Surrey Slow Streets is an important first step in understanding how reduced speed limits impact neighbourhood liveability, driver behaviour and safety on Surrey roads. "We know that high speeds pose a serious danger to the driver, cyclists and pedestrians, which is why Council approved the Surrey Slow Streets pilot project," said Mayor Doug McCallum. "Starting today, speed limits in six neighbourhoods will be reduced to 30km per hour or 40km per hour. During the one-year pilot, vehicle speeds,
BCJun 17, 2021
IHIT investigating suspicious disappearance of Parminder Paul Rai
On June 9, 2021, Parminder Paul Rai of Burnaby was reported missing by his family. He was last seen on June 4, 2021 at his residence in the area of University Crescent and Tower Road near Simon Fraser University. The Burnaby RCMP began its missing person investigation and preliminary findings suggested that Rai’s disappearance may involve foul play.On June 14, 2021, IHIT took conduct of the investigation in accordance with its mandate to investigate suspicious missing person investigations where foul play is suspected.Rai is a South Asian man, 5’10’’ in height and 185lbs. in weight. He
BCJun 17, 2021
Fatal crash between two trucks near Merritt, B.C., raises risk of roadside wildfire
A commercial truck driver has beenkilled on a British Columbia highway in a fiery crash that had thepotential to spread flames to the surrounding bush.RCMP and the BC Coroners Service are investigating thecollision that happened last night on Highway 97-C, near Merritt.Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says a fully loaded lumber truck had brokendown and was parked on the shoulder when it was hit from behind by asecond truck.Emergency crews could not pull the driver of that rig out of thewreckage before flames engulfed both vehicles.O'Donaghey says the crash happened outside a fire protection zoneand polic
BCJun 17, 2021
Elections BC approves petition for referendum vote on Surrey policing choice
Elections BC has approved a petition launched bythe widow of a Surrey, B.C., murder victim that could set off abinding referendum over policing in the city.Darlene Bennett, with the group Surrey Police Vote, launched thecampaign over concerns about rising costs associated with startingup a new municipal police force that will replace the RCMP.In order for the petition to succeed, setting off the referendum,signatures from at least 10 per cent of the registered voters ineach of British Columbia's 87 electoral districts must be collectedwithin 90 days of the petition's start.Bennett's husband wa
BCJun 17, 2021
Camper reunited with its family days after becoming lost while escaping attack
A dog is safe at home days after it was separated from its owner as they ran from a violent attack near downtown Victoria. Camper, a brown pit bull terrier with a black face, was located last night nearly five kilometres from the site where she and her owner fled their parked van Friday as a man smashed its windows with a hammer. There was a citywide search for the friendly pooch. Victoria police say another dog found the two-year-old pit bull and alerted its owner, who called a phone number on Camper's collar. A police statement says an investigation into the van attack is continuing but off
CanadaJun 17, 2021
Canadian government investing up to $29 million to support domestic production of respirators and surgical masks
The Canadian government is investing up to $29 million to support the domestic production of respirators and surgical masks in order to increase the country's capacity to deal with future pandemics. The funding is part of a $38.7-million project with Montreal-based Meltech Innovation Canada Inc., which specializes in the production of safety products and personal protective equipment. Minister of Innovation Francois-Philippe Champagne says the funding will help ensure Canadian front-line health-care workers continue to have a reliable supply of the equipment they need, while creating jobs in
CanadaJun 17, 2021
Tories to force House of Commons vote on motion to censure the defence minister
Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says his party will force the House of Commons to vote on a motion targeting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Sajjan has been under heavy criticism since former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne revealed that he first flagged an allegation of sexual misconduct involving then-defence chief Jonathan Vance to the minister in March 2018.While Sajjan and the Liberal government say he followed all proper procedures, O'Toole says the minister has consistently failed victims of sexual misconduct in the military.O'Toole alleges Sajjan has also misled Canadians about his
CanadaJun 17, 2021
Ottawa pledges $115 million in humanitarian aid for Venezuelan refugees
International Development Minister Karina Gould says Canada will provide $115 million in aid over two years for more than 5.6 million Venezuelan asylum seekers living in countries in South and Central America and the Caribbean.A donors conference Canada is hosting today aims to raise US$1.44 billion needed to implement a response plan put together by 159 organizations across the countries that host refugees and migrants from Venezuela.Gould says the refugee crisis is having a significant impact on host countries especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Canada wants to help these countries