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CanadaNov 09, 2021

Albertans in favour of getting rid of equalization

The final results from Alberta's equalization referendum show a split between the province's two major cities on whether it shouldbe removed from the Constitution. Overall, 62 per cent of those who voted were in favour of getting rid of equalization, including 58 per cent in Calgary.But 52 per cent of voters in Edmonton were in favour of leaving the system alone. A second referendum on whether to stick with daylight timeyear-round failed by the narrow margin of 50.1 per cent to 49.9 per cent.
b-c-reports-1-438-new-covid-19-cases-and-17-deaths-over-the-weekend
BCNov 09, 2021

B.C. reports 1,438 new COVID-19 cases and 17 deaths over the weekend

Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,438 new cases of COVID-19, including two epi-linked cases, for a total of 209,703 cases in the province:Nov. 5-6: 553 new casesNov. 6-7: 462 new casesNov. 7-8: 423 new casesThere are 4,282 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 202,898 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 407 individuals are in hospital and 121 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. In the past 72 hours, 17 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,218. The new deaths include:Fraser Healt
BCNov 09, 2021

Man guilty of three Masonic buildings fire sentenced to 40 months in prison

A man who pleaded guilty to setting three Masonic buildings on fire in North Vancouver and Vancouver last March has been sentenced to 40 months in prison. With time served, 43 year old Benjamin Kohlman's sentences equals about two and a half years. Both Crown and defence lawyers told the judge Kohlman has addictions and mental health troubles and that voices directed him to set the fires. Judge Laura Bakan says she accepted that Kohlman is sorry for his actions, and she hopes he'll be able to deal with his addiction issues while in prison.
environment-canada-confirms-tornado-at-the-university-of-british-columbia
BCNov 08, 2021

Environment Canada confirms tornado at the University of British Columbia

On the evening of Saturday, November 6th, a tornado moved throughUBC. Environment Canada received reports of hail, wind, rain and atornado. Environment and Climate Change Canada, in collaboration with TheNorthern Tornadoes Project, facilitated an on-site storm damagesurvey. The results of this survey, including a rating of thetornado's strength, are preliminary and subject to change if moreinformation becomes available. Preliminary storm assessment: Time: 5:10 pm PDT Location: UBC near University Golf ClubImpacts Damage: broken trees/tree limbs, scattered tree debris, uprootedtrees, downed po
weather-warnings-issued-as-strong-winds-expected-to-hammer-bcs-coast
BCNov 08, 2021

Weather warnings issued as strong winds expected to hammer BC's coast

Strong winds are expected to hammer BC's coast, with gusts up to 110 kilometres per hour for Haida Gwaii, northern Vancouver Island and the central coast. Environment Canada says the strongest winds are expected late this afternoon and through tomorrow morning. Wind warnings or special weather statements are also up for the Sunshine Coast, Southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Howe Sound and most of Metro Vancouver. The source is an intense but slow moving Pacific front and the weather office warns that the worst of the winds could damage buildings and blow down trees o
federal-leaders-remember-sacrifices-injustices-endured-by-indigenous-veterans
BCNov 08, 2021

Federal leaders remember sacrifices, injustices endured by Indigenous veterans

Federal leaders are paying tribute to the sacrifices of Indigenous veterans as well as the discrimination they faced after returning from war. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says all flags on federal government buildings, including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, were lowered to acknowledge the service of Indigenous veterans. He told his Caucus this morning that Indigenous people who served across this country often faced systems and discrimination and barriers that were greater than they were for others. It is estimated that more than 12,000 Indigenous people joined the Canadian military
BCNov 08, 2021

Inquest concludes into police-involved deaths of mother and son in northern B.C.

A coroner's jury examining the police-involved shootings of a mother and her adult son in northern British Columbia has made five recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths. The jury released its recommendations Saturday after a weeklong inquest in Smithers examining the April 21, 2016 RCMP shootings of 39 year old Jovan Williams and his 73 year old mother Shirley Williams outside their home in Granisle, east of Smithers. The shootings, which the coroner's report shows happened within two minutes of each other, have been ruled homicides, a neutral term that does not imply criminal int
kamloops-man-dead-two-pickup-trucks-collided-on-highway-1-in-sicamus
BCNov 08, 2021

Kamloops man dead two pickup trucks collided on Highway 1 in Sicamus

Police say a 48 year old man from Kamloops is dead after two pickup trucks collided on Highway 1 in Sicamus. The crash happened late Saturday. Police say the 52 year old Alberta resident who was driving the other vehicle suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. They say it appears the eastbound pickup crossed into the path of the one heading west.
u-s-border-opens-to-fully-vaccinated-canadians
CanadaNov 08, 2021

U-S border opens to fully vaccinated Canadians

Even though the U-S border opened to fully vaccinated Canadian vacationers, visitors and day-trippers overnight, few major line-ups were reported this morning.That's partly because Canada is still requiring anyone coming back into the country to get a pricey COVID-19 test. Canadian Chamber of Commerce C-E-O Perrin Beatty says the expense is discouraging people from travelling and he doesn't think the tests do much to improve public safety.New York Congressman Brian Higgins and border city mayors and community leaders have scheduled a news conference this morning to urge Ottawa to abandon the r

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threat-prompts-brief-lockdown-at-nanaimo-high-school
BCDec 11, 2025

Threat prompts brief lockdown at Nanaimo high school

A Nanaimo high school was placed under a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after school staff were alerted to a threat directed at a student. The incident at Nanaimo District Secondary School began around 2:30 p.m., prompting administrators to activate established safety procedures. Nanaimo RCMP officers responded immediately and remained on site while classrooms were secured. Police and school officials said the lockdown lasted roughly 30 minutes, and students and staff were released shortly after 3 p.m. once officers determined there was no ongoing risk. The district says students w
vancouver-police-seize-loaded-rifle-and-drugs-during-downtown-eastside-arrest
BCDec 11, 2025

Vancouver Police seize loaded rifle and drugs during Downtown Eastside arrest

Vancouver Police say a loaded rifle and several other weapons were taken off the street this week after officers arrested a man suspected of trafficking drugs in the Downtown Eastside. The incident took place Tuesday afternoon near East Hastings and Columbia Street, an area where frontline police and community workers have long raised concerns about violence linked to the drug trade. According to the Vancouver Police Department, members of the Beat Enforcement Team were on routine patrol around 2:35 p.m. on December 9 when they arrested a 32-year-old Surrey resident outside a residential build
donald-trump-unveils-new-gold-card-immigration-program
WorldDec 11, 2025

Donald Trump unveils new ‘Gold Card’ immigration program

Former United States president Donald Trump announced on Thursday the launch of a new immigration initiative he calls the Gold Card, opening the application process for the program. Under the plan, individuals can apply for the Gold Card at a fee of US$1 million, while companies wishing to secure a card for executives or employees would pay US$2 million. Trump’s campaign says cardholders would receive a U.S. passport, full voting rights and the same benefits enjoyed by other American citizens. Trump framed the Gold Card as part of his broader “America First” policy agenda, asserting the
flooding-prompts-wider-evacuations-and-highway-closures-across-southern-b-c
BCDec 11, 2025

Flooding prompts wider evacuations and highway closures across southern B.C.

Communities across southern British Columbia are facing new evacuation orders and travel disruptions after heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides that severed key routes between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. Provincial officials say multiple highways, including the Coquihalla and Highways 1, 3, 5 and 11, remain shut as crews assess washouts and unstable slopes. The closure of Highway 11 has also halted access to the Sumas border crossing. In Abbotsford, 371 properties on the Sumas Prairie were ordered evacuated overnight as waters linked to the overflowing Nooksack River conti
cra-plans-major-hiring-push-to-boost-call-centre-capacity-ahead-of-tax-season
CanadaDec 11, 2025

CRA plans major hiring push to boost call centre capacity ahead of tax season

The Canada Revenue Agency says it plans to bring on roughly 1,700 additional call centre staff in the coming months as it prepares for a surge in taxpayer inquiries during the upcoming filing season. Agency officials say the goal is to expand the workforce to about 4,500 agents, citing internal forecasts that anticipate heavy call volumes. Melanie Serjak, an assistant commissioner with the CRA, told reporters that it is routine for the agency to scale up its operations for tax season, when daily call volumes can exceed 300,000. She said last year’s peak staffing level reached about 3,300 age