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second-earthquake-in-four-days-strikes-off-b-c-coast
BCFeb 25, 2025

Second earthquake in four days strikes off B.C. coast

Another earthquake has struck off the British Columbia coast. A post on X from Emergency Info BC Monday night said a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck west of Port Alice, a community on northwest Vancouver Island. The agency added there was no risk of a tsunami, and there have been no reports of damage or injuries. This is the second earthquake in British Columbia in four days, after a 4.7-magnitude temblor struck the southwest coast on Friday, northeast of Sechelt. Tremors were felt on the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver as well as Vancouver Island. Though several smaller aftershocks came from
b-c-opposition-leader-rustad-wants-to-hit-u-s-with-carbon-tax-on-coal-shipments
BCFeb 24, 2025

B.C. Opposition Leader Rustad wants to hit U.S. with 'carbon tax' on coal shipments

British Columbia Opposition Leader John Rustad is proposing a "carbon tax" on U.S. thermal coal that is shipped out of B.C. ports to use as leverage against threats of American tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. Rustad says such a tax would be a "tool to fight back" on softwood tariffs and duties proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said last week could increase to more than 50 per cent. He says that until "unfair and unwarranted" U.S. duties on B.C. softwood are removed, the province needs "to be ready to hit the Americans where it hurts.” The B.C. C
delta-hospital-emergency-room-closure-highlights-doctor-shortage-in-bc
BCFeb 24, 2025

Delta Hospital Emergency Room Closure Highlights Doctor Shortage in BC

Delta Hospital in British Columbia closed its emergency room for the second consecutive night on Sunday due to a shortage of doctors. Fraser Health issued a notice around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, announcing the temporary closure of emergency room services from 9:30 p.m. Sunday to 6:30 a.m. Monday. Patients who had already been admitted were attended to before the doctor on duty left at 1:30 a.m. It is worth noting that the emergency room had also been closed on Saturday night due to the same issue. During these closures, nurses provided first aid to patients and assisted in transferring them to n
lifelabs-workers-launch-phased-strike-across-bc
BCFeb 21, 2025

LifeLabs Workers Launch Phased Strike Across BC

LifeLabs workers have initiated a phased strike across British Columbia, with 18 LifeLabs centres closed on the first day of the strike, Thursday. Leaders of the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) have warned that protests may escalate if the issues of wages, benefits, and working conditions are not addressed through negotiations with the US-based company. Union president Paul Finch warned that workers are prepared to expand the strike to more than 100 centres. Speaking to supporters outside Vancouver’s Cityview LifeLabs, he stated that the fight would continue until their demands are met.
b-c-lifelabs-prepares-for-rotating-closures-after-notice-of-strike
BCFeb 18, 2025

B.C. LifeLabs prepares for rotating closures after notice of strike

LifeLabs in British Columbia says some of its more than 100 centres in the province will be subject to rotating temporary closures starting on Thursday as part of job action taken by the union. The B.C. General Employees' Union, which represents about 1,200 LifeLab workers, issued a strike notice on Sunday after what it said was months of negotiations and LifeLabs' refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living. LifeLabs, a lab testing service provider, says in a statement that as a designated essential service, it will continue to operate and do everything in its control
b-c-minimum-wage-increases-by-45-cents-per-hour-starting-june-1
BCFeb 14, 2025

B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1

The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers are getting a wage boost to keep pace with inflation. The Ministry of Labour says the minimum wage will increase from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour starting in June. It says the 2.6 per cent increase follows changes made last spring to the Employment Standards Act, which mandated yearly wage rises. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside says those adjustments were made last year because minimum-wage workers are most vulnerable to jumps in prices for living expenses like groceries, rent and gas. The province says the changes align
b-c-snowpack-at-72-of-normal-as-of-feb-1-after-extremely-dry-january
BCFeb 12, 2025

B.C. snowpack at 72% of normal as of Feb. 1 after 'extremely dry' January

British Columbia's latest snow and water supply bulletin says it was "extremely dry" across much of the province last month, with average snowpack measuring 28 per cent below normal as of Feb. 1. The latest snow pack figures released Tuesday come after the province started the year with a snowpack at 13 per cent below normal. The bulletin, release by from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, says last month fell within the top 10 driest Januaries across much of the province, while Abbotsford, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Cranbrook and Chetwynd were in the top five since record-
teens-body-recovered-after-fall-through-ice-on-b-c-s-shuswap-lake
BCFeb 11, 2025

Teens body recovered after fall through ice on B.C.'s Shuswap Lake

The body of an 18-year-old man has been recovered from Shuswap Lake in British Columbia's Interior after he fell through the ice over the weekend. Police say in a statement that the RCMP's underwater recover team found the teen's body on Monday. Salmon Arm Search and Rescue, the fire department and BC Emergency Health Services were called to the scene on Saturday to help search for the man. Staff Sgt. Simon Scott, the Salmon Arm RCMP detachment commander, says the death is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected the man's family, first responders and the community. Scott says changing
b-c-government-approves-controversial-supportive-housing-project-in-richmond
BCFeb 07, 2025

B.C. Government Approves Controversial Supportive Housing Project in Richmond

The B.C. government has approved a six-storey, 90-unit supportive housing project in Richmond, sparking backlash from locals. The project, initially paused in August ahead of the October provincial election, was greenlit Thursday evening. Three Conservative MLAs from Richmond oppose the project, citing a lack of consultation with residents and issues arising from the city’s temporary modular housing sites. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon clarified that the new permanent building will be separate from the temporary housing initiative, aiming to address community concerns.

Just In

alberta-referendum-majority-support-immigration-and-constitutional-reform-proposals
AlbertaOct 20, 2026

Alberta Referendum: Voters Back Several Government Proposals

Preliminary results from Alberta’s referendum on nine questions related to immigration and constitutional reforms show majority support for most of the provincial government’s proposals. About 58.6 per cent of voters supported giving Alberta greater control over immigration. Meanwhile, 57 per cent backed restricting access to services such as health care and education to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, while charging temporary residents fees for these services. A total of 58.4 per cent supported requiring temporary residents to live in Alberta for 12 months before qualifying for
alberta-voters-reject-separation-from-canada-76-vote-to-stay
AlbertaOct 20, 2026

Alberta Voters Reject Separation from Canada, 76% Vote to Stay

Alberta voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to separate from Canada in a referendum, with preliminary results indicating that approximately 76 per cent voted to remain in the country, while only 24 per cent supported initiating the separation process. Following the historic vote, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith thanked Albertans, describing the result as a victory for a united and strong Canada. Carney said the strong support for remaining in Canada sent a clear message that Albertans had chosen unity, cooperation and standing together as a country. He
abbotsford-double-murder-sentencing-delayed-until-february-2027
BCOct 20, 2026

Abbotsford Double Murder Sentencing Delayed Until February 2027

The sentencing hearing for Abhijeet Singh, Gurkaran Singh and Khushveer Toor, convicted of the first-degree murders of 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and his 76-year-old wife, Joanne De Jong, has been postponed until February 2027. The couple were killed during a home invasion at their Abbotsford residence nearly four years ago. The three men were found guilty of first-degree murder in May, an offence that carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years. However, the three convicted men have sought the right to apply for early parole under the Criminal Code’s “faint-h
online-drug-trafficking-ring-uncovered-in-edmonton-five-people-charged
AlbertaOct 20, 2026

Online Drug Trafficking Ring Uncovered in Edmonton, Five People Charged

Edmonton police have laid a total of 133 criminal charges against five individuals allegedly linked to a national online drug trafficking network. The charges include organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and possession of proceeds of crime. The arrests stem from a lengthy investigation conducted between March 2024 and January 2025 into an online group known as BlueBuddhaCo, which allegedly laundered money through banking and cryptocurrency platforms. In January 2025, police executed search warrants at several storage and distribution locations in central Edmonton and the Hollick
canada-declares-two-year-measles-outbreak-over-after-6-417-cases
CanadaOct 20, 2026

Canada Declares Two-Year Measles Outbreak Over After 6,417 Cases

Canada’s two-year measles outbreak has officially been declared over, with the Public Health Agency of Canada confirming that no new cases of the virus have been reported in the past two months. The outbreak began in New Brunswick in October 2024 and quickly spread across 10 Canadian provinces and territories, infecting a total of 6,417 people. Ontario and Alberta were among the hardest-hit provinces. The outbreak also resulted in the deaths of two newborn babies who were infected during pregnancy. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, most people who contracted the disease were u