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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.
abbotsford-b-c-daycare-owner-charged-with-six-counts-of-assaulting-children
BCFeb 06, 2025

Abbotsford, B.C., daycare owner charged with six counts of assaulting children

Police say an East Abbotsford daycare owner has been charged with allegedly assaulting children in her care. Abbotsford Police say officers launched an investigation into reports that the 60-year-old had assaulted children in October. They say the alleged incidents date back to 2022 and involved children between the ages of two and six years old. They say woman was arrested on Tuesday. Police say she has since been charged with six counts of assault and has been released under court-ordered conditions including that she have no contact with any person under the age of 16. Detectives with the d
two-arrested-including-a-surrey-woman-in-catalytic-converter-theft-in-burnaby
BCFeb 05, 2025

Two arrested, including a Surrey woman, in catalytic converter theft in Burnaby

Mounties in Burnaby say two women have been arrested after stealing a catalytic converter from a van in a parking lot in the area of Brighton Avenue and Lougheed Highway. They say that on January 22nd, officers responded to reports of the women underneath the vehicle, but the pair left the scene before they arrived. The R-C-M-P say the 9-1-1 caller was able to describe their car and the women were arrested a short time later with several catalytic converters in their possession. Police say the 38-year-old from Surrey and 39-year-old from Abbotsford are expected to face numerous charges,

Just In

CanadaOct 21, 2026

Canada Says Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s Is Constitutional

The Canadian government has defended proposed Bill C-34, which would ban children under 16 from using social media, arguing that it is consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In a statement issued by Justice Minister Sean Fraser, the government acknowledged that the proposed digital safety legislation could affect freedom of expression but maintained that it falls within constitutional limits. The government argued that age-based restrictions are already in place for activities such as voting and driving, and said similar measures are justified to protect children from the
danielle-smith-warns-ucp-members-support-canada-or-leave-the-party
AlbertaOct 21, 2026

Danielle Smith Warns UCP Members: Support Canada or Leave the Party

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has issued a strong warning to members of her United Conservative Party (UCP), saying those who cannot support a pro-Canada position should return their party memberships and find another party. In a video posted on social media Wednesday, Smith made it clear that the UCP cannot afford divisions over the issue, warning that internal disagreements could put the party at risk of losing the next provincial election to the opposition NDP. Her comments came after Monday’s referendum, in which Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. Smith acknowledged
psac-announces-strike-vote-for-120-000-federal-workers
CanadaOct 21, 2026

PSAC Announces Strike Vote for 120,000 Federal Workers

Canada’s largest federal public service union has announced a nationwide strike vote after contract negotiations with the government stalled. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) represents approximately 120,000 workers, including wildfire firefighters, passport officers, fisheries officers, federal teachers, librarians and administrative staff. The strike vote will run from November 16, 2026, to January 22, 2027. The union and the Treasury Board have been in a dispute over a new collective agreement for the past 18 months. PSAC alleges that the federal government has repeatedly dela
IndiaOct 21, 2026

CBI Takes Over Jhota Murder Probe, Post-Mortem Decision Still Pending

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun investigating the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab. The central agency has registered an FIR in Chandigarh in connection with the case. CBI officials met Jhota’s family and recorded their statements. The team also collected evidence from the shop of the accused, Ashwani Kumar, and other locations linked to the case. The agency is reportedly trying to persuade the family to agree to a post-mortem examination. The CBI has assured them that a medical board of doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Educatio
carney-says-federal-government-wont-back-down-on-immigration-targets
CanadaOct 21, 2026

Carney Says Federal Government Won’t Back Down on Immigration Targets

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has assured that the federal government will maintain sustainable immigration levels and will not back away from its targets. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday morning, Carney said his government is consulting provincial governments on bringing immigration to appropriate levels and distributing newcomers more effectively across the country based on economic needs. His remarks came after Alberta’s referendum, in which approximately 53 per cent of voters supported giving the province greater control over immigration policies to reduce the number o