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john-rustad-criticizes-eby-government-over-health-care-crisis
BCJan 30, 2025

John Rustad Criticizes Eby Government Over Health Care Crisis

BC opposition leader John Rustad has sharply criticized the Eby government for what he calls the province’s failing health care system. Rustad stated that British Columbia’s health care is now among the worst globally, with patients dying while waiting for treatment. A recent report highlights that the provincial government is not fulfilling its promises. Dr. Charlene Lui, president of the BC Physicians Association and a Burnaby family doctor, revealed that 700,000 residents in British Columbia currently lack a family doctor. Dr. Lui described the situation as alarming, emphasizing the ur
sonia-furstenau-resigns-as-bc-green-party-leader
BCJan 28, 2025

Sonia Furstenau Resigns as BC Green Party Leader

Sonia Furstenau has resigned as leader of the BC Green Party following her loss in the October 2024 legislative election. Although Furstenau, 54, had led the party since 2020, she decided to step down after her defeat. Furstenau had served as the MLA for Cowichan Valley since 2017. However, in the most recent election, she chose to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill, where she was defeated by NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore by 3,688 votes. The BC Greens now have only two MLAs in the province. Born in Edmonton, Sonia Furstenau earned a degree in education from the University of Victoria before workin
b-c-government-sets-five-year-housing-target-for-surrey
BCJan 28, 2025

B.C. Government Sets Five-Year Housing Target for Surrey

The B.C. government, under Premier David Eby, has set a five-year housing target aimed at delivering a total of 27,256 homes in Surrey by June 30, 2029. The provincial government has requested that the city submit an annual progress report to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. The housing target, which began on July 1, 2024, outlines specific milestones for new construction: 4,233 homes are expected to be built by June 30, 2025, followed by 4,639 homes between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, 5,248 homes are planned, followed by 6,060 new homes between July 1,
hitmen-face-sentencing-for-b-c-murder-of-former-air-india-suspect-malik
BCJan 28, 2025

Hitmen face sentencing for B.C. murder of former Air India suspect Malik

One of the admitted hitmen who killed former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik is set to be sentenced for his part in the murder today in a New Westminster, B.C., courtroom. Tanner Fox and accomplice Jose Lopez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last October, with Fox scheduled to be sentenced today, and Lopez due back in court on Friday. Malik, who was acquitted of charges related to the 1985 Air India bombing, was shot dead in Surrey, B.C, on July 14, 2022. Fox and Lopez, who were both in their early 20s at the time of the killing, were originally charged with first-degree
bc-green-party-leader-could-announce-leadership-change-tomorrow
BCJan 27, 2025

BC Green Party Leader Could Announce Leadership Change Tomorrow

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau could announce a change in party leadership tomorrow. Furstenau suffered a defeat in the October 2024 legislative election, but despite this, the leadership of the party has remained with her so far. Furstenau first won a seat in 2017, when her party played a key role in forming the New Democrats' government. In last year’s election, Furstenau left her former seat of Cowichan Valley to run for Victoria-Beacon Hill, where she was defeated by the NDP candidate. According to sources, BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau will hold a press conference tomorr
b-c-opposition-leader-warns-premier-against-responding-to-u-s-tariff-threat
BCJan 24, 2025

B.C. Opposition Leader Warns Premier Against Responding to U.S. Tariff Threat

B.C.’s main opposition leader, John Rustad, has cautioned Premier David Eby against making a statement in response to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. Rustad advised that while a trade war could be initiated, the reality is that Canadians would ultimately bear the cost. As leader of B.C.’s Conservative Party, Rustad emphasized that the United States has historically been Canada’s strongest ally. His remarks came as a 25 percent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods is set to take effect on February 1. While acknowledging the potential damage caused by the tariffs, Rustad made it clear that t
b-c-government-faces-challenge-as-contracts-of-400-000-public-sector-workers-expire
BCJan 23, 2025

B.C. Government Faces Challenge as Contracts of 400,000 Public Sector Workers Expire

The B.C. government is facing a challenging situation as the contracts of 400,000 public sector workers are set to expire this year, in both the spring and fall. Amid fiscal issues and potential tariffs from the Trump administration, the province will need to negotiate new contracts with unions regarding wages and other demands. These workers include nurses, hospital staff, and post-secondary school instructors and support staff. The challenge comes as the provincial government projects a $9.4-billion deficit for this fiscal year and has pledged to take steps to reduce it. The nurses’ union
john-rustad-supports-deporting-zain-haq-to-pakistan-for-violating-study-permit
BCJan 22, 2025

John Rustad supports deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for violating study permit

B.C.’s opposition leader John Rustad has voiced support for deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for allegedly violating his study permit. Haq is accused of participating in protests instead of focusing on his studies. In 2021, Haq was arrested along with 17 others during a demonstration on Burrard Bridge that disrupted traffic, including access to St. Paul’s Hospital. Rustad emphasized that individuals coming to B.C. to study should not break the law. Zain Haq, a prominent climate activist in B.C., was ordered deported on January 25. He and his wife Sophie are appealing to Immigration Minister
sleeping-driver-leads-to-drugs-guns-being-seized-mounties-say
BCJan 22, 2025

Sleeping driver leads to drugs, guns being seized: Mounties say

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say they seized guns and a "significant" amounts of drugs after finding a man sleeping inside a running vehicle at a restaurant parking lot. A statement from the RCMP says officers saw "numerous weapons" in plain view as they approached the truck Monday to check on the driver. Police say they found a loaded handgun, ammunition, and body armour, along with a modified rifle and loaded magazines. Supt. Jeff Pelley says police also seized more than 1.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and 85 grams of cocaine. The statement says the man in his late 30s was arrested and rele

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microsoft-outage-disrupts-teams-outlook-and-copilot-services-worldwide
WorldNov 13, 2026

Microsoft Outage Disrupts Teams, Outlook and Copilot Services Worldwide

A technical outage affecting several Microsoft digital services has disrupted users worldwide, with the issue continuing for at least 18 hours. Services including Microsoft Teams, Outlook and the artificial intelligence software Copilot have been affected. Microsoft said services are gradually being restored in affected regions, including Europe and North America. However, some users may still experience difficulties logging in or accessing services. The outage has also affected healthcare services, schools and businesses. In the United Kingdom, some schools have asked parents to contact them
sharp-debate-erupts-between-lena-diab-and-pierre-poilievre-over-immigration-plan
CanadaNov 13, 2026

Sharp Debate Erupts Between Lena Diab and Pierre Poilievre Over Immigration Plan

Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Diab and federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre are clashing over the government’s new immigration plan. In a recently released video, Poilievre claimed that under the new plan, Canada would welcome approximately 200,000 more new permanent residents annually compared to the numbers under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government. Rejecting his claim, Diab said the 100,000 people being granted permanent residency are not newcomers arriving from abroad. Instead, they are already living and working in Canada and are not taking anything away f
CanadaNov 13, 2026

Canada Raises Luxury Tax Threshold to $150,000 for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles

Buying fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles in Canada could become more affordable after the federal government raised the luxury tax price threshold for these vehicles from $100,000 to $150,000. According to an announcement by Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, the change came into effect on Friday. This means fully electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles priced up to $150,000 will no longer be subject to the additional luxury tax. The government said the decision takes into account the higher upfront cost of zero-emission vehicles and aims to encourage their adoption. Howe
canada-and-india-push-to-finalize-free-trade-agreement-by-year-end
CanadaNov 13, 2026

Maninder Sidhu Meets Piyush Goyal to Advance Canada-India Free Trade Deal

Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Singh Sidhu, met with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi on Thursday to advance efforts to finalize a Canada-India free trade agreement by the end of this year. The sixth round of negotiations for the proposed agreement is currently underway in New Delhi, with officials from both countries scheduled to hold discussions until November 20. Since May 2025, Minister Sidhu and Piyush Goyal have held more than a dozen meetings. The latest push in trade negotiations comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra
man-shot-dead-inside-home-in-surreys-central-area
BCNov 13, 2026

Man Shot Dead Inside Home in Surrey's Central Area

A man has been shot and killed inside a home in Surrey's Central area. The incident occurred Thursday morning in the 10600-block of 132 Street. According to the Surrey Police Service (SPS), officers and BC Emergency Health Services were called to the residence at approximately 7:16 a.m. after receiving reports of a person suffering from gunshot wounds. First responders made every effort to save the victim, but he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has taken over the investigation. No details about the victim's identity or any potential sus