All students from kindergarten to Grade 9 in British Columbia public schools will now be assessed with a proficiency scale instead of letter grades.A statement from the Education Ministry says that starting in the 2023-2024 school year, only students in grades 10, 11 and 12 will receive letter grades and percentages so post-secondary entry requirements are met.About half of B.C.'s students have already been getting the new progress reports in a pilot program through a curriculum modernization plan that started in 2016.The ministry says proficiency scale report cards use terms such as emerging,

Member of Parliament Sukh Dhaliwal says the shooting death of a religious leader in the parking lot of a British Columbia temple has prompted a meeting with Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and members of the Sikh Liberal caucus.Dhaliwal, who represents the Metro Vancouver riding of Surrey-Newton where the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar took place, posted a statement on Twitter, saying Sikh members of the Liberal caucus met with the minister regarding the tragic incident at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.Dhaliwal says the caucus members were assured the federal government is working closely w

Surrey RCMP is releasing photos of a fraud suspect and requesting anyone with information contact police.On March 18, 2023, Surrey RCMP received a report that a currency exchange business located in the 8000-block of 128 Street had been defrauded $237,000.Two separate bank drafts were cashed and later determined to be fraudulent.Through investigation it was determined that the person who uttered the fraudulent bank drafts was utilizing another person’s identity.The suspect is described as a South Asian female, 5’7", slim build, with shoulder length dark hair.She spoke Hindi, Punjabi and En

The New York lawyer who says he is both the representative and a friend of the Surrey Sikh leader fatally shot earlier this week, says Hardeep Singh Nijjar knew people wanted him dead.Gurpatwant Singh Pannun says in an email that Nijjar had been warned by Canadian intelligence officials that 'mercenaries' had targeted him for assassination.Pannun says he was told by Nijjar that he, too, was on the hit list because both men were advocating for a separate Sikh state of Khalistan, within India's Punjab region.No arrests have been made since Nijjar was shot and killed on Sunday night as he left th

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the government has received the report it was waiting for from Surrey officials on the future of policing in the city.That's after Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke announced Friday that a majority on council had reviewed the report and voted to keep the R.C.M.P, reversing the transition to a municipal force that had been initiated by her predecessor.The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue the transition to an independent force and Farnworth set out requirements for safe and effective policing, which the city would need to follow in orde

The president of a Sikh gurdwara who was accused of murder and terrorism in India has been shot dead outside his temple in Surrey, British Columbia.The general secretary of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Society said Hardeep Singh Nijjar was alone in his pickup truck when he was attacked Sunday night as he was leaving the gurdwara's parking lot.Surrey RCMP said in a news release that the shooting happened at about 8:30 p.m. and the victim died at the scene.They said they are searching for suspects and trying to confirm a motive for the homicide.India's National Investigation Agency last year iss

Brenda Locke, the mayor of Surrey, B.C., says the council has voted to revert its policing back to the RCMP, a move than will cost the city millions of dollars.In a news conference at Surrey City Hall on Friday morning, Mayor Brenda Locke announced the decision, saying both SPS and RCMP deserve certainty about their future in the City of Surrey. The B.C. government recommended in April that Surrey continue its transition to the independent Surrey Police Service, offering $150 million over five years to help the city cover costs, but saying it would not pay the estimated $72 million in severanc

Four people have been found dead in a home in British Columbia's northwest in what police are calling a homicide.Prince Rupert RCMP say officers responded to a call on Tuesday evening to the 100 block of Silversides Drive.Once there, police say they found four individuals dead in the home and began a homicide investigation.Police say they do not believe there are any outstanding suspects in the case at this time, and there should be no further risk to the public.Prince Rupert is located about 1,200 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

B.C. is expanding the program it uses to help patients kick their dependence on opioids.A statement from the Health Ministry says B.C. will now provide universal coverage for eligible drugs which include methadone that are rated as opioid agonist treatment medications.The statement says the expanded program differs from safer supply which provides alternatives to illicit drugs and will help the roughly 1600 B.C. patients who can't get PharmaCare coverage for the drugs needed to manage their opioid-use disorder.Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says removing cost barriers