British Columbia's financial outlook is showing improvements, with a budget surplus of $706 million forecast for the current fiscal year. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of 2022-23 show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. The quarterly report Robinson posted today also indicates financial improvements over the next three years, but includes forecasts of budget deficits for two of the three years. The government recently announced the province's final audited budget for 2021-2022 produced a s

Surrey RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance with locating a missing 27-year-old man. Rohit Verma was reported missing on September 6, 2022 at 10:44 a.m. by his friend. He was last seen in the area of 11600-block of 99 Avenue and his vehicle has been located in the area of 11700-block of 130 Street, in Surrey.Rohit has not gone missing before and all attempts to contact him has been negative. Police and family are concerned for his well-being.Rohit is described as South Asian male, 5’7 tall, 141 lbs, with a black beard and balding black hair. His last known clothing description is unk

The number of people looking for work across Canada climbed by half a percentage point last month to 5.4 per cent, but the jobless rate in BC barely budged. Statistics Canada says unemployment in this province was 4.8 per cent in August, up one tenth of a point from July, and the second lowest rate in the country after Quebec. StatsCan blames the hike in the national jobless numbers on losses in the education services and construction sectors, although it says those declines were offset by more jobs in professional, scientific and technical services. Unemployment in Vancouver and Kelowna was

A book of condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth is now available in BC and mourners can choose to sign in person or online. Physical books of condolence are available in the Hall of Honour at the BC legislature, at Government House in Victoria, or in the Great Hall at the law courts in downtown Vancouver. The online book can be found via the home page of the BC government website. The books will be available until the day after the Queen's funeral which is expected within the next two weeks.

Yukon Premier Sandy Silver is stepping down as leader of the Liberal party in Yukon, but says he will stay on as a member of the legislature until the next election, expected in 2025. In an unexpected announcement, Silver has asked the party to start the proceedings for a leadership vote. He says he will remain as premier of the territory until his successor is chosen. He has served in the legislature for 11 years and led the Liberals for a decade, including the last six years as premier.

A Vancouver man has been charged in connection with a single-vehicle collision in which two students were struck and killed near the University of British Columbia. On September, 26, 2021, two UBC students were killed while walking on a sidewalk near North West Marine Drive at approximately 1:46 a.m.The University and Richmond RCMP worked tirelessly on this investigation for nearly one full year to get to this point of charge approval, says University RCMP Detachment Commander Staff-Sergeant Chuck Lan.Our partners with the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS), Integ

Environment Canada has issued special weather statements for BC's north coast and Haida Gwaii with the first major winds of the season set to arrive tomorrow. The weather office says winds could gust up to 100 kilometres per hour along exposed coastal areas, with the strongest southeasterly winds expected to hit the eastern side of Haida Gwaii but affecting the coast of the mainland as well. It says the winds should subside around midnight on Saturday. On the south coast, heat warnings remain in effect but temperatures are expected to cool over the weekend.

Surrey RCMP is advising the public that a 28-year-old man involved in gang and organized crime-related violence was arrested and remains in custody. On August 31, 2022, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Shakiel Singh Basra and an associate were arrested by Surrey RCMP with assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team in Richmond, BC. Shakiel Singh Basra was one of 11 individuals named in a public warning issued by Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) and policing partners on August 3, 2022, due to the significant risk they pose to public safety. Sh

A former coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian national youth soccer teams is expected to make a public apology today in court for sex crimes. Bob Birarda pleaded guilty in February to three counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual touching for offences involving four soccer players who were under 18 at the time of the incidents between 1988 and 2008. His lawyer Bill Smart told a sentencing hearing in provincial court in North Vancouver that the former coach, who was dismissed by both the Whitecaps and Canada Soccer in 2008, will make a statement today. Smart is arguing Birard