British Columbia is experiencing a sharp increase in wildfire activity following widespread lightning strikes across the province. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the number of active wildfires climbed from about 20 on Wednesday morning to more than 100 by the weekend. As of Monday, 102 wildfires were burning across the province, including 12 that were discovered within the previous 24 hours. The agency said approximately 40 per cent of the active wildfires are classified as out of control. Most of the fires are located in B.C.'s Southern Interior region, where firefighting efforts con

Mexico is not seeking a separate bilateral trade agreement with the United States that would exclude Canada, Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Velasco Álvarez said Friday, reaffirming his country's commitment to the trilateral Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Speaking alongside Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand at a joint news conference in Ottawa, Álvarez said Mexico remains committed to maintaining the existing three-country trade pact. He said ongoing bilateral meetings with the United States should not be interpreted as an effort to sideline Canada.

British Columbia Premier David Eby says he will urge Canada's premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider introducing federal anti-racketeering legislation similar to the United States' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act in an effort to combat extortion and organized crime. According to Eby, he plans to raise the proposal during next week's Council of the Federation meeting and the First Ministers' Meeting. He said recent arrests in a U.S. law enforcement operation, in which charges were also laid against three British Columbia residents, highlight the need for s

Ontario's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, has resigned from cabinet after facing criticism over thousands of dollars in hotel expenses claimed while living in Toronto. According to reports, Cho claimed $16,203 in taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation expenses over the past three years, despite his home being only a few kilometres from Queen's Park. The expense claims were for stays at downtown Toronto hotels. In a statement, Cho described the claims as a "significant mistake" and confirmed he has repaid the full amount to the provincial government. The Ontario government has n

Highway 1 through British Columbia's Fraser Canyon has reopened to traffic, although wildfire crews continue efforts to contain the Brunswick Complex fires in the area. According to the B.C. Ministry of Transportation, the highway reopened Friday morning with single-lane alternating traffic in both directions. A reduced speed limit of 60 km/h remains in effect along a 27-kilometre section near Boston Bar to support emergency operations and improve safety. The Brunswick Complex wildfires have forced hundreds of residents in Boston Bar and nearby communities to leave their homes. Authorities hav

The West Shore RCMP is warning British Columbia residents about fraudulent letters falsely claiming to be from the RCMP's National Cybercrime Coordination Centre in an attempt to extort money from the public. According to the RCMP, the letters falsely accuse recipients of accessing child sexual exploitation material and demand payment within 24 hours to avoid having their names made public and facing court proceedings. Police said the allegations are fabricated and are intended to intimidate victims into sending money. West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Nancy Saggar said Canadian pol

North Vancouver RCMP are renewing their appeal for the public's help in locating 46-year-old Mihaela Ududec, who has been missing since July 7. According to a North Vancouver RCMP news release, investigators have confirmed through video evidence that Ududec was last seen at 3:03 p.m. on July 7 in the 100 block of West Keith Road. Police have released a CCTV image showing what she was wearing in the hope that someone may recognize her or provide information about her whereabouts. She was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, blue jeans, black Nike shoes and a grey hat."Our Investigative Support S

Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon on Friday announced the Port of Vancouver Gateway Strategy, a federal initiative aimed at expanding Canada's trade capacity through the Port of Vancouver and strengthening transportation infrastructure on the West Coast. According to the federal government, the strategy includes advancing the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 expansion project in Delta and referring Alberta's proposed West Coast oil pipeline project to the Major Projects Office for an expedited review under a single regulatory approval process. The government said the initiative is intended to

At least seven structures have been destroyed as a fast-moving wildfire burns through British Columbia's Fraser Canyon region, according to local officials. The Fraser Valley Regional District said the damage was caused by the Brunswick Wildfire Complex, which includes the Brunswick Creek and Ainslie Creek wildfires. Most of the destruction occurred near the Blue Lake Resort outside Boston Bar. Regional district spokesperson Samantha Piper said the destroyed structures include four residential buildings and seasonal cabins used to accommodate visitors, along with three commercial support struc