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3-b-c-conservatives-kicked-from-the-party-will-sit-as-independents
BCMar 10, 2025

3 B.C. Conservatives kicked from the party will sit as Independents

A group of three former B.C. Conservative legislators have announced they will sit as Independents in the provincial legislature. Dallas Brodie was kicked out of the party on Friday over her comments about residential schools, and Jordan Kealy and Tara Armstrong left the party saying Leader John Rustad had abandoned the truth. Armstrong told reporters outside the legislature today that Rustad “caved to the woke liberals who have infiltrated the party.” She says no one was surprised when New Democrat Premier David Eby attacked Dallas Brody for telling the truth about Kamloops, but Rustad’
more-than-450-unhoused-people-died-in-b-c-in-2023-almost-tripling-2020-toll
BCMar 07, 2025

More than 450 unhoused people died in B.C. in 2023, almost tripling 2020 toll

New data from the BC Coroners Service says at least 458 people experiencing homelessness in the province died in 2023, with the toll almost tripling in just three years. The service says in a news release there's been a 23 per cent increase from the 373 recorded deaths of unhoused people the year before. It says 91 per cent of the 2023 deaths were classified as accidental, including 86 per cent due to drug toxicity. The data show 79 per cent of those who died were male, while more than half were between the ages of 30 and 49. Chief Coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan says the numbers speak to the "tr
daylight-saving-time-returns-clocks-to-move-forward-on-march-9
BCMar 07, 2025

Daylight Saving Time Returns: Clocks to Move Forward on March 9

Parts of Canada, including British Columbia (BC), will move their clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 9. Daylight saving time (DST) will officially take effect at 2 a.m. on that day. The change is expected to influence sleep patterns and daily routines. DST has a long history. In 1784, Benjamin Franklin proposed the concept while serving as the U.S. ambassador to France. However, it wasn’t formally adopted in Canada until 1918, during World War I, as a measure to increase productivity. Following the end of World War I, the Canadian government discontinued DST, only to reinstate it d
b-c-health-officials-confirm-another-travel-related-measles-case-in-lower-mainland
BCMar 07, 2025

B.C. health officials confirm another travel-related measles case in Lower Mainland

British Columbia health officials say another travel-related measles infection has been confirmed in the Lower Mainland, in a resident who visited Southeast Asia. Fraser Health says in a statement that the case is unrelated to an infection last month involving a resident of the Vancouver Coastal Health region who was also infected after a trip to Southeast Asia. It says the new case involves a Fraser Health resident, and health officials are directly following up with people known to have been exposed to the virus. The statement says members of the public might have been exposed to measles if
b-c-signs-670-million-pharmacare-agreement-with-federal-government
BCMar 06, 2025

B.C. signs $670-million pharmacare agreement with federal government

The British Columbia and federal governments have signed a four-year, $670-million pharmacare agreement, giving universal access to contraceptive and diabetes medications. The plan will support nearly 550,000 B.C. residents with diabetes and provide 1.3 million people with a range of contraceptives. B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne and federal Health Minister Mark Holland announced the agreement will also mean free public coverage of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause symptoms.
eby-says-b-c-making-contingency-plans-to-reduce-reliance-on-u-s-electricity
BCMar 06, 2025

Eby says B.C. making contingency plans to reduce reliance on U.S. electricity

British Columbia Premier David Eby says the government is making contingency plans to reduce the province's reliance on electricity from the United States after the start of the continental trade war. He says similar planning happens in the event of natural disasters and now it's due to a "man-made disaster" created by U.S. President Donald Trump, who imposed sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports on Tuesday. Eby says uncertainty and potential instability coming from south of the border mean the province needs backup plans so B.C. will never again be "so dependent on the United States." The prem
more-families-in-b-c-to-benefit-from-rental-assistance-program
BCMar 05, 2025

More Families in B.C. to Benefit from Rental Assistance Program

More families in the province will benefit from B.C.’s Rental Assistance Program following an increase in the annual income limit for low-income working families. In Budget 2025, the David Eby government raised the income limit from $40,000 to $60,000. The provincial government anticipates that this change will increase the number of families receiving the rental supplement from 3,200 to around 6,000. Additionally, the amount of the rental supplement will rise by approximately 75%, from $400 per month to $700 per month. Furthermore, the income limit and average supplement amount for the She
b-c-budget-to-buffer-province-against-trumps-uncertainty-and-disorder-minister
BCMar 04, 2025

B.C. budget to buffer province against Trump's 'uncertainty and disorder': minister

British Columbia's finance minister is preparing to deliver a budget today that she says will brace the province against four years of "uncertainty and disorder" amid the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump. Brenda Bailey's budget is being handed down on the same day that Trump says a 25 per cent U.S. tariff will be placed on Canadian goods, while Canadian energy will face 10 per cent tariffs. Bailey says Trump's tariffs came "completely out of nowhere" when he announced them last November and they've already changed B.C.'s financial circumstances. The NDP government has cancelled its election pro
bc-finance-minister-brenda-bailey-to-unveil-provincial-budget-tomorrow
BCMar 03, 2025

BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey to Unveil Provincial Budget Tomorrow

BC Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is set to present the provincial budget tomorrow, a significant event coinciding with the anticipated implementation of Trump’s 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods. The budget will also serve as a major test for Premier David Eby, who made ambitious campaign promises during the election. Eby pledged that his BC NDP government would build new hospitals, expand rapid transit, and invest in schools if re-elected. However, the looming tariffs and the pressure to address the province’s $9.4 billion deficit suggest that these promises may not feature prominentl

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quebec-plans-new-law-to-ban-religious-symbols-in-daycare-centres
CanadaOct 23, 2025

Quebec plans new law to ban religious symbols in daycare centres

The Quebec government is moving to prohibit the wearing of religious symbols in the province’s daycare centres, expanding its existing secularism policies in early childhood settings. Secularism Minister Jean-François Roberge said there is broad public agreement that Quebec’s commitment to secular values should be reinforced. The decision follows recommendations made earlier this year by a provincial advisory committee that studied ways to strengthen secularism laws. Quebec’s current legislation already restricts public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, police off
alberta-government-plans-back-to-work-legislation-as-teachers-strike-enters-third-week
AlbertaOct 23, 2025

Alberta government plans back-to-work legislation as teachers’ strike enters third week

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government will introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday if no deal is reached to end the provincewide teachers’ strike. Smith said the walkout, now in its third week, has caused “intolerable hardship” for students and families, adding that the government cannot allow the disruption to continue. The strike has shut down classrooms for about 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students in public, separate, and francophone schools across the province. While formal negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the province are not currently
superintendent-peri-mainwaring-appointed-new-head-of-north-vancouver-rcmp
BCOct 23, 2025

Superintendent Peri Mainwaring appointed new head of North Vancouver RCMP

The North Vancouver RCMP has a new Officer-in-Charge. Superintendent Peri Mainwaring has been appointed to lead the detachment, bringing more than three decades of policing experience with the RCMP. Mainwaring began her career in Saskatchewan and has served in municipal, provincial and federal roles across the country. Before her latest promotion, she was the Community Programs Officer with the Burnaby RCMP, where she helped strengthen community safety initiatives and led work on mental health and crisis intervention. Her connection to North Vancouver is longstanding — Mainwaring previously
pm-modi-invites-canadian-pm-to-new-delhi
CanadaOct 23, 2025

PM Modi invites Canadian PM to New Delhi

India has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney to New Delhi early in the new year for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This could pave the way for a new economic relationship and a free trade agreement between the two countries. India's High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Kumar Patnaik said that a sincere effort is being made by the two leaders to improve diplomatic relations and increase trade and investment opportunities amid the tariff war with the US. Patnaik said that if the two countries negotiate a far-reaching agreement, annual trade between Canada and India could cross $50-billio
interior-health-testing-virtual-emergency-care-to-support-rural-hospitals
BCOct 23, 2025

Interior Health testing virtual emergency care to support rural hospitals

Interior Health is planning a pilot project that would use virtual emergency care to help keep small hospitals in British Columbia’s Interior open during staffing shortages. The proposal would link hospitals in Clearwater, Nakusp, Lillooet, and Princeton, allowing physicians to share responsibilities through a combination of on-site and remote support. Interior Health says the four facilities face similar challenges, with low overnight patient volumes but frequent service interruptions due to limited staffing. The health authority says it is consulting with local doctors and staff to determi