British Columbia’s Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is urging the federal government to provide the same level of support for the province’s forestry sector as it does for Ontario’s automobile industry. Bailey said she welcomes the overall direction of the federal budget released today, which she believes aligns with several of B.C.’s priorities. However, she emphasized that the province’s softwood lumber industry continues to face “extraordinary” duties and tariffs of more than 45 per cent, putting workers and communities under significant pressure. Her remarks followed an emergen

Peel Regional Police are warning residents about a series of distraction thefts in Brampton that appear to target elderly members of the community. Investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau say several victims have reported losing jewellery after being approached by strangers in vehicles. According to police, suspects often engage victims in conversation, sometimes pretending to offer assistance or ask for directions. In several cases, a woman initiates contact before a man exits a nearby vehicle and forcibly removes or swaps the victim’s jewellery. Officers note that

A man has died at a protest camp outside a British Columbia ostrich farm that has been fighting a federal order to cull its birds following an avian flu outbreak. Nakusp RCMP said officers were called around 7 a.m. Monday after a police liaison team discovered an unresponsive man at the Universal Ostrich Farm near Edgewood. Officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, but despite continued efforts, the man could not be revived. Police confirmed the man’s identity but said next of kin are still being notified. Investigators said the death does not appear suspicious, and the BC Coroners Se

Mounties in Prince George are warning parents to double-check their children’s Halloween treats after several families reported finding sewing needles or pins hidden in candy. Police say the reports came from residents in the area of Bittner Road West and Bachinski Crescent, where tampered mini chocolate bars and bagged gummy candies were discovered over the weekend. Corporal Jennifer Cooper with Prince George RCMP said officers are continuing to investigate and are urging anyone who finds suspicious candy to contact police. “We want parents to take another look at their kids’ candy to m

An 18-year-old man from Nanaimo has died following a fiery collision on Highway 1, and investigators are appealing for witnesses and dash camera footage to help determine what happened. BC Highway Patrol says the crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. on November 3, when a black Audi S3 sedan lost control and caught fire in the northbound lanes near Morden Road on Vancouver Island. Officers say another dark-coloured car, possibly a black Honda Civic, was seen in the area but did not stop after the crash. Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said investigators need to learn more about t

The BC Coroners Service has shared statistics on the number of deaths caused by unregulated toxic drugs in the province for the month of September. In September, 158 people lost their lives due to toxic drugs. The number of such drug-related deaths has increased in September compared to July and August. In July, the number of deaths related to unregulated drugs was reported to be 153 and in August, the number was 149. Statistics compiled by BC Coroners ServiceSo far in the year 2025, the number of such deaths has reached a total of 1,384. In the month of September alone, on average, more than

A Chilliwack RCMP officer is recovering in hospital after a serious two-vehicle collision early Saturday morning on Vedder Road. Police say the crash occurred around 1:10 a.m. on November 2 when a southbound 2006 Lincoln Zephyr crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a marked 2021 Ford Explorer police vehicle head-on, just north of Stevenson Road. According to witness accounts, the Lincoln driver was travelling at high speed and driving erratically before the collision. Investigators have ruled out alcohol as a factor. The officer, who was on duty at the time, activated her emergency alar

Federal and provincial officials are gathering in Vancouver today for a forestry summit aimed at tackling the escalating trade dispute that has driven U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber above 50 per cent. Federal Minister of Public Safety and Canada–U.S. Relations Dominic LeBlanc is joining B.C. Premier David Eby and provincial ministers responsible for forests and jobs to discuss measures to protect workers and businesses across the province’s struggling forestry sector. The talks come after Washington imposed a new round of anti-dumping and countervailing duties this fall, raising

The Supreme Court of Canada will decide on November 6 whether it will hear an appeal from a British Columbia ostrich farm fighting a federal order to destroy its flock following an avian flu outbreak. Universal Ostrich Farms, located near Edgewood in southeastern B.C., is seeking to overturn a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) directive to cull hundreds of birds after the virus was detected on December 31, 2024. The court’s upcoming decision on whether to grant leave to appeal will determine whether the cull can proceed immediately or be delayed for a full hearing. The CFIA maintains th