Dozens of firefighters in Surrey, B.C., spent hours fighting a large blaze at a store selling e-bikes, where smoke was so thick that crews had to battle the flames from outside. Mike McNamara, assistant chief of operations with the Surrey Fire Department, says its part of a growing number of difficult-to-extinguish fires that erupt when e-bike batteries burn. McNamara says 36 firefighters and 12 trucks spent six hours Saturday night fighting the fire that destroyed the business and appears to have damaged others nearby. He says crews were initially able to enter the building but the flames and

A 15-year-old boy in Winnipeg is accused of attacking a 68-year-old man with a machete. Police say the assault on Friday night was random and happened while the man was walking past a Salvation Army on Henry Avenue. He was taken to hospital and police say he will require surgery. They say witnesses detained the boy until police arrived, and that officers recovered two machetes during the arrest.

BC Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says a “frightening” security incident took place Friday morning at her constituency office in North Vancouver, prompting the cancellation of all meetings and appointments for the day. In a statement, Ma said no one was injured and thanked police officers for responding quickly: “We appreciate the concern expressed by community members. For the safety of staff and constituents, all appointments are cancelled today.” Her statement says that thankfully, nobody was injured, and she appreciates the concern expressed by community members. “It’s scar

The Canadian government may cut student visas further. Immigration Minister Lina Diab is set to launch a consultation on immigration targets this summer, with a focus on student visas. This comes after the federal government last year announced a cap on study permits and a gradual reduction in the number of student visas. A spokeswoman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says the government expects schools to only accept students they can support by providing housing and other services. Meanwhile, the main opposition Conservatives are already in favor of this cut, with the pa

The Sikh Games Canada 2025 opened yesterday at Tamanawis Park in Surrey and will continue until Sunday, June 29. The event, which began in 2008 as a field hockey tournament, has grown into one of the largest multicultural sporting festivals in North America. Organizers emphasized that the Games represent more than competition. “This event is built on the Sikh principle of seva, or selfless service. Athletes compete, but they also serve their community by building bonds across cultures,” said one organizing committee member. Spectators told Connect FM they see the Games as both a celebrati

Dominican Republic officials say a Canadian tourist was found dead in a northern part of the country last week. The country’s civil defence agency says 33-year-old Dorian Christian MacDonald was found dead in the water on a beach in the Puerto Plata resort town of Maimon Bay last Friday. Agency spokesperson Jenssen Sanchez says first responders rushed to the scene after receiving a call at 3 a.m. local time, and the body was located more than an hour later. He says MacDonald was last seen walking on the beach before he died. Global Affairs Canada says it is “aware of the death of a Canadia

Statistics Canada says real gross domestic product edged down 0.1 per cent in April as the manufacturing sector slowed. The agency also says its advance estimate for May points to another 0.1 per cent decline for that month. The pullback in April came as goods-producing industries fell 0.6 per cent, with manufacturing accounting for nearly all the decline. The manufacturing sector was down 1.9 per cent in April, the largest drop since April 2021. Durable goods manufacturing fell 2.2 per cent in April, while non-durable goods manufacturing dropped 1.6 per cent. Meanwhile, services-producing ind

Parliament has passed controversial major projects legislation that Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada needs to shore up its economy in the face of a trade war with the United States. Bill C-5 gives the federal government sweeping new powers to speed up permitting for what the Liberals call "nation-building projects." The legislation's opponents have attacked the legislation as a massive power grab. Here's what's C-5 does and what people are saying about it.

The Senate could vote today on Prime Minister Mark Carney's controversial major projects bill — legislation that would give the federal government the power to fast-track projects it hopes will bolster the economy. The bill, which moved swiftly through the House of Commons, is subject to a programming motion in the Senate — meaning it has to be voted on by tomorrow. Bill C-5 has faced heavy opposition over the speed of its passage through Parliament and the sweeping new powers it would give the government. Carney has said the bill is needed to fast-track "nation-building projects" in the f