8.54°C Vancouver

News

us-urges-nato-allies-to-boost-defense-spending-to-5-of-gdp
CanadaApr 04, 2025

US Urges NATO Allies to Boost Defense Spending to 5% of GDP

While the trade war between Canada and the US threatens to slow down the economy, the Trump administration has urged Canada and other NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP. This request was made during a meeting held in Brussels on Thursday. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly attended the meeting. She pointed out that the US itself does not meet that target. Meanwhile, during the election campaign in Quebec, when journalists asked Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre whether the US had urged NATO members to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, he
premier-david-eby-meets-forestry-leaders-to-address-potential-u-s-tariffs-on-b-c-lumber
BCApr 04, 2025

Premier David Eby Meets Forestry Leaders to Address Potential U.S. Tariffs on B.C. Lumber

Premier David Eby is meeting with forestry leaders in Prince George today to discuss strategies to protect British Columbia's largest export industry from potential tariffs. Eby has raised concerns that President Donald Trump may impose additional tariffs on top of the existing 14.5 percent duty on B.C. softwood lumber. B.C.'s forestry sector is a critical component of the province's economy, contributing $17.4 billion to the GDP and providing thousands of jobs. The U.S. has long accused B.C. of subsidizing its lumber industry. According to the Business Council of B.C., if Trump imposes an ad
brazil-to-require-visas-for-canadian-tourists-starting-april-10
CanadaApr 04, 2025

Brazil to Require Visas for Canadian Tourists Starting April 10

Canadian tourists will now need a visa to visit Brazil, with the new requirement taking effect on April 10. Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism purposes. However, visas are not required for stays of up to 90 days for business or student purposes. This policy change will also apply to travelers from the United States and Australia. According to VFS, the company authorized by the Brazilian government to issue e-visas, travelers who already have a valid physical visa in their passport for the purpose of their trip do not need to apply for a new one
sharp-job-loss-hits-canadian-economy-in-march
CanadaApr 04, 2025

Sharp Job Loss Hits Canadian Economy in March

The Canadian economy experienced its largest job loss since 2022 in March. Statistics Canada reported on Friday that 33,000 jobs were lost last month, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage point to 6.7 per cent. The report noted that uncertainty over tariffs has impacted new hiring and triggered some layoffs. The most significant drop in employment occurred in the private sector. Most economists had anticipated signs of weakness in the job market in March, as companies delayed investment and hiring amid ongoing tariff concerns. According to Statistics Canada, a total of 1.5
quebec-government-tables-bill-to-combat-election-disinformation-and-interference
CanadaApr 03, 2025

Quebec government tables bill to combat election disinformation and interference

The Quebec government has introduced a bill to preserve the integrity of the electoral process by tackling deliberate disinformation and election interference. The bill tabled today by the province's minister for democratic institutions would make it an offence to knowingly spread false information to influence or disturb an election or compromise the public’s trust in the electoral process. Jean-François Roberge says it would also be an offence to falsely represent the chief electoral officer or a candidate in order to mislead the public. Roberge says examples of false representations incl
poilievre-pledges-to-scrap-gst-on-canadian-made-vehicles
CanadaApr 03, 2025

Poilievre Pledges to Scrap GST on Canadian-Made Vehicles

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to eliminate the GST on Canadian-made cars and light trucks if elected. He stated that this measure would save Canadians up to $2,500 on vehicles priced at $50,000 or less, while also boosting demand for domestic automobiles and protecting auto industry jobs. During a campaign stop in Kingston, Ontario, Poilievre urged provincial premiers to cut provincial taxes by the same amount, which could result in total savings of up to $7,000 per vehicle for consumers.
us-tariff-policy-countries-affected-and-exemptions
CanadaApr 03, 2025

US Tariff Policy: Countries Affected and Exemptions

US President Donald Trump has targeted several countries with reciprocal tariffs ranging from 10% to 50%. However, some nations, including Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and Belarus, have been left off the list. This decision has led many to question why major trading partners like India, the European Union, and Vietnam have been hit with heavy tariffs while these countries were not. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained that Russia and North Korea were excluded because the US does not trade with them due to sanctions. He also noted that Canada and Mexico were not included in the new tari
third-suspect-arrested-in-edmonton-february-murder-case
CanadaApr 03, 2025

Third Suspect Arrested in Edmonton February Murder Case

Police have arrested a third suspect in connection with the February murder of Sukhvir Singh in Edmonton. The 32-year-old victim’s body was discovered near 17th Street and Yellowhead Trail on February 28, with an autopsy confirming that he had been murdered. On Tuesday, officers arrested 22-year-old Jasmeet Singh, who has been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. This follows the earlier arrests of 29-year-old Manpreet Brar on March 10 and 21-year-old Gursimran Singh on March 13. Authorities have also issued a Canada-wide warrant for 27-year-old Lovepreet Sidhu, who remains at l
rise-in-retail-theft-worker-safety-prompts-vancouver-security-task-force
CanadaApr 03, 2025

Rise in retail theft, worker safety prompts Vancouver security task force

A spike in retail theft, in what the City of Vancouver says is led by organized crime and repeat offenders, has prompted the launch a retail security task force. Vancouver council passed a motion creating the initiative aimed at curbing the thefts and improving safety for businesses and their employees. Mayor Ken Sim says in a statement that retail theft is hurting communities across the city, and the task force is aimed at tackling the situation. The statement says there were almost 7,700 shoplifting incidents in the city last year, an 11.7 per cent increase from the year before. The task for

Just In

surrey-police-arrest-28-year-old-in-electronics-store-robberies
BCOct 19, 2026

Surrey Police Arrest 28-Year-Old in Electronics Store Robberies

The Surrey Police Service’s Prolific Offender Unit has arrested a 28-year-old suspect in connection with a series of break-ins and robberies at electronics stores across Surrey. According to police, Austin Thomas Romeo Hogan is accused of smashing display cabinets at electronics retailers, assaulting staff members and stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise between June and October 2026. The BC Prosecution Service has approved 17 charges against Hogan, including robbery and assault with a weapon. Police said the incidents caused an estimated $100,000 in losses for Surrey busine
24-year-old-surrey-man-killed-in-coquihalla-highway-crash-three-others-seriously-injured
BCOct 19, 2026

24-Year-Old Surrey Man Killed in Coquihalla Highway Crash, Three Others Seriously Injured

A 24-year-old man from Surrey has been killed in a head-on collision between a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota RAV4 on the Coquihalla Highway near Merritt, B.C., on Saturday morning. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, police received multiple reports of a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the highway. Officers were on their way to intercept the vehicle when the collision occurred near the Helmer exit. One of the four Surrey men travelling in the RAV4 died at the scene. The other three men, aged between 24 and 38, suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital, where they remain unde
canadas-inflation-rises-to-3-1-raising-prospects-of-interest-rate-hike-by-year-end
CanadaOct 19, 2026

Canada’s Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Raising Prospects of Interest Rate Hike by Year-End

Economists believe the Bank of Canada could raise interest rates by the end of 2026 following the release of the country’s September inflation figures. According to Statistics Canada, the annual inflation rate climbed to 3.1 per cent, driven by higher oil and gas prices, moving above the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. However, underlying inflation has eased, offering some relief to the central bank. Ongoing trade tensions with the United States and the crisis in the Middle East could put further upward pressure on inflation. According to KPMG Canada, the Bank of Canada i
13-injured-in-multi-vehicle-crash-involving-semi-truck-and-double-decker-bus-in-surrey
BCOct 19, 2026

13 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Semi-Truck and Double-Decker Bus in Surrey

Thirteen people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck, a double-decker bus and several other vehicles on Highway 99 in Surrey on Friday evening. According to the Surrey Police Service, the collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. near the Highway 99 and Highway 91 interchange. A semi-truck first struck three cars travelling in the same direction before losing control, crossing the median and colliding with an oncoming double-decker bus and another car. Approximately 50 to 60 people were aboard the bus at the time of the crash. According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, two
BCOct 19, 2026

Eby Urges Green Party Voters to Back NDP as Emily Lowan Fires Back Ahead of B.C. Election

Political activity has intensified in the final week of British Columbia’s provincial election campaign, with NDP Leader David Eby urging Green Party supporters to vote for the NDP, prompting a sharp response from Green Party Leader Emily Lowan. On Sunday, Eby appealed to Green voters not to waste their votes on the Green Party, arguing that Lowan is unlikely to become premier. He warned that votes for the Greens could split the vote and benefit the B.C. Conservatives. Responding to Eby’s remarks, Lowan accused him of calling the election two years ahead of schedule for political gain. She