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weighing-our-options-ottawa-open-to-further-pause-to-expand-assisted-dying-rules
CanadaDec 15, 2023

'Weighing our options': Ottawa open to further pause to expand assisted dying rules

The federal government is considering whether to pause its original plan to broaden the rules that govern medically assisted dying so they include patients whose only underlying condition is a mental disorder. "We're weighing our options," Justice Minister Arif Virani said Thursday. It would be the second time the federal Liberals have hit pause on the plan. The first came in February, when the government decided to impose a one-year delay amid widespread public and political concern. That decision established a new deadline of March 2024, one that now appears in jeopardy. Cabinet will consid
speaker-greg-fergus-apologizes-in-house-of-commons-again-for-partisan-video
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Speaker Greg Fergus apologizes in House of Commons again for partisan video

The Speaker of the House of Commons has once again apologized for filming a video played at a partisan event, after a parliamentary committee called on him to show more contrition. Speaker Greg Fergus says he made a "serious mistake" in recording a video in tribute to the outgoing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals. He was wearing his ceremonial robes in the video, which was shot in his Parliament Hill office and played at the provincial party's recent leadership convention. The procedure and House affairs committee said in a report released Thursday that there should be clearer guidelines
online-news-act-funding-capped-for-private-broadcasters-cbc-report
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Online News Act funding capped for private broadcasters, CBC: Report

The final regulations for the Online News Act show the amount of funding both private broadcasters and the CBC will get through Ottawa's 100-million-deal with Google will be limited. The regulation shows private broadcasters will receive at most 30-million-dollars from the fund, while CBC/Radio-Canada will see no more than 7 million dollars. The rest of the money is earmarked for other qualifying news outlets like newspapers and digital platforms Last month Google agreed to contribute 100-million-dollars a year to Canadian news publishers, indexed to inflation, leaving it exempt from havin
senate-passes-liberal-bill-that-enshrines-handgun-freeze-targets-ghost-guns
CanadaDec 15, 2023

Senate passes Liberal bill that enshrines handgun freeze, targets ghost guns

Senators have passed a government bill that cements restrictions on handguns, increases penalties for firearm trafficking and aims to curb homemade ghost guns. The legislation also includes a ban on assault-style firearms that fall under a new technical definition. Senators voted 60 to 24 in favour of the bill at third reading today. Upon introducing the bill last year, the Liberals announced a plan to implement a freeze on importing, buying, selling or otherwise transferring handguns to help reduce firearm-related violence. Federal regulations aimed at capping the number of handguns in Cana
death-toll-among-b-c-s-homeless-rising-hits-342-people-last-year-coroners-report
BCDec 15, 2023

Death toll among BC's homeless rising, hits 342 people last year: Coroner's report

British Columbia's Coroners Service says there's been a sharp increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness. A statement from the coroners service says the deaths of 342 people experiencing homelessness were reported last year, an increase of almost 140 over the past two years. The coroners service says there were 1,464 deaths of people who were homeless in B.C. in the period between 2015 and 2022, averaging about 183 deaths per year. Most of those deaths were in Vancouver, Victoria and Surrey, BC, and 82 per cent of them were male. However, the coroners service says the number of
BCDec 14, 2023

World Health Organization calls for ALL flavored vapes to be banned worldwide

The World Health Organization has advocated a ban on all flavored vapes. The World Health Organization has urged governments to ban e-cigarettes on the same lines as tobacco.The United Nations agency said that the time has come to take necessary steps to control them. The World Health Organization cited the study as saying that there is little evidence that vapes have released cigarette butts. The agency said flavored vapes pose a risk to non-smokers, particularly as they may increase nicotine addiction among children and youth. According to the agency, children aged 13 to 15 are using it more
canadian-home-sales-down-in-november-average-price-up-from-year-ago-crea
BCDec 14, 2023

Canadian home sales down in November, average price up from year ago: CREA

The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales fell in November as the average price of a home sold inched highercompared with a year ago. The association says November home sales fell 0.9 per cent compared with the same month last year. On a seasonally adjusted basis, November home sales were also down 0.9 per cent compared with October this year. The number of newly listed homes fell 1.8 per cent on a month-over-month basis in November. CREA says with new listings down more than sales in November, the national sales-to-new listings ratio rose for the first time since April to come in
trucker-who-caused-broncos-crash-loses-latest-bid-to-stay-in-canada
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Trucker who caused Broncos crash loses latest bid to stay in Canada

Truck driver who caused deadly Broncos crash loses latest bid to stay in Canada A judge has dismissed applications from the truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan and was fighting deportation back to India. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu was sentenced to eight years for causing the 2018 crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 others. He was granted parole earlier this year, but the Canada Border Services Agency had recommended he be deported Sidhu's lawyer argued before the Federal Court in September that border services officials didn't consider Sidhu's previou
israel-claimed-to-have-arrested-dozens-of-hamas-fighters-from-the-hospital-in-gaza
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Israel claimed to have arrested dozens of Hamas fighters from the hospital in Gaza

The Israeli military has claimed to have arrested dozens of Hamas fighters at a hospital in northern Gaza. Army has declared more than 70 people arrested from Kamal Advan Hospital as terrorists and seized dozens of weapons from the hospital. Israel says Hamas fighters at the hospital surrendered with their weapons. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Health Ministry alleged that the Israeli army tried to stop the care of 10 patients, resulting in two deaths.Meanwhile, internet and phone services have been disrupted in Gaza. Hamas' health ministry says more than 18,700 of its people have been killed in Ga

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b-c-announces-600-000-expansion-of-forensic-firearms-lab-amid-extortion-linked-violence
BCJan 23, 2026

B.C. announces $600,000 expansion of forensic firearms lab amid extortion-linked violence

The British Columbia government is committing $600,000 to expand its forensic firearms laboratory, saying the investment is aimed at strengthening police efforts as extortion-related violence escalates in parts of the province. The Ministry of Public Safety says the funding will improve the lab’s capacity and speed in processing firearms evidence tied to gun crime, allowing investigators to prioritize high-risk files and move extortion-related charges through the justice system more quickly. The expanded lab is also expected to generate data that can better support coordinated policing strat
BCJan 23, 2026

IHIT takes over investigation into fatal shooting in Burnaby

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has been called in to investigate a fatal shooting in Burnaby that left one man dead Wednesday evening. Burnaby RCMP say frontline officers responded to reports of gunfire near the 3700 block of Canada Way just before 5:30 p.m. on January 22. Police located an adult male suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite emergency medical efforts at the scene, the victim was pronounced dead. A short time later, officers also found a vehicle engulfed in flames in the 5000 block of Buxton Street. Investigators are working to determine whether the burned
japan-pm-takaichi-calls-snap-election-months-after-taking-office
WorldJan 23, 2026

Japan PM Takaichi calls snap election months after taking office

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the country’s lower house of Parliament, triggering a snap federal election scheduled for Feb. 8, just three months after she took office. The decision is widely seen as an effort to take advantage of early public support for Takaichi and to help the long-governing Liberal Democratic Party recover from significant electoral losses suffered in recent years. Analysts say the move carries political risk but could strengthen the government’s mandate if voters respond positively. The snap election, however, will delay parliamentary debate on
prince-george-rcmp-investigate-targeted-shooting-following-weekend-crash
BCJan 22, 2026

Prince George RCMP investigate targeted shooting following weekend crash

Prince George RCMP say a weekend shooting that left one man injured is believed to have been a targeted incident, with no ongoing risk to the wider community. Police were called shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Saturday to the 1300 block of Porter Avenue after receiving reports of a motor vehicle collision. Officers arrived to find a vehicle that had struck an unoccupied car and located a 37-year-old man suffering from gunshot injuries. The victim was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP have not released further details about his condition. “Based on initia
death-toll-in-karachi-shopping-plaza-fire-climbs-to-67-as-recovery-continues
WorldJan 22, 2026

Death toll in Karachi shopping plaza fire climbs to 67 as recovery continues

The death toll from a deadly fire at a shopping plaza in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi has risen to at least 67, according to police and hospital officials, as rescue teams continue to search the damaged building for additional victims. Authorities said dozens of newly recovered remains were found inside Gul Plaza, where the fire broke out over the weekend. Police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed confirmed that many of the remains were severely burned and fragmented, making the identification process slow and challenging. Rescue workers were still combing through the structure on Thursda