14.68°C Vancouver

News

opening-the-greenbelt-was-a-mistake-i-regret-for-breaking-the-promise-doug-ford
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Opening the Greenbelt was a mistake, I regret for breaking the promise : Doug Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is reversing his government's controversial plan to open up the greenbelt and called it a mistake.Ford announced at a press conference Thursday that he promised the people of Ontario not to touch the greenbelt and that promise has been broken.Ford said it was a mistake to open the process and that they deeply regretted it.A few weeks ago, Steve Clark, who has been Ontario's housing minister since 2018, resigned from his position after a report by the Integrity Commissioner found that he had violated ethical rules, after which Paul Calandra was appointed as Ontario's n
trudeau-avoided-questions-about-suspension-of-visa-services-by-canada
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Trudeau avoided questions about suspension of visa services by Canada

India's visa processing center in Canada has suspended its services.Speaking in New York on Thursday, Trudeau deflected questions about visa processing and reiterated his call for the Indian government to do more to get to the bottom of the matter."We ask the Indian government to work with us, take these allegations seriously and let the law take its course," Trudeau said.In fact, after the statement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week that the Indian government was behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the relationship between the two countries has turned bitter.Prime Ministe
lasting-solution-to-haitis-crisis-will-have-to-come-from-within-the-country-pm-trudeau
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Lasting solution to Haiti's crisis will have to come from within the country : PM Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says a lasting solution to the crisis in Haiti will have to come from within the crisis-racked country.Trudeau made the comments on his final day at the UN as he sat down with Ariel Henry, Haiti's embattled acting prime minister. Trudeau announced an additional $80 million in humanitarian aid and security help for the overmatched Haitian national police.Canada is also imposing fresh sanctions against three more members of Haiti's corruption-riven business community, bringing the total to 29 to date. Trudeau and Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the UN, also presided
freeland-introduces-bill-to-remove-gst-off-rental-developments
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Freeland introduces bill to remove GST off rental developments

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced legislation this morning that would remove GST charges from new rental developments and update the country's competition law.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised the new legislation earlier this month to address the housing crisis and affordability crunch.Experts have called on the federal government to remove GST charges off new purpose-built rentals to help spur construction of these kinds of homes.The bill is also supposed to strengthen the Competition Bureau by giving it the power to compel information from companies to conduct studies, tight
ottawa-gives-food-banks-canada-17-9m-for-pilot-to-provide-menstrual-products
CanadaSep 21, 2023

Ottawa gives Food Banks Canada $17.9M for pilot to provide menstrual products

The federal government has tasked Food Banks Canada with handing out free menstrual products to members of marginalized low-income communities.Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien announced the pilot program Thursday.She says the government is injecting $17.9 million into the initiative.Through the project, Food Banks Canada will distribute free period products to community organizations across Canada.It is also going to partner with existing organizations that deal in period education to scale up their operations.The Menstrual Equity project is part of a broader push from the government to redu
india-has-suspended-indian-visa-services-for-canadians
CanadaSep 21, 2023

India suspends visa services in Canada

Due to the tension between India and Canada over the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Indian government has taken a big decision.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Canadians will not get visas for now.He cited security as the reason behind this.Indian visa processing services have been suspended from September 21 until further notice, the BLS Indian Visa Application Center said in a statement.80,000 Canadian tourists visited India in 2021, making them the fourth largest group according to the Immigration Bureau of India.Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesp
nijjar-death-case-vancouver-police-boost-security-at-indian-consulate-since-trudeau-remarks
BCSep 20, 2023

Nijjar death case: Vancouver police boost security at Indian Consulate since Trudeau remarks

The Vancouver Police Department says it's beefing up security outside India's Consulate after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week there was credible intelligence about a potential link between India's government and the killing of a Sikh community leader in B.C.Const. Tania Visintin, the department's media relations officer, says police are "closely monitoring the situation" since Trudeau's announcement about the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a vocal supporter of an independent Sikh homeland, who was shot dead in Surrey in June.She says Vancouver police aren't aware of any specific
illegal-tobacco-growth-costing-three-provinces-2-47-billion-in-taxes-retail-report
BCSep 20, 2023

Illegal tobacco growth costing three provinces $2.47 billion in taxes: Retail report

The governments of British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador lost up to $2.47 billion in tax revenues over four years due to the growth in illegal tobacco sales, says a convenience industry report.The Convenience Industry Council of Canada report released Wednesday examined the downward trend in legal tobacco sales in the three provinces since 2019, compared with the rising growth in the underground contraband tobacco market."These cigarettes are illegally sold, tax and duty free, without any Health Canada regulations or inspections and retail for a fraction of legal tobacco pric
1-in-4-adolescents-have-been-cyberbullied-statcan
CanadaSep 20, 2023

1 in 4 adolescents have been cyberbullied : StatCan

A new StatCan report says one in four adolescents in Canada have been cyberbullied and it's taking a toll on their mental health.The study says youth who have been victimized online have a greater risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms and thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.The report says transgender and non-binary youth, as well as females attracted to other females, are at higher risk of being victimized online.Adolescents living with chronic health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy or learning disabilities are also at higher risk for cyberbullying, especially if they

Just In

quebec-premier-open-to-return-of-u-s-wines-if-trade-gains-are-made
CanadaAug 10, 2026

Quebec premier open to return of U.S. wines if trade gains are made

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette says the province could allow U.S. wines to return to liquor store shelves, but only if there are gains for Quebec and Canada in ongoing trade discussions with the United States. Fréchette said she wants to see reductions in tariff barriers affecting key Quebec sectors, including forestry, aluminum and manufacturing, before considering a return of American wine products to provincial liquor stores. The Quebec government previously directed the province’s liquor board to stop selling U.S. products in response to tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald T
BCAug 10, 2026

Merritt closes hiking and biking trails amid wildfire risk

Merritt’s fire chief has ordered the immediate closure of all hiking and biking trails in forested areas under the city’s jurisdiction, citing the risk of human-caused wildfires. Fire Chief David A. Tomkinson said the restriction took effect Monday and will remain in place until Sept. 15. Members of the public are not permitted to enter the affected trails and forested areas during the closure. According to the city, the closure is authorized under its bylaw, which allows the administration to restrict access to areas when necessary to protect public safety and property. Tomkinson said the
BCAug 10, 2026

Overnight Highway 99 closures planned in Delta for bridge work

Drivers in Delta should expect overnight closures on Highway 99 as crews install new bridge girders for the 78th Street overpass. The closures are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10, and Tuesday, Aug. 11. Work will begin with lane restrictions before the highway is fully closed in each direction. Southbound lane closures are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with a full southbound closure at 8 p.m. Northbound lane closures will begin at 8 p.m., followed by a full northbound closure at 9 p.m. The closures will affect Highway 99 between the Highway 91 and Highway 17 interchanges. The highway is expected
BCAug 10, 2026

Canadian Armed Forces on standby as B.C. wildfires displace thousands in Okanagan

The Canadian Armed Forces have been placed on standby to assist communities affected by wildfires in British Columbia, as thousands of residents in the Okanagan region have been forced from their homes. Defence Minister David McGuinty said military assistance will be deployed once the B.C. government makes a formal request for troops to operate on the ground. McGuinty said the provincial government submitted a formal request over the weekend through Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski. Federal assistance has since been approved to help provide accommodation and temporary shelter fo
vancouver-police-seek-public-help-identifying-suspect-in-kitsilano-assault
BCAug 10, 2026

Vancouver police seek public help identifying suspect in Kitsilano assault

Vancouver police are asking the public to help identify a man accused of assaulting a 73-year-old man in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood on July 31. According to Vancouver Police Department, officers were called after the two men became involved in a verbal altercation. Police allege the suspect had been yelling at passersby before the victim approached him and asked him to stop and leave the area. Investigators allege the suspect then pushed the victim to the ground. The 73-year-old suffered head injuries in the incident, police said. Police describe the suspect as a Caucasian man with