Canada’s efforts to curb student visa fraud have resulted in a sharp rise in study permit refusals for applicants from India, according to new federal data. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) figures show that 74 per cent of Indian study permit applications were rejected in August 2025 — more than double the refusal rate from the same month last year. The federal government has tightened the issuance of international study permits for a second consecutive year as part of a broader plan to limit temporary migration and strengthen oversight of educational institutions. B

The federal government says Canada generated roughly $3 billion in revenue from tariffs imposed on American imports before Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government lifted the counter-tariffs in September. The figures were released by the Department of Finance, which added that more details will be outlined in the upcoming federal budget. During the spring election campaign, the Liberals had projected that counter-tariffs would bring in about $20 billion in the current fiscal year. However, to ease trade tensions with the United States, the Carney government suspended tariffs on goods covered

As colder weather arrives across British Columbia, FortisBC is urging homeowners to consider energy-saving upgrades that could help lower heating bills through the winter. The utility says even small steps taken early in the season, such as sealing drafts or adjusting thermostat use, can contribute to long-term energy savings for households. FortisBC highlights programs that support both major and minor home improvements. In communities such as Rossland, Vernon, Squamish, Whistler, Kamloops and the Regional District of East Kootenay, homeowners can access free guidance through the Retrofit Ass

B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was seriously injured during an arrest in Surrey earlier this month. According to the Surrey Police Service, an officer responded to reports of a man yelling aggressively at a group of women near the 10700-block of 135A Street around 8:40 p.m. on October 6. The man was taken into custody and sustained a serious but non-life-threatening injury while being arrested. The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO) was notified shortly after the incident and has since launched a review to determine whether police actions were co

U.S. President Donald Trump says Prime Minister Mark Carney has apologized for an Ontario government advertisement criticizing U.S. tariffs, a controversy that led Washington to suspend trade negotiations with Canada earlier this month. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Carney offered an apology over what he called a “fraudulent” anti-tariff commercial. “He was very nice. He apologized for what they did with the commercial,” Trump said. However, when asked if trade talks with Canada would resume, the president replied, “No.” The Ontario government, led by Premi

Metro Vancouver Transit Police say a man has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl at the Scottsdale Exchange in Surrey earlier this year. Investigators say the incident happened around 9 p.m. on June 28, 2025, when a man in his late 30s approached a 16-year-old girl waiting for a bus. Police allege the suspect attempted to talk to her, tried to kiss her, and groped her before exposing himself. Two women nearby reportedly intervened, prompting the man to run away from the area. Following a joint investigation by the General Investigation and Criminal Int

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that mandatory minimum jail sentences for possessing or accessing child pornography violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In its decision released Friday, the court found that the one-year minimum sentence removes a judge’s ability to consider individual circumstances and impose a more appropriate penalty when warranted. While the mandatory sentence was designed to promote denunciation and deterrence, the court said it also risked resulting in punishment that is cruel or unusual under Section 12 of the Charter. The ruling upholds a previous decisio

Canada’s economy lost ground in August, with national output falling 0.3 per cent as both goods-producing and service sectors declined, according to new figures from Statistics Canada. The agency said the drop largely erased July’s modest 0.3 per cent gain, which has been revised slightly upward. The August downturn was tied in part to an Air Canada flight attendants’ work stoppage that disrupted air transportation, along with weaker results in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and mining and quarrying industries. Retail trade was the main bright spot, showing growth that partially offset

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada’s relationship with China has reached a “turning point” following his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office. The two leaders met for 39 minutes on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea — marking the first formal leader-level contact between the two countries in eight years. Carney described the discussion as “long overdue,” saying both sides agreed to rebuild dialogue on trade and cooperation after years of strained ties. “This meeting creates opportunities for Canad