New federal rules limiting how much banks can charge when customers do not have enough money in their accounts to cover a cheque or pre-authorized payment took effect Thursday. The regulations cap non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees at $10 for personal deposit accounts. According to the federal government, banks previously charged as much as $50 for the same type of transaction. Under the new rules, banks are also prohibited from charging more than one NSF fee within two business days for the same deposit account. Financial institutions also cannot charge an NSF fee if the account shortfall is les

A Pacific storm system moved into southwestern British Columbia on Wednesday, bringing wind warnings for coastal communities and fresh snowfall forecasts for higher elevations across the province. Environment Canada said in a special weather statement that there is a slight chance of brief sea-level snowfall in parts of Metro Vancouver as the system moves through. Any low-elevation snow is expected to be short-lived. Flurries earlier in the week did not accumulate at Vancouver International Airport, keeping Vancouver on track for what could become its first officially snow-free winter in more

Nunavut MP Lori Idlout has left the New Democratic Party caucus to join the governing Liberals, a move that brings Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government closer to a majority in the House of Commons. In an early-morning statement issued jointly with the Liberal Party of Canada, Idlout said she decided to join the government caucus after what she described as “much personal reflection” and encouragement from her community and family. She cited Arctic sovereignty, the rights and aspirations of Indigenous peoples, and climate change as key reasons for the decision. “That is why

Allan Legere, the convicted serial killer known as the “Monster of the Miramichi,” has died while serving a life sentence in federal custody, according to the Correctional Service of Canada. Legere, 78, died at the Edmonton Institution, the federal agency confirmed. No additional details about the cause of death were immediately released. Legere was serving a life sentence for a series of killings and violent attacks in New Brunswick in the late 1980s. In January 1987, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a Miramichi-area shopkeeper and the sexual assault of the man’s wif

Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to travel to Norway on Friday to observe a major NATO military exercise in the Arctic and hold meetings with Nordic leaders, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. The exercise, known as Cold Response, is led by North Atlantic Treaty Organization and takes place every two years above the Arctic Circle. About 25,000 troops from 14 countries are participating in the training, which focuses on coordinated land, air and naval operations in extreme Arctic conditions. Countries involved in the exercise include Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom

Voting has begun in the federal New Democratic Party leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh, with party members able to cast ballots until March 28. A party official said about 100,000 members are eligible to vote in the contest. The winner will be announced March 29 at the party’s annual convention in Winnipeg. Five candidates are seeking the leadership: union leader Rob Ashton, social worker Tanille Johnston, filmmaker Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson and farmer Tony McQuail. Fundraising disclosures filed with Elections Canada show Lewis leading the race financially. The party’s latest qua

An Australian coroner says a 19-year-old woman from British Columbia drowned after being attacked by a pack of dingoes during an early morning walk on an island off Queensland. Piper James was on a backpacking trip and had been working on K'Gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she died on Jan. 19. According to the Coroners Court of Queensland, a forensic pathologist with Queensland Health determined James drowned after sustaining multiple injuries during the attack. A spokesperson for the coroner said the injuries occurred “due to or as a consequence of” the dingo attack. Authoritie

The British Columbia government says it will introduce mandatory crane-related licensing and permitting following a series of fatal workplace accidents over the past five years. In a statement Tuesday, the province said it plans to establish a new WorkSafeBC crane licensing and permitting program to ensure crane operations meet “consistent, high-quality safety requirements.” According to the government, there have been seven crane-related fatalities in B.C. during that period, with 373 cranes currently in operation across the province. The announcement follows a WorkSafeBC report into the

Unseasonably warm weather has returned to British Columbia, with five communities setting new daily high temperature records this week, according to Environment Canada. In Pemberton, about 150 kilometres north of Vancouver, temperatures reached nearly 16 C on Monday, surpassing the previous daily record by almost 13 degrees. The earlier record had been set in 2025. In Trail, in the West Kootenay region, the temperature climbed to 14 C, breaking the previous record of 11 C set in 2021. Cranbrook, near the Alberta boundary, recorded 12.4 C, edging out the 12.1 C mark set in 1986. Environment Can