21.42°C Vancouver

News

surrey-police-service-deploys-more-frontline-officers
BCFeb 05, 2024

Surrey Police Service Deploys More Frontline Officers

Surrey Police Service is deploying 11 more police officers for frontline policing for the safety of city residents.With this, the total number of Surrey Police Service officers in the city has increased to 200.Among the newly deployed officers are four sergeants and seven constables, who have good experience in frontline policing.This is the first batch of officers deployed by the Surrey Police Service in 2024 and will continue to be deployed this year for policing change.Surrey Police Service also hopes to be approved soon to deploy its own staff sergeants and inspectors to support frontline
federal-government-extends-foreign-buyer-ban-on-canadian-homes-to-2027
CanadaFeb 05, 2024

Federal government extends foreign buyer ban on Canadian homes to 2027

The federal government will continue to ban foreign nationals from buying homes in Canada for another two years as housing affordability concerns continue to trouble cities across the country. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland made the announcement today, saying Canada is extending its foreign homebuyer ban up until 2027. Under the ban, which first came into effect in 2022, non-Canadian people, including permanent residents, and commercial enterprises are prevented from buying homes here. Freeland issued a statement saying the extension will ensure houses are used for homes for Canadians and
liberals-delay-expansion-of-assisted-dying-eligibility-until-2027
CanadaFeb 01, 2024

Liberals delay expansion of assisted dying eligibility until 2027

The Liberal government has delayed the Medical Assistance in Dying program until 2027 for people whose only illness is mental illness.Health Minister Mark Holland introduced the Bill in this regard in the House of Commons this morning.Holland said this would give the parliamentary committee another two years to assess whether the health system is ready for this.Holland and Justice Minister Arif Virani said they agree with a recent parliamentary committee report that Canada's medical experts are not yet ready.The current deadline for the implementation of the Medical Assistance in Dying Program
canadas-fertility-rate-hit-all-time-low-in-2022-statistics-canada-says
CanadaJan 31, 2024

Canada’s fertility rate hit all-time low in 2022, Statistics Canada says

Statistics Canada says the country’s fertility rate reached an all-time low of 1.33 children per woman in 2022. The federal agency says that's part of a downward trend that began in 2009. The COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have temporarily disrupted the trend when the fertility rate rose in both 2020 and 2021. According to the report, other countries had a similar experience during those years. The decline in the fertility rate between 2021 and 2022 is the largest observed since the baby bust in the early 1970s. StatCan says it puts Canada in the middle of the pack of 10 high-income countries
if-trudeaus-jamaican-vacation-was-unacceptable-public-would-know-ethics-watchdog
CanadaJan 30, 2024

Trudeau's holiday travel didn't break rules: Ethics Commissioner

The federal ethics watchdog is asking parliamentarians and the public to read between the lines about advice he gave to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before his recent holiday trip. Konrad von Finckenstein told a House of Commons ethics committee today that under the Conflict of Interest Act, he can't publicly disclose conversations he's had with politicians. But he says that if Trudeau's stay at a family friend's property in Jamaica had been unacceptable, it would've been recorded on his office's website and nothing is there. Trudeau's office said earlier this month that the family's stay was
bc-imposes-2-year-ban-on-new-colleges-admitting-international-students
BCJan 29, 2024

BC imposes 2-year ban on new colleges admitting international students

The BC government has imposed a 2-year ban on new colleges admitting international students.Provincial Minister of Post-Secondary Education Selina Robinson confirmed that no new institutions in British Columbia will be allowed to admit international students for two years.Robinson issued a statement today saying that many students are being exploited and that such schools will be regularly inspected to ensure standards are being met.Robinson added that the province is implementing minimum language requirements so that international students are better prepared before coming to BC.This step has
ottawa-to-offer-universities-colleges-low-cost-loans-to-build-new-student-housing
CanadaJan 29, 2024

Ottawa to offer universities, colleges low-cost loans to build new student housing

Housing Minister Sean Fraser says post-secondary institutions will be able to apply for low-interest loans to build student housing starting this fall. Post-secondary institutions will have access to a pre-existing program that offers developers low-cost financing to build rental apartments. The Apartment Construction Loan Program was topped up with an additional $15 billion this fall, bringing the total funding available to $40 billion. Fraser is making the announcement today alongside other cabinet ministers as the House of Commons returns after a winter break. The announcement comes as the
bc-to-restrict-cellphones-in-schools-premier
BCJan 26, 2024

BC to restrict cellphones in schools : Premier

BC Premier David Eby announced on Friday that the use of cellphones in BC classrooms will soon be restricted. Eby announced this measure as part of new actions to keep kids safe and healthy from "online threats." He said that other efforts include services to remove images from the internet and legislation to hold social media companies for any harm being caused to students.
surrey-police-service-releases-proposed-142m-budget-for-2024
BCJan 25, 2024

Surrey Police Service releases proposed $142M budget for 2024

Surrey Police Board administrator Mike Serr presented 2024 provincial budget on Thursday.He said that city council has still not approved the budget for the police transition, presented to mayor and council last November.Serr added that the transition from the Surrey RCMP to the Surrey Police Service will take approximately two-and-a-half years.Overall, the Surrey Police Service is asking for $141.5 million to eventually have 785 officers on the force.The service aims at adding 180 additional police officers this year, including 135 experienced officers recruited from across the country and 45

Just In

alberta-ndp-accuses-smith-government-of-avoiding-accountability-in-privacy-breach-response
AlbertaMay 12, 2026

Alberta NDP accuses Smith government of avoiding accountability in privacy breach response

Alberta’s Opposition NDP is accusing Premier Danielle Smith of allowing a United Conservative caucus staffer to take responsibility for a privacy breach involving Albertans’ personal information. The issue stems from an April meeting where private information was allegedly displayed through an app used during discussions attended by UCP caucus members and staff. According to the UCP caucus, a staffer present at the meeting later briefed the caucus executive director about the incident. Smith said the information was not passed on to her office by the executive director, resulting in a dela
AlbertaMay 12, 2026

Jason Kenney urges federal MPs to oppose Alberta separation talk

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney says federal Members of Parliament should publicly oppose efforts aimed at separating Alberta from Canada, warning that a referendum on sovereignty would create deep divisions across the province and country. Speaking at an event at the University of Calgary on Monday evening, Kenney said a vote on Alberta leaving Confederation would cause a “huge rupture” in society and argued federal politicians need to take a clearer position on national unity. Liberal MP Cory Hogan, who also attended the event, said Alberta MPs and Prime Minister Mark Carney should s
WorldMay 12, 2026

UK junior minister resigns as pressure grows on Starmer after local election losses

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced renewed pressure within the Labour Party on Tuesday after junior housing minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned from government following the party’s recent local election losses. Fahnbulleh, who served as a minister in the housing, communities and local government department, said the government had failed to deliver the pace of change voters expected after Labour’s election victory. In a resignation statement, Fahnbulleh said the government had not governed “with the vision, pace and mandate for change” it had been given by voters. She also said
smith-does-not-rule-out-alberta-separation-referendum-as-separatist-pressure-grows
AlbertaMay 12, 2026

Smith does not rule out Alberta separation referendum as separatist pressure grows

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has not ruled out the possibility of holding a referendum on Alberta separation this October, as separatist organizers publicly increase pressure on the provincial government to allow a vote. Asked directly whether she would commit to not holding such a referendum, Smith said the government is still waiting on several developments before making a decision. She said discussions with caucus members and cabinet ministers would help determine the province’s next steps. Some members of Smith’s United Conservative cabinet have publicly distanced themselves from sep
telus-ottawa-announce-ai-data-centre-expansion-in-b-c-to-strengthen-canadian-computing-capacity
BCMay 11, 2026

Telus, Ottawa announce AI data centre expansion in B.C. to strengthen Canadian computing capacity

The federal government and Telus announced plans Monday for a multi-site artificial intelligence data infrastructure project in British Columbia that officials say is intended to expand Canada’s domestic computing capacity and support what they described as “sovereign” AI infrastructure. Federal AI Minister Evan Solomon joined Telus representatives in Vancouver to outline the project, which includes an expansion of Telus’ existing data centre in Kamloops and two new facilities planned for Vancouver – one in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood and another in the downtown core. According