British Columbia's financial outlook is showing improvements, with a budget surplus of $706 million forecast for the current fiscal year. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says preliminary financial numbers for the first three months of 2022-23 show the province is in a strong position despite ongoing global economic risks. The quarterly report Robinson posted today also indicates financial improvements over the next three years, but includes forecasts of budget deficits for two of the three years. The government recently announced the province's final audited budget for 2021-2022 produced a s

King Charles the Third has made his first public address since his mother's death. Speaking at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Charles says he feels profound sorrow and called Queen Elizabeth ``an inspiration.'' As he takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for both his country and the monarchy itself, the King vowed to carry on his mother's lifelong service to a nation now in mourning. Britain began a 10 day mourning period with people around the globe gathering at British embassies to pay homage to the queen, who died yesterday in Scotland at the age of 96.

A book of condolence in memory of Queen Elizabeth is now available in BC and mourners can choose to sign in person or online. Physical books of condolence are available in the Hall of Honour at the BC legislature, at Government House in Victoria, or in the Great Hall at the law courts in downtown Vancouver. The online book can be found via the home page of the BC government website. The books will be available until the day after the Queen's funeral which is expected within the next two weeks.

Prince Charles has been preparing to be king his entire life. Now his moment has arrived. Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles is now the oldest person to take the British throne. No date has been set for the coronation of King Charles III. But Charles faces the enormous challenge of building the same sort of affection that characterized the relationship between his mother and the British public. Will Charles be loved by his subjects, like his mother was? It's a question that has overshadowed his entire life.

An apparent assassination attempt against Argentina's powerful Vice President Cristina Fernandez has shaken the country and threatened to further roil its tumultuous political scene. On Thursday night, Fernandez stepped from her car outside her apartment building and began shaking hands with a throng of a well-wishers. A man came forward with a gun, put it just inches from her face and pulled the trigger with a distinct click, but the weapon apparently jammed. Authorities shed no light on the possible motive. Tens of thousands of people packed the streets surrounding Government House in downt

Surrey RCMP is advising the public that a 28-year-old man involved in gang and organized crime-related violence was arrested and remains in custody. On August 31, 2022, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Shakiel Singh Basra and an associate were arrested by Surrey RCMP with assistance from the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team in Richmond, BC. Shakiel Singh Basra was one of 11 individuals named in a public warning issued by Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) and policing partners on August 3, 2022, due to the significant risk they pose to public safety. Sh

Surrey RCMP is currently on scene following an assault that has left one man deceased. On August 31, 2022 at 1:50 p.m., Surrey RCMP responded to 14100-block of 61 Avenue after a report of an altercation between two men. Upon police attendance, an adult male was located in medical distress. Despite all attempts by first responders to save the man’s life, he succumbed to his injuries on scene. A suspect was taken into custody by police. The area surrounding the scene will be cordoned off for a significant amount of time. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been called and wil

British Columbia's economic recovery last year was stronger than forecast with the province's audited budget numbers showing a surplus of $1.3 billion, in contrast with an earlier projection of a deficit nearing $10 billion. Finance Minister Selina Robinson says the province's economy in 2021-22 outperformed both public and private sector predictions. She says the April 2021 budget, delivered during some of the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, originally forecast a deficit of $9.7 billion, but revenues improved throughout the year. Robinson says the improvement can be attributed to reop

The federal government says it will spend more than $2 billion to build 17,000 homes, including thousands of affordable units. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement today in Kitchener, Ont., alongside Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen. The Rapid Housing Initiative will be extended for a third round to build 4,500 affordable housing units, some of which will be part of women-focused housing and homelessness projects. At least another 10,800 homes will be built through the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund, 6,000 of which will be affordable units. The federal government is also creat