The cost of living across Canada made its biggest jump in 10 years last month as the annual pace of inflation climbed to 3.7 per cent from 3.1 per cent in June. Statistics Canada says that's the sharpest rise since May 2011, in part because consumers have more opportunity to spend as the economy re-opens after pandemic shutdowns. Gas prices climbed 30 per cent compared with July of last year, but economists say a nearly 14 per cent leap in homeowner replacement costs, the heftiest boost since 1987, is the main reason for the increase. Inflation in BC also climbed in July to 3.1 per cent from

BC's New Democrat government says a 4.1 billion dollar, eight lane tunnel will replace the aging and congested George Massey tunnel under the Fraser River south of Vancouver. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the new tunnel, rather than a bridge proposed by the previous Liberal government but scrapped when the NDP took power in 2017, has been selected because it causes the least environmental harm, can be started right away and has the approval of the regional district. The link connecting Delta and Richmond is expected to be complete by 2030. Two of the eight lanes will be dedicated t

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says the housing crisis in this country is Justin Trudeau's housing crisis. During a campaign stop in Burnaby, BC, Singh said things have only gotten worse over the past six years. Singh says the NDP plan is to build half-a-million new affordable homes. Jagmeet Singh is pitching a 20 per foreign homebuyers tax in a bid to capture votes in Metro Vancouver. Speaking in Burnaby today, Singh said the tax would apply to the sale of homes to individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is accusing the Liberals' Justin Trudeau of

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising to spend half-a-billion dollars for training and new equipment for firefighters in advance of next year's forest fire season. Trudeau says Canada's forest fire fighting capabilities must be enhanced to confront stronger wildfires. Trudeau made the announcement in Vancouver, as more than 260 wildfires burn across British Columbia. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is promising creation of a community-based force to fight wildfires, if his government is re-elected in the September 20th federal election. Trudeau made the pledge this morning during a campaig

The wildfire situation is continually evolving, and the information below is current as of 7 p.m. (Pacific time) on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. Fires:Wildfires currently burning in B.C.: 264Since April 1, 2021:1, 518 wildfires846,144 hectares of area burnedActive fires by fire centre:Cariboo: 32Coastal: 18Kamloops: 85Northwest: 5Prince George: 57Southeast: 67Resources:Firefighters and other personnel currently fighting the fires: 3,830Out-of-province firefighters: 490Helicopters and planes supporting ground crews: 210Evacuations:Evacuation orders: 80 (-6)Evacuation alerts: 123 (-2)Properties:Numbe

The Conservation Officer Service says it has received a report involving another confrontation between people and coyotes in Vancouver's Stanley Park. A social media post from the Conservation Officer Service says a woman and her friend were picnicking near the south end of the park at about 1:30 a.m. Monday. The post says a coyote approached and bit both people on the leg, but officers couldn't immediately follow up because the matter wasn't reported right away. Nearly three dozen aggressive interactions have occurred between humans and coyotes in Stanley Park since late last year, including

The military officer who led Canada's COVID-19 vaccine distribution campaign has been charged with one count of sexual assault.Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin presented himself to police in Gatineau, Que., this morning after a warrant for his arrest was issued earlier this week.Fortin then told reporters that he does not know the details of the allegation against him, despite repeated requests from his legal team.Fortin's lawyers have said the only information they received is that the charge relates to an alleged incident that happened in 1988.Fortin was abruptly removed from his post at the Public Hea

Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has been acclaimed as the candidate in Burnaby South.Singh says the climate crisis has been ``ravaging'' communities across Canada, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has presided over the purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline and rising national emissions after the Paris climate agreement.He says he would normally encourage people to give money to help get New Democrats elected, but given the destructive wildfires burning across B-C's southern Interior, he encouraged donations to firefighting and relief efforts.Earlier in the day, Singh visited Novo Textile

On the second day of the monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly, Congress leaders held a march from Gandhi Statue to the state Assembly to protest against inflation, COVID-19 deaths, and on the issue of women's safety.Speaking to ANI, Aradhana Mishra, a Congress MLA, said, "The state government has turned a deaf ear to the issues of the common people. If people raise their voices against inflation, unemployment issues, the government confiscates their property. We are here to support the common people." Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) President Ajay Kumar Lallu said, "the Chief