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WorldSep 24, 2020

Crowd jeers as Trump pays respects at court to Ginsburg

President Donald Trump was booed as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump and first lady Melania Trump, both wearing masks, went to the court Thursday and stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin. Ginsburg's death has sparked a controversy over the balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Trump is expected to name a replacement on Saturday. Moments after Trump arrived at the court, booing could be heard from spectators who then chanted ``Vote him out.''
home-prices-could-fall-7-per-cent-in-2021-hitting-prairies-hard-moodys-forecast
CanadaSep 24, 2020

Home prices could fall 7 per cent in 2021, hitting Prairies hard: Moody's forecast

Moody's Analytics, Inc. says home prices across Canada could tumble about seven per cent in 2021, as unemployment dampens the hot real estate market. The financial intelligence company says there is a dangerous oversupply of new, single-family homes in Calgary and Edmonton, on top of affordability issues in Vancouver and Toronto. Moody's report did not go into detail on how it created the forecasts, but says that its 2021 home price index also calls for a 6.7 per cent decrease for single-family homes and a 6.5 per cent decline in condo apartments. The prediction from Moody's comes after the C
jagmeet-singh-lauds-ndps-efforts-for-new-announced-benefits
CanadaSep 24, 2020

Jagmeet Singh lauds NDP's efforts for new announced benefits

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he is taking the Liberal government's move to increase the value of benefits for unemployed workers to $500 a week as a ``major win'' for his party. That was one of the demands the NDP issued in exchange for supporting the minority Liberal government on a confidence vote triggered by Wednesday's throne speech. Singh stopped short of saying the NDP will support the throne speech, saying the party is still negotiating with the Liberals on its second demand: paid sick leave. The Liberals need the support of at least one of the main opposition parties to avoid trigge
ontarios-new-testing-strategy-highlights-complexities-of-second-wave-experts
CanadaSep 24, 2020

Ontario's new testing strategy highlights complexities of second wave: experts

Medical experts say an abrupt shift in Ontario's testing strategy highlights the complexities of responding to a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Doug Ford's government announced today that assessment centres would revert back to testing only symptomatic individuals, those who've come into contact with a case and those who work in high-risk settings. Testing for asymptomatic residents is available at up to 60 pharmacies by appointment starting on Friday. The move marks a sharp reversal from the message the government touted for months that anyone could obtain a test if they wante
liberals-propose-upping-value-of-new-covid-19-benefits-to-match-sunsetting-cerb
CanadaSep 24, 2020

Liberals propose upping value of new COVID-19 benefits to match sunsetting CERB

The value of weekly benefits for unemployed workers would rise to $500 a week under legislation the Liberals introduced today. The proposal still needs parliamentary approval, but would bring the value of payments to the same level as under the soon-to-disappear Canada Emergency Response Benefit.The same floor will be placed on employment insurance benefits for those eligible for the program.A bill to create the new benefits regime was introduced in the House of Commons this morning, with only a few days before the first wave of recipients max out the CERB.The Liberals first unveiled the pack
parliament-resumes-full-operations-today-with-debate-on-throne-speech
CanadaSep 24, 2020

Parliament resumes full operations today with debate on throne speech

The fate of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government hangs in the balance as Parliament resumes all normal operations today for the first time in six months.Opposition parties will give their official responses to Wednesday's speech from the throne but they've already signalled that Trudeau can't count on support from any of them to survive the eventual confidence vote and avoid plunging the country into an election in the midst of a second wave of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.The Conservatives were unequivocal: they will not support the throne speech.The Bloc Quebecois was
andrew-wilkinson-warns-surrey-residents-to-be-wary-of-ndps-promise-of-building-a-second-hospital-in-surrey
BCSep 24, 2020

Andrew Wilkinson warns Surrey residents to be wary of NDP’s promise of building a second hospital in Surrey

Opposition leader Andrew Wilkinson is warning Surrey residents to be cautious about the NDP’s pledge to build a second hospital in the city, saying voters should look beyond campaign announcements to see whether real progress is being made. Wilkinson argued that residents need details on timelines, funding approvals, and procurement steps before trusting the promise. The government says the project is moving through the province’s capital planning process – from concept plan to business case, then Treasury Board funding, followed by design and construction. Officials insist Surrey’s ra
thousands-dealing-with-stress-of-covid-19-self-isolation-b-c-health-officials-say
BCSep 24, 2020

Thousands dealing with stress of COVID-19 self-isolation, B.C. health officials say

British Columbia health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases across the province continues to be too high. Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say in a joint statement that thousands of residents are being forced to deal with the stress of self-isolating as a result of others not following proper COVID-19 safety precautions. They say everyone needs to follow the proper safety guidelines to ensure businesses and communities can remain open. B.C. announced 91 new cases on Wednesday for a total of 8,395. There are 1,376 active cases, with 62 people in hospital and 18
pm-trudeau-says-the-second-wave-of-covid-19-is-underway-across-the-country
CanadaSep 24, 2020

PM Trudeau says, the second wave of COVID-19 is underway across the country

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the second wave of COVID-19 is already underway across the country. He says the numbers are clear with more than a thousand new cases yesterday. Trudeau says families won't likely be able to gather for Thanksgiving, but it's not too late to save Christmas. He says we need to keep wearing masks, use the government's exposure-alert app and obey public health instructions. Trudeau made his comments after the throne speech in an address to Canadians on the state of the pandemic.

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fifteen-people-accused-in-b-c-extortion-cases-file-refugee-claims-cbsa-confirms
CanadaDec 12, 2025

Fifteen people accused in B.C. extortion cases file refugee claims, CBSA confirms

Canada’s border agency says 15 foreign nationals linked to ongoing extortion investigations have submitted refugee claims, a move that has drawn concern from local officials in Surrey as the region continues to grapple with a surge in extortion-related crime. The Canada Border Services Agency says each claimant will be assessed under federal asylum rules, but did not disclose the individuals’ nationalities or details of their applications. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke says she is troubled by the development and argues that the public expects federal systems to prevent criminal suspects from u
worksafebc-issues-more-than-1-3-million-dollars-in-penalties-after-fatal-crane-incident-at-oakridge-park
BCDec 12, 2025

WorkSafeBC issues more than 1.3 million dollars in penalties after fatal crane incident at Oakridge Park

WorkSafeBC has levied more than 1.3 million dollars in fines against EllisDon Corporation and Newway Concrete Forming following a series of crane-related safety violations, including the February 2024 incident at Vancouver’s Oakridge Park development that killed construction worker Yuridia Flores. The penalties stem from multiple investigations involving highrise projects in Vancouver and Victoria. Flores died when a large concrete form mould – measuring nearly 10 metres by six metres – fell 26 storeys after accelerating out of the side of the building while being moved between floors. E
alberta-ends-fall-sitting-after-sweeping-use-of-notwithstanding-clause-draws-scrutiny
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Alberta ends fall sitting after sweeping use of notwithstanding clause draws scrutiny

Alberta’s fall legislative session closed this week with Premier Danielle Smith’s government advancing two major bills that relied heavily on the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, a move that has renewed debate over the limits of provincial authority and the protection of individual rights. The clause was applied four times in the sitting, shielding the legislation from certain court challenges for up to five years. The government first invoked the clause when it passed a law ordering more than 51 thousand public school teachers back to work following a three-week provincewide strike. Th
AlbertaDec 12, 2025

Advocacy groups shift legal strategy in bid to challenge Alberta’s gender care law

Two national advocacy organizations say they are pivoting their legal strategy as they continue efforts to challenge Alberta’s restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth. Egale Canada and the Calgary-based Skipping Stone Foundation launched a constitutional challenge last year after the province passed legislation prohibiting doctors from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone therapy to people under 16, and from performing gender-affirming top surgery on anyone under 18. The groups say the path through the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has become significantly more difficult since th
IndiaDec 12, 2025

Threatening email targets multiple schools in Amritsar, prompting closures and police response

Authorities in Amritsar ordered an immediate shutdown of several private schools after administrators reported receiving an email threatening bomb attacks on campus. The message, sent to multiple institutions early Tuesday, triggered evacuations and a large-scale police deployment. Local officials said at least 15 well-known private schools were identified in the threat. Police teams, including the bomb squad and fire services, secured school grounds while investigators worked to verify the credibility of the email. The Deputy Commissioner directed schools to release students for the day as a