Canada's unemployment rate has hit its highest level in nearly nine years, with 1.6 million people unemployed in the country. Statistics Canada said in a report released today that the unemployment rate in May was 7 per cent, the third consecutive monthly increase in unemployment. The total number of unemployed people last month was about 14 per cent higher than the same month a year ago, the statistics department said. This is mainly due to the fact that employment growth has remained almost stable amid a growing population, with no large-scale layoffs. StatCan said that this level of une

Environment Canada is warning of an "early season heat event" bringing elevated temperatures to most of southern British Columbia that will persist from Saturday into early next week. The weather office has issued more than 30 special weather statements, saying a ridge of high pressure is bringing temperatures that could reach the low 30s on the coast and the mid-30s inland. It says the impact of early season heat "can be significant due to the lack of acclimatization to elevated temperatures." The weather statements span the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan, Whistler, parts of Vancouver Island an

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he has accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney to attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alta., later this month. The summit runs from June 15 to 17.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have agreed to regularize channels of communication between the two countries. A readout from Carney's office also says the leaders committed to working together to address the fentanyl crisis. Canada and China have been involved in a trade dispute. China has imposed tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas and seafood in retaliation to Canadian levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. In his conversation with Li, Carney raised the issue of trade affecting agriculture and agri-food products, including canola a

Industry Minister Melanie Joly emerged from meetings with major CEOs from the steel sector and organized labour today without announcing any concrete action following calls for retaliation against new U.S. tariffs. The steel industry says the tariffs could have catastrophic consequences and is asking Canada to match U.S. President Donald Trump's expanded tariffs on steel and aluminum.The president doubled those tariffs for almost all imports to 50 per cent on Wednesday. Joly says the new tariffs are ``completely unacceptable'' and insists the government is in a solutions mode with the industry

The Board of Governors at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) has appointed Dr. Bruce Choy as the university’s next President and Vice-Chancellor, effective Sept. 2. Dr. Choy, an adjunct professor with the University of Toronto and chair of the George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology’s Board of Governors, will replace Dr. Alan Davis, who steps down as KPU President on Aug. 31 after 13 years. “Dr. Choy brings an incredible depth and breadth of leadership experience to KPU from both the private sector and the post-secondary sector that will be invaluable in guiding KPU thro

The N-D-P immigration critic says a provision in the federal government's border security bill that would give cabinet the power to cancel immigration documents is dangerous. Jenny Kwan calls it an attempt to mimic measures deployed by the Trump administration in the U-S. Ottawa says the immigration minister would only be able to exercise the power to cancel, suspend or alter immigration documents in an ``emergency'' and after being granted the authority through an order-in-council. But Kwan notes that cabinet decisions are made in secret and there's no firm definition of an ``emergency'' in t

Navjot Kaur Sidhu may once again make a comeback in Punjab politics. Talking to the media during a visit to her constituency in Amritsar, she said that I will contest the MLA elections 100 percent in 2027 and I am preparing for the same. She said that the party high command will definitely look at the past history and give a ticket. Navjot Kaur also said that Navjot Singh Sidhu will campaign for the Congress candidate in the by-election to be held in Ludhiana and she will also go with him.

BC government delegation to launch trade mission to Europe. The mission aims to attract investment to the province and boost trade with Europe. The delegation, which is heading to Europe from June 9 to June 14, includes BC Jobs Minister Diana Gibson and Minister of State for Trade Rick Glumack. They will participate in three major tech conferences on the world stage, where B.C.-made technologies and agricultural technology will be promoted. These include London Tech Week, the GreenTech in Amsterdam and the VivaTech conferences in Paris. The mission to Europe comes as Premier David Eby is wor