The federal government has announced $34 million in funding to help communities across Canada deal with the impacts of climate change. The funding will support municipalities and local organizations in launching projects aimed at reducing the risks posed by natural disasters such as floods, wildfires and extreme heat. Federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin announced the funding in Halifax today, acknowledging that Canada’s climate is changing and that communities need to be better prepared for its impacts. According to Dabrusin, the funding will support 141 climate-related projects acro

Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood that left one adult male with a minor, non-life-threatening injury. Police responded at approximately 3:52 a.m. on August 12 to reports of a shooting near a residence in the area of 60 Avenue and 177 Street. Two people were reportedly shot at, with one person sustaining a minor injury that did not require medical treatment. The suspects fled the scene. SPS’s Major Crime Section has taken over the investigation, while forensic officers are processing physical and digital evidence in t

British Columbia’s simplified licensing rules are attracting American doctors, with some moving to the province with their families. Two doctors have recently settled in the remote coastal community of Pender Harbour and are now providing services at the local health centre. The area had long struggled with a shortage of doctors, with only one part-time physician serving more than 500 residents. Among the new arrivals are Dr. Leo Bay, who moved from Utah, and Dr. Derek Williams, a Montana physician with 25 years of experience. Both are now providing permanent medical services to thousands of

Two recent surveys on Canada’s trade outlook have raised concerns about the impact on small businesses and employment. A survey released Wednesday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says small Canadian exporters could face a revenue loss of at least 50 per cent if a new 50-per-cent tariff is imposed. Meanwhile, a separate survey conducted by Oxford Economics for the Canadian American Business Council has warned about the potential impact of the CUSMA trade agreement. According to the report, if CUSMA comes to an end, around 102,000 jobs in Canada could be at risk. The

Canada’s federal government is investing $24 million to establish the Canadian Cannabis and Brain Health Consortium, aimed at better understanding how cannabis affects the brain and overall health. Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel announced the funding Wednesday. Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the consortium will bring together 10 research teams from across Canada to study the potential benefits and risks of cannabis use among people of different ages. Researchers will examine cannabis’s effects on conditions and areas including epilepsy, anxiety, po

Canada’s chief trade negotiator Janice Charette has warned the United States that imposing new tariffs on Canadian exports starting August 19 could jeopardize the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. According to reports, Charette delivered the message during a key meeting last week with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. She reportedly made it clear that if the U.S. imposes a 50 per cent tariff, the federal government may not be able to contain the political and public backlash in Canada, potentially forcing Ottawa to retaliate against American imports. Sources say U

People who violated an evacuation order issued because of a wildfire in the B.C. village of Clinton have been fined a total of $15,000 over the past two weeks. Local authorities and police are urging residents to stay out of evacuation zones for their own safety. Clinton residents were forced to leave their homes on July 24 after a wildfire broke out near Pear Lake. The fire remains out of control and has spread across an area of approximately 1,500 square kilometres. Authorities and police have warned that anyone who enters an evacuation-order area and puts their life at risk could be issued

Crown Counsel has approved one count of break-and-enter of a commercial business after Vancouver Police arrested a suspect yesterday. Just after 7 a.m., the Vancouver Police Department responded to a report of a broken window in a business near Georgia Street and Gore Avenue. An employee reported seeing a man smash the window and enter the premises. VPD officers attended and searched the building. After reviewing video footage, they believed the man was still inside. Another witness observed a man matching the description of the suspect on a second-storey fire escape. The officers located

British Columbia Wildfire Service Director Cliff Chapman has raised concerns over the current wildfire situation in the province and warned about the risk of deliberately set fires. Speaking at a press conference alongside Forests Minister Ravi Parmar and Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene, Chapman said the wildfire service is working closely with the RCMP to investigate any suspicious fires. The department has also partnered with Crime Stoppers to help identify those responsible for deliberately starting fires. Chapman said four major wildfires currently burning across B.C., including