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b-c-minimum-wage-increases-by-45-cents-per-hour-starting-june-1
BCFeb 14, 2025

B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1

The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers are getting a wage boost to keep pace with inflation. The Ministry of Labour says the minimum wage will increase from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour starting in June. It says the 2.6 per cent increase follows changes made last spring to the Employment Standards Act, which mandated yearly wage rises. Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside says those adjustments were made last year because minimum-wage workers are most vulnerable to jumps in prices for living expenses like groceries, rent and gas. The province says the changes align
protesting-farmers-centre-hold-positive-meeting-next-round-feb-22
IndiaFeb 14, 2025

Protesting farmers-Centre hold ‘positive’ meeting, next round Feb 22

Meeting between a Central team led by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and farmers’ representatives to discuss their various demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP on crops, was held here cordially for two-and-a-half-hour on Friday. Jagjit Singh Dallewal was taken to the conference hall on a stretcher, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi urged the two forums SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to request Jagjit Singh Dallewal to end his fast. However, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and the two forums made it clear that their protest will continue till a law is made for MSP. Now the second round of meeting betw
ndp-leader-jagmeet-singh-responds-to-trumps-tariff-threats
CanadaFeb 14, 2025

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Responds to Trump’s Tariff Threats

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has strongly criticized President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian steel. He warned that if Trump attacks Canadian steelworkers, the consequences would be severe. Singh emphasized that an NDP government would take immediate action, imposing dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs while ensuring support for every worker affected by these tariffs. Singh also called for unity in the country during this critical time. He made it clear that the Canadian government must stand firm in the face of such threats. Along with this, he took aim at Elon Musk, one of Trump’
gst-exemption-for-canadians-ends-february-15-impact-on-businesses-and-consumers
CanadaFeb 14, 2025

GST Exemption for Canadians Ends February 15: Impact on Businesses and Consumers

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s GST exemption for Canadians will end tomorrow, February 15, at midnight. All businesses will resume charging GST on previously exempt goods and services. To ease the burden of inflation, the Trudeau government introduced a two-month GST exemption from December 14 to February 15 on items such as groceries, restaurant meals, children’s clothing, toys, diapers, and even beer and wine. The government also encouraged provinces to temporarily waive their taxes during this period. Nik Nanos, head of Nanos Research, compared the return of GST to the frustration of r
2nd-batch-of-119-indian-deportees-to-land-in-amritsar-on-saturday
IndiaFeb 14, 2025

2nd batch of 119 Indian deportees to land in Amritsar on Saturday

A special flight from the United States carrying 119 deported Indian nationals is expected to arrive at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar on Saturday. This is the second US flight carrying the deportees to India following a crackdown on illegal immigrants by the US government. According to sources, the majority of deportees are from Punjab, with 67 individuals returning to the state. Haryana follows with 33 deportees. Gujarat accounts for eight, Uttar Pradesh three, and Goa, Maharashtra and Rajasthan two each. Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have one returnee each
liberal-party-denies-ruby-dhalla-translator-for-french-debate
CanadaFeb 13, 2025

Liberal party denies Ruby Dhalla translator for French debate

The Liberal party says it will not accommodate leadership hopeful Ruby Dhalla's request for a translator at the upcoming French debate in Montreal. Party spokesman Parker Lund says only the candidates and the moderator will be allowed on the debate stage and no translation will be provided. Dhalla said in a recent interview that her campaign planned to ask this week for a translator for the French debate because she is not fluent in the language. But she plans to attend either way and will make opening and closing statements in French. The Liberals have two upcoming leadership debates planned
two-day-special-session-of-punjab-assembly-to-be-held-on-feb-24-25
IndiaFeb 13, 2025

Two-day special session of Punjab Assembly to be held on Feb 24-25

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann convened a cabinet meeting today after a long gap of four months. This followed the party's defeat in the Delhi elections. Several important decisions in favor of the youth were taken during this meeting. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's cabinet has approved the recruitment of three thousand individuals across various government departments. This includes the recruitment of two thousand PTI teachers and eight hundred twenty-two posts in the health department. Additionally, six new courts will be established to address the issues of NRIs on a priority basis.
former-ahs-ceo-suing-alberta-government-alleges-coverup
CanadaFeb 13, 2025

Former AHS CEO suing Alberta government, alleges coverup

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services has filed a $1.7-million wrongful dismissal and high-level government corruption surrounding medical contracts. A statement of claim alleges Athana Mentzelopoulos (ment-ZAH'-lop-oh-luss) was fired last month for investigating overpriced contracts and conflicts of interest between government staff and companies being contracted. The lawsuit alleges Health Minister Adriana LaGrange (lah-GRAYNGE') tried to shut down the investigation and demanded Mentzelopoulos be fired. The allegations have not been proven in court, and LaGrange says many of them are
ndp-tells-candidates-to-prepare-for-an-early-election-according-to-internal-memo
CanadaFeb 13, 2025

NDP tells candidates to prepare for an early election, according to internal memo

The NDP's national campaign director has sent a memo to all candidates and campaign staff warning them to be prepared for a snap federal election as early as March 10. If Mark Carney does win the leadership, we are hearing from many Ottawa sources that he intends on calling an election shortly after becoming Liberal leader. On that basis, we believe the rumours of Mr. Carney calling a snap election are credible, the memo states. Taking a page from Doug Ford's playbook, the Liberals believe that they can turn this crisis into a political benefit for them. In Ontario, Ford is calling a snap ele

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surrey-man-charged-after-newton-area-shooting
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac
b-c-based-jim-pattison-developments-cancels-virginia-warehouse-sale-to-ice
BCJan 30, 2026

B.C.-based Jim Pattison Developments cancels Virginia warehouse sale to ICE

Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse property to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which had planned to use the site as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The 43.5-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, faced public scrutiny after news emerged that it could be converted into a holding and processing centre amid a wider U.S. immigration crackdown. The company, owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, had previously stated it was unaware of the final purchaser or the intende
israel-to-reopen-gaza-egypt-border-crossing-after-nearly-two-years-of-closure
WorldJan 30, 2026

Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt border crossing after nearly two years of closure

Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited movement of people in and out of the territory for the first time in nearly two years. The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees civilian coordination with Gaza, said the reopening will permit “limited movement of people only,” with both Israel and Egypt screening those seeking to cross. European Union border assistance personnel will supervise operations at the crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world. The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following ren
federal-court-of-appeal-set-to-rule-on-ottawas-single-use-plastics-ban
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa’s authority to maintain single-use plastic b

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government acted within its authority when it classified certain plastic products as toxic, clearing the way for Ottawa to maintain its ban on several single-use plastic items. In a unanimous decision released Friday, a three-judge panel overturned a 2023 lower court ruling that had found the federal government overreached by broadly labeling plastic manufactured items as toxic under environmental legislation. That earlier decision had cast uncertainty over the future of the single-use plastics ban. The appeal court concluded the go
cfia-says-threats-against-staff-escalated-during-b-c-ostrich-cull-forcing-family-relocation
BCJan 30, 2026

CFIA says threats against staff escalated during B.C. ostrich cull, forcing family relocation

A senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency official says agency employees faced escalating threats and harassment during preparations for the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, including incidents serious enough to force the relocation of a worker and their family. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the official said opposition to the cull intensified both online and in person, culminating in what they described as extreme cases of direct threats involving physical violence and sexual assault. One CFIA employee and their partner were relocated along with their chi