Voter turnout in British Columbia’s provincial election has dropped to its lowest level in at least 30 years. According to preliminary figures from Elections BC, only 48.14 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots this time, down from 53.86 per cent in the 2020 election held during the COVID-19 pandemic and 58.45 per cent in 2024. Experts believe the sharp decline may be linked to former Premier David Eby’s decision to call a snap election two years ahead of schedule, as well as the timing of municipal elections around the same period. According to the report, the B.C. NDP received

Prime Minister Mark Carney held a high-level meeting with premiers and First Nations leaders in Ottawa today ahead of the upcoming federal budget, aiming to address obstacles and opposition that could delay major projects. During the meeting, Carney pledged greater support for Indigenous communities and promised to build stronger partnerships with them. It was the first time in two decades that federal, provincial and First Nations leaders had gathered at the same table for direct discussions on key national issues. Carney said his government would announce new measures for First Nations in th

The BC Greens have retained two seats in the provincial election, despite an increase in their overall vote share. Preliminary results show the party received approximately 23,000 more votes than in 2024. However, it failed to increase its seat count beyond the two seats it held before the snap election. Party leader Emily Lowan won in Saanich North and the Islands, while Jeremy Valeriote was re-elected in West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. Speaking to the media, Lowan acknowledged that making the Green Party's voice heard in the legislature would be a major challenge. However, she said the party wo

Canada’s central bank is set to announce its monetary policy decision on Wednesday, with many experts anticipating a possible interest rate hike. If the Bank of Canada raises rates, it would mark the first increase in three years. Economists say the Canadian economy is facing two conflicting challenges. On one hand, economic growth remains weak, which would normally support cutting interest rates to stimulate the economy. On the other hand, rising oil prices are driving inflation, and the central bank may not want to wait until price pressures spread to other sectors before taking action. Ma

Surrey Police are seeking public assistance in locating 25-year-old Jasdeep Singh Hayre, who was reported missing after last being seen on October 21 in the 17000-block of 26 Avenue in Surrey. Police say there has been no contact with Hayre or any information about his whereabouts since that day. His family and police are concerned about his well-being. Hayre has a distinctive tattoo of a lion and an arrow on his left arm. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact the Surrey Police Service at 604-599-0502.

The B.C. Conservative Party has swept all 10 ridings in the Surrey area, securing a major victory in the provincial election. One of the most closely watched contests was Surrey City Centre, where Conservative candidate Zeeshan Wahla defeated B.C. NDP candidate Amna Shah by approximately 400 votes in a tight race. Meanwhile, Garry Thind won two elections within a week, becoming both a Surrey school trustee and the MLA for Surrey-Guildford. However, under provincial law, he will have to resign from his school trustee position. In Surrey South, Centre BC leader Elenore Sturko suffered a defeat,

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will not attend the First Nations–First Ministers meeting being held in Ottawa today. Speaking at a separate news conference on Saturday, Smith said her government would send representatives to the meeting in her place. The meeting comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney works to fast-track approvals and development of major projects across Canada, including a proposed pipeline from Alberta to the British Columbia coast. Meanwhile, First Nations leaders have warned that rushing project approvals could interfere with their rights and potentially lead to legal challe

Canada’s main opposition party has introduced a bill in the House of Commons to lift the oil tanker ban along British Columbia’s North Coast. The bill is set to enter its second reading this week. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and other opposition MPs have also written to Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging him to remove the ban. The Conservatives argue that the restriction forces Canada to sell its oil to the United States at lower prices, benefiting American refineries while costing Canada billions of dollars in potential revenue. According to the party, Canada could easily export

Elections Alberta has announced that the counting of votes for the Alberta referendum has been completed. According to Elections Alberta, election staff manually counted more than 20 million ballot papers during the referendum, marking the highest number of ballots ever counted by hand in any electoral contest in Canadian history. The department confirmed that the official results will be released on October 29. It also said the budget detailing the total cost of the referendum will be presented to the provincial legislature in late November. The referendum was held on October 19, with a major