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quebec-hikes-tuition-for-mcgill-concordia-imposes-french-requirement
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Quebec hikes tuition for McGill, Concordia, imposes French requirement

The Quebec government is hiking tuition to $12,000 a year and imposing a French-language requirement for out-of-province students at McGill and Concordia universities. Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry announced the new measures today, saying the government wants Canadian and foreign graduates to better integrate in Quebec society. Quebec had initially proposed to raise tuition for out-of-province students to around $17,000 from $8,992, but today's announcement reduces that amount. However, the government has introduced a new requirement that 80 per cent of out-of-province students in
fergus-should-stay-as-speaker-pay-a-fine-for-controversial-video-committee
CanadaDec 14, 2023

Fergus should stay as Speaker, pay a fine for controversial video : Committee

A House of Commons committee says Greg Fergus should stay in his job as Speaker, but he should apologize again and reimburse Parliament for using its resources to make a video that was shown at a partisan event. In a report released this morning, the procedure and House affairs committee also says there should be clear guidelines for future Speakers about the impartiality of their role. The Conservatives and Bloc Québécois have called for Fergus to resign over a video in tribute to the outgoing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, and renewed those calls today. Fergus shot the video in h
surrey-drug-smuggler-flees-to-india-to-escape-punishment
BCDec 13, 2023

Surrey drug smuggler flees to India to escape punishment

Police are seeking an Interpol Red Notice on a Surrey truck driver sentenced to serve 15 years in jail for cocaine smuggling who escaped to India last year. BC RCMP say a Canada-wide warrant has also been issued for Raj Kumar Mehmi, who was sentenced in absentia in November for smuggling 80 kilograms of cocaine across the Pacific Highway crossing from the US. Police say Mehmi was originally arrested by police in 2017 after border agents found 80 bricks of cocaine on a truck owned by the Surrey man. Mehmi was found guilty of trafficking charges in September 2022 but fled to India that Octob
minister-doesnt-yet-know-cost-to-replace-deteriorating-montreal-olympic-stadium-roof
CanadaDec 13, 2023

Minister doesn't yet know cost to replace deteriorating Montreal Olympic Stadium roof

Quebec Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx says she's not able to say how much it would cost to replace the deteriorating roof of Montreal's Olympic Stadium. Proulx said today cabinet will study the issue in January, declining to comment on a report in Montreal's La Presse that said replacing the roof will cost at least $750 million. Premier François Legault said in October that the stadium will need a new roof and that he wants to restore the venue to its former glory. It will be a major task, as Proulx says there are now more than 20,000 tears in the stadium's roof. A 2017 plan by the perviou
vancouver-budget-sets-property-tax-increase-at-7-5-per-cent
BCDec 13, 2023

Vancouver budget sets property tax increase at 7.5 per cent

Vancouver residents will have to pay more in residential taxes next year, which is set to increase by 7.5%. According to Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, city staff presented the 2024-2028 Budget Outlook in June. It was projected to grow by 9.5% until the cuts were made. Sim said the council asked staff to figure out the savings after which the increase could be capped at 7.5%. 3% of this will be given to the Vancouver Police Department, whose budget for the year 2024 will be half a billion dollars, i.e. about $472 million. Sim was successful in getting support from the council to support a $100,00
edmonton-transport-company-facing-223-charges-and-108-000-in-fines
CanadaDec 13, 2023

Edmonton Transport Company facing 223 charges and $108,000 in fines

An Edmonton charter bus company is facing more than 200 charges representing over 100-thousand dollars in fines. Edmonton police say they laid 223 charges last week against Alberta North Transportation Limited for offences including not having trip inspections, log books and safety fitness certificates. According to the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit, these vehicles were used to take students on school trips or for personal excursions. Meanwhile, these vehicles have been traveling to Drumheller, Jasper and Lake Louise. Police say officers went through six months of the company's ope
liberal-mp-expressed-his-displeasure-on-canadas-vote-in-favor-of-ceasefire
CanadaDec 13, 2023

Liberal MP expressed his displeasure on Canada's vote in favor of ceasefire

Some Liberal MPs heading into this morning's party caucus meeting were voicing their objections to Canada's decision to support a UN call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Quebec MP Anthony Housefather says he doesn't support an unconditional call for a ceasefire and he doesn't believe a majority of his constituents do either. He thinks Canada has abandoned its traditional support for Israel at the UN at a time when Israel is at war. Other Liberal MPs welcomed Canada's vote and are thanking their colleagues who quote ``raised their voices for peace.''
voting-in-favor-of-stopping-the-war-in-gaza-153-countries-voted-in-favor
CanadaDec 13, 2023

Voting in favor of stopping the war in Gaza, 153 countries voted in favor

Overwhelming support was seen today as the U-N General Assembly voted to demand a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Arab and Islamic nations called for an emergency session of the 193-member General Assembly to vote on a resolution after the U-S vetoed a resolution in the Security Council demanding a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on Friday. Today's vote shows a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war . While 10 member countries including America and Israel voted against it. There, 23 members distanced themselves from it and 7 other countries remained absent. Last
greg-fergus-will-need-to-pay-fine-apologize-to-stay-on-as-house-speaker-ndp
CanadaDec 12, 2023

Greg Fergus will need to pay fine, apologize to stay on as House Speaker: NDP

The federal New Democrats say they won't be calling for House Speaker Greg Fergus to resign over a video that was shown at a partisan event, but they do endorse a call for him to be disciplined. NDP House leader Peter Julian says Fergus will need to apologize for his actions again and pay a fine — though he would not say how steep that could be. The video played at a recent party convention saw Fergus paying tribute to the outgoing interim leader of the Ontario Liberals while wearing his ceremonial Speaker's robes. Fergus apologized Monday to the procedure and House affairs committee, which

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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