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election-date-in-n-w-t-may-be-postponed-due-to-wildfires
CanadaAug 29, 2023

Election date in N.W.T may be postponed due to wildfires

The Northwest Territories legislature is to meet later today to discuss delaying a territorial election set for October because of wildfires.The territory is scheduled to go to the polls on Oct. 3.But because of massive evacuations in several communities and general safety concerns, the N.W.T.'s chief electoral officer has suggested that be pushed until November.Some members of the territory's legislature say there's clear support for delay.The territory operates by a consensus system without political parties, in which elected members choose the premier from among themselves.Over the weekend,
189-buildings-destroyed-due-to-wildfires-in-b-cs-okanagan
BCAug 28, 2023

189 buildings destroyed due to wildfires in B.C's Okanagan

The number of properties damaged or completely destroyed in B.C.'s Okanagan wildfires has risen to 189.Central Okanagan Emergency Operations made the announcement on Monday.These properties were damaged in the regional district of West Kelowna and Central Okanagan West Electoral Area A.The devastating McDougall Creek fire is still out of control, West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund said in a briefing.Chief Administrative Officer Sally Ginter says the center is contacting all affected homeowners and asking them to recheck their property status online at cordemergency.ca/propertyinfo.Ginter sa
deaths-from-cancer-heart-disease-overdose-and-covid-19-rise-in-2021-statcan
CanadaAug 28, 2023

Deaths from cancer, heart disease, overdose and Covid-19 rise in 2021: StatCan

According to Statistics Canada, there were 311,640 deaths in Canada in 2021, a 1.0% increase from 2020.More people died in Canada in 2021 than last year.Cancer, heart disease, overdose and Covid-19 are cited as leading causes of death.Male deaths increased by 2.5%, and female deaths decreased by 0.5% compared to 2020.Cancer and heart disease remain the two leading causes of death, Statcan says.Accidental deaths have increased by 14.5 percent in 2021.The fourth leading cause of death was reported to be Covid-19, which also continued to affect the health of Canadians.Statistics show that in the
heat-warning-issued-for-several-b-c-communities-records-broken
BCAug 28, 2023

Heat warning issued for several B.C. communities, records broken

Persistent heat is expected to continue today in parts of British Columbia as the province continues to battle almost 400 active wildfires.Environment Canada says several communities in northern B.C. are facing heat warnings, with daily high temperatures predicted to reach in excess of 30 degrees.Communities currently under a heat warning include Fort Nelson, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge and Terrace.According to Environment Canada data, Fort Nelson is expected to reach 32 C again today after breaking its historic high temperature for August 27 at 32.4 C.Historic daily high temper
7-people-who-died-in-old-montreal-fire-being-investigated-as-homicide
CanadaAug 28, 2023

7 people who died in Old Montreal fire being investigated as homicide

A March fire in Old Montreal that killed seven people is now being investigated as a homicide.A press conference will be held by the Montreal Police at 3 pm.In the meantime, the police can lay charges of murder.Most of the seven people who died in the fire were living in illegal short-term rentals.An investigation into the matter was launched by the Montreal Police Arson Squad.According to sources, the case has now been transferred to the Montreal Police Major Crimes Division.If the fire was set on purpose, the police may add charges of murder in this case.
b-c-s-farmers-concerned-about-impacts-of-climate-change
BCAug 28, 2023

B.C.'s farmers concerned about impacts of climate change

B.C. farmers say they're increasingly concerned about climate change and the impacts of extreme weather on food production in the province.Because of its warm climate, B.C. has a unique agriculture industry.The province's farmers can grow fruit and vegetables that won't grow in other parts of Canada, and B.C. also boasts of Western Canada's only major winery regions.But in the last three years, B.C. farmers have suffered through drought, extreme heat, flooding and fires.These disasters have resulted in crop failures, livestock losses and widespread damage to farmland and infrastructure.Some fa
sextortion-cases-on-rise-in-montreal-14-to17-year-old-teens-victimized
CanadaAug 28, 2023

Sextortion cases on rise in Montreal, 14 to17 year old teens victimized

Montreal police are warning young people to be careful online after the number of sextortion cases they've seen has risen dramatically.The force says its child sex exploitation unit has already received more than 100 complaints this year, compared to about 30 at the same time last year.Police say victims are most often young men between the ages of 14 and 17 who are contacted online by people posing as teen girls.The perpetrator builds the victim's trust before asking for intimate photos or videos, only to threaten to publish the images or send them to family and friends if a payment isn't sen
AlbertaAug 25, 2023

Alberta woman denied transplant over vaccine status, dies

Sheila Annette Lewis, the Alberta woman who was denied an organ transplant because she refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, has died. In recent months, Lewis had been crowdsourcing funding to travel to the United States to get an organ transplant, but she died before that happened. She was 58. In 2018, Lewis was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease, and was placed on the Alberta transplant wait list. In 2021, Lewis was told she would also need the COVID-19 vaccine to receive the transplant. Given the high risks of death following a transplant, and the immunos
houses-of-13-fire-fighters-burnt-in-forest-fire
BCAug 25, 2023

Houses of 13 fire fighters burnt in forest fire

The chief of a small rural fire department in the B.C.'s Okanagan area says 13 members of his own crew have lost their homes while fighting wildfires this season.Wilson's Landing Fire Chief Paul Zydowicz says members of the department still continued their fight to extinguish the wildfire.Their homes were among 181 destroyed around Okanagan Lake last week.Zydowicz says those who have lost their homes will be cared for by emergency support services.Much of the area in the west of the lake is still under evacuation orders.It is worth noting that there are currently about 370 wildfires active in

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federal-ministers-signal-possible-ai-safety-reforms-after-openai-handling-of-b-c-shooting-case
CanadaFeb 25, 2026

Federal ministers signal possible AI safety reforms after OpenAI handling of B.C. shooting case

Federal ministers say Ottawa is prepared to consider new safeguards around artificial intelligence tools following questions about how OpenAI handled warning signs linked to a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The issue has drawn national attention after reports revealed that the accused shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been removed from OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform months before the February 10 killings. According to reporting first published by The Wall Street Journal, the account was shut down over troubling posts that referenced violent scenarios, including gun use. Howe
b-c-police-step-up-enforcement-for-distracted-driving-and-seatbelt-violations-in-march
BCFeb 25, 2026

B.C. police step up enforcement for distracted driving and seatbelt violations in March

Police across British Columbia are increasing enforcement this month as part of province-wide campaigns targeting distracted driving and seatbelt compliance. BC Highway Patrol says officers will be closely monitoring drivers who use electronic devices behind the wheel or fail to properly secure themselves and their passengers. The initiative coincides with Distracted Driving Month and the Occupant Restraint Campaign, both aimed at reducing serious injuries and fatalities on provincial roads. Inspector Brian Donaldson with BC Highway Patrol is urging motorists to eliminate distractions before s
AlbertaFeb 25, 2026

Alberta introduces bill to transition sheriffs into new provincial police service

The Alberta government has tabled legislation that would shift approximately 1,200 Alberta Sheriffs employees into a newly created provincial police agency, marking a significant step in the province’s ongoing discussion about the future of policing. If passed, the bill would establish the Alberta Sheriffs Police Service and allow it to assume local policing responsibilities currently provided by the RCMP, should municipalities choose to opt in. The proposed model is designed to give communities the option of moving away from federal policing services toward a provincially managed force. Pub
two-men-charged-after-alleged-attempted-kidnapping-linked-to-organized-crime-in-calgary
AlbertaFeb 25, 2026

Two men charged after alleged attempted kidnapping linked to organized crime in Calgary

Two men are facing criminal charges after Calgary police say officers disrupted what investigators describe as a violent attempted kidnapping in the city’s downtown earlier this month. The Calgary Police Service said a patrol sergeant witnessed an assault in progress shortly after midnight on February 17 and intervened immediately. Officers allege the incident involved an attempt to forcibly abduct an individual. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released. Police said the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle but were located and arrested a short time later. In
canada-pledges-8-million-in-food-aid-for-cuba-as-u-s-fuel-blockade-continues
CanadaFeb 25, 2026

Canada pledges $8 million in food aid for Cuba as U.S. fuel blockade continues

The Government of Canada has announced an $8 million food assistance package for people in Cuba in response to mounting shortages of basic goods aggravated by a tightened U.S. oil blockade, federal officials said Wednesday. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Secretary of State for International Development Randeep Sarai said the funding is intended to help address urgent needs for food and nutrition among vulnerable communities on the Caribbean island. The aid will be delivered through United Nations partners, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, rather than through the Cuban