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

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 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

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

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.''

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

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

The federal government has announced enrolment details for a new federal dental plan that resembles typical insurance coverage, down to the benefits card patients show at the dentists' office. But dentists say the new government program isn't the same as the insurance people typically get from employers, and patients should be clear about the differences. British Columbia Dental Association president Dr. Robert Wolanski says the government plan is more of a social program than a typical insurance program.Wolanski says that program has some distinct differences from an employer insurance progra

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Israel and Hamas must work toward "a sustainable ceasefire," starting with another pause in hostilities.The comment comes in a joint statement with Trudeau's Australian and New Zealand counterparts, hours ahead of a United Nations vote on whether to call for a ceasefire in the Middle East. The statement calls for Hamas to release the hostages from its "heinous" Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and notes the group is responsible for sexual violence and "using Palestinian civilians as human shields." The leaders are also calling for "safe and unimpeded humanitarian acc