Spotify says it's axing 17% of its global workforce in the music streaming service's third round of layoffs this year. It's trying to slash costs while focusing on becoming profitable. In a message to employees posted on the company's blog Monday, CEO Daniel Ek said the jobs are being cut as part of a ``strategic reorientation.'' The post didn't specify how many employees would lose their jobs, but a spokesperson confirmed that it amounts to about 1,500 people. Spotify had used cheap financing to expand the business but Ek indicated it was caught out as central banks started hiking interest ra

Much of British Columbia's south coast is bracing for stormy weather as Environment Canada says a "potent and impactful" storm will bring heavy rain to Metro Vancouver. Environment Canada is also warning drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish to Whistler to exercise caution due to heavy rains raising the risk of flooding and landslides along the route. The rainfall warning says an atmospheric river is set to make landfall on the province's southern coast today, bringing as much as 150 millimetres of rain to Western Vancouver Island. Meanwhile, Inland Vancouver Island, the Howe Sound r

After a night of heavy snowfall in Quebec, some schools are calling a snow day and cancelling classes. According to Environment Canada, about 25 centimeters of snow fell across the province. Service is slowly being restored to homes across Quebec after, nearly 25 cm of snow has fallen across the province. At its peak, about 1,089,025 Hydro-Quebec customers lost power. Montreal was the hardest hit and the weather agency predicted that a few centimeters of snow is still likely Another total of 20 to 30 centimeters of snow is expected in Quebec, Environment Canada said in a weather warning. At th

Google has started the process of deleting inactive Gmail accounts. Google is closing accounts that haven't been used or signed in for at least two years. With this you will not be able to access old emails, Google Drive, Google Docs and photos. The company announced the move in May as part of an effort to protect users from security threats. Google says that forgotten accounts often rely on old or reused passwords that can be tampered with, increasing the likelihood of spam. Users are required to sign into their email account once every two years to prevent Gmail accounts from being closed. G

A striking Quebec teachers union says it won't give in to "emotional blackmail" from the premier after he asked them to return to work for the good of their students. Premier François Legault told reporters in Quebec City today that he wants the teachers to think of the children who are being harmed by the strike, now into its second week. The union responded on social media, saying its members are striking to prevent the further deterioration of public schools — which they say is what's really hurting children.The 66,000 members of the Fédération autonome de l'enseignement have been on a

British Columbia's solicitor general says the government has filed the first-ever application to secure an unexplained wealth order in Canada. Mike Farnworth says the notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court is the start of a series of similar applications, which are powerful tools that "put those engaging in illegal activity on notice." A statement from Farnworth says the province "will not tolerate criminals prospering in our communities" and it will pursue illegally acquired properties, luxury vehicles, money laundering schemes and businesses operating as fronts. The minister say

Police say they have made an arrest in a shooting that killed four people in Winnipeg. Officers were called early Sunday to a home in the West Broadway neighborhood, where they found five people wounded. A man and a woman were pronounced dead at the scene, and another man and a woman died later in hospital. Police say a 55-year-old man remains in hospital in critical condition. Jamie Randy Felix, who is 32 and from Winnipeg, is charged with four counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

The federal government's bail-reform legislation is on its way to becoming law. Justice Minister Arif Virani urged MPs to accept the amendments to Bill C-48 on Thursday and they did so unanimously. The Liberal government introduced the bill earlier this year in the face of sustained calls from all provincial leaders and many police chiefs to make bail more difficult to access for repeat violent offenders. The bill expands the use of reverse-onus provisions for certain offenders. It means, instead of a Crown prosecutor having to prove in court why an accused person should stay behind bars un

Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.8 per cent last month as job creation continues to lag population growth in the country. The federal agency released its November labour force survey today, showing the economy added a modest 25,000 jobs. Manufacturing and construction saw the largest gains in employment, while the most jobs were shed in wholesale and retail trade as well as finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing. As labour market conditions weaken, the survey finds unemployed people last month were more likely to have been laid off compared with a yea