An audited public accounting of British Columbia's financial records shows the province posted a surplus of more than $700 million in the 2022-2023 budget year.Finance Minister Katrine Conroy outlined the province's financial performance in the government's public accounts for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.The government's budget forecasts have been on an up-and-down ride for the past two years, with the 2022-2023 budget originally forecast in February last year to show a $5.5 billion deficit, before that was revised to a surplus of almost $6 billion, then downgraded to a $3.6 billion

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 3 storm.It wreaked havoc across a wide swath of the Gulf Coast, inundating homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, and overturning small boats.Power lines have been downed in such areas.More than 263,000 people were left without power.This devastating storm uprooted tall trees.The Florida Highway Patrol said two people have died as a result of being caught in the storm.Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Wednesday morning, "Don't do anything stupid right now that puts lives at risk."Hurricane Idalia has ente

Quebec Transport Minister Genevieve Guilbault is apologizing after photos emerged of her not wearing her seatbelt while on the road.The photos, published by the Journal de Montreal today, were taken over a three-year span and posted to her social media accounts, both while Guilbault was driving or a passenger in a vehicle.Guilbault, who is also the deputy premier, apologized for the lapse in judgment as she headed into a cabinet meeting.She said the moments where she forgot to buckle up were rare exceptions rather than the rule, but were unacceptable nonetheless and violations of the provincia

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is headed to Asia next week for a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Singapore and India.The trip involves the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, and a focus on economic ties in booming regions of Southeast Asia, as Canada seeks alternatives to a rising China.In Jakarta, Trudeau will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where the group of 10 countries that will ratify a strategic-partnership agreement with Canada.The next stop in Singapore will involve meeting with the city-state's head of government and business leaders to promote investment i

The first case of the BA.2.86 variant of Covid has been reported in Canada.This is the first case found in British Columbia.B.C. health officials have confirmed this variant.B.C.'s Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the variant was found in a person in the Fraser Health Region, east of Vancouver, who has not traveled outside the province.Medical Director of Vancouver Infectious Disease Control Dr. Brian Conway says the new BA.2.86 variant has not yet been shown to cause more severe disease.Conway says the first case being recorded here in B.C. is a reminder that COVID never truly went

Canada, the world's fourth largest wheat exporter, is set to face a decline in wheat production this year due to drought. According to a government report, in parts of the Prairie Provinces, namely Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan wheat and canola production expected to decline. Canada is also among the world's largest shippers for canola, from which vegetable oil is produced. According to Statistics Canada, the production of wheat this time is likely to be 29.5 million metric tons, which is the second lowest in the last 8 years and 14 percent down compared to last year. At the same time, t

The Bhakra Beas Management Board has closed the flood gates of the Bhakra Dam after the water level became normal. This has brought some relief to the people of Punjab, who have been struggling with the problem of floods for the past several days. Due to very heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh, the water level in Bhakra Dam and Pong Dam had reached the danger mark. As a result, the Board of Management had to open the flood gates of Bhakra Dam on the evening of 14 August. Due to continuous rains in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh till now, the water level in the dams could not be reduced. Due to whic

Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory for the United States, warning LGBTQ people that some state laws may affect their travel.The post shared Tuesday morning said some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ individuals.This advisory is issued to travelers to stay aware of laws that criminalize same sex activities and relationships.The updated advisory does not mention any specific law or state policy, nor does it suggest avoiding any particular state.On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland supported the decision to update the travel advisor

The Alberta government has levied more than $11,000 in fines for wildfire-prevention violations this year. Nineteen violation tickets, with fines totalling $11,520, were given out between April 1 and July 31, according to statistics provided by Alberta's forestry and parks ministry. Most of the tickets were for failing to extinguish an open outdoor fire during a fire ban, which comes with a $600 fine. More fines have been levied this year than last year, but in the past five years, 2020 saw the highest number handed out.That year, 60 tickets were issued, most of which were related to fire ban