BC marks five years since overdoses were declared a public health emergency

A Bathinda court has postponed the scheduled appearance of actor and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut, who was expected to attend proceedings on Thursday in a defamation case linked to comments made during the 2020–21 farmers’ protest. The court has now directed her to appear on December 15. Her legal counsel informed the court that Ranaut is currently occupied with the ongoing Lok Sabha session and is unable to attend in person. The court accepted the submission and granted an extension. Complainant Mahinder Kaur, along with a witness, appeared before the court on Thursday. Kaur f

Alberta’s provincial health authority is undergoing another leadership change as Alberta Health Services says chief executive officer Andre Tremblay has taken a leave of absence. The organization did not disclose the reason for his departure, citing personnel limitations. The provincial government has appointed senior AHS official Erin O’Neill to oversee the agency on an interim basis. She will serve both as acting CEO and temporary board chair as the organization continues its transition into a dedicated provider of hospital and clinical services under the government’s health system res

The BC Conservative Party says John Rustad has been removed as leader of the provincial Opposition. The announcement comes after 20 members of Rustad's caucus said they had lost confidence in him and wanted him out. Rustad refused to resign and cited the party's constitution, which says a leader can only be removed by resignation, death, incapacitation or a leadership review. The party says its board of directors has decided Rustad is ``professionally incapacitated'' and unable to continue as leader of the party. The B.C. Conservative Party sent the following news release about the re

Burnaby RCMP is asking the public for dashcam video and eyewitness accounts as investigators look into a collision that killed a pedestrian earlier this week. The incident happened on Monday evening along a busy stretch of Kingsway near Edmonds Street, an area that connects Burnaby and southeast Metro Vancouver communities. Police say officers were called just after 7 p.m. on December 1 after a pedestrian was struck by an eastbound vehicle. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. The Burnaby RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team has taken over the case, whi

Prince George RCMP are appealing for dash-cam footage as officers continue to examine a fatal crash that shut down Highway 16 West near Isle Pierre Road late Tuesday night. The collision, reported shortly after 11 p.m., involved a grey Volkswagen Jetta and a grey GMC Sierra. Police say the driver of the Volkswagen was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the pickup was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Investigators are now looking to piece together the moments leading up to the impact, which halted traffic on a major northern B.C. corridor for several hours. Corporal Jennife