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Alberta’s United Conservative government has introduced a new bill aimed at standardizing school report cards across the province. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides introduced the legislation, which would give the government authority to establish provincewide guidelines for report cards. Speaking Thursday, Nicolaides said parents remain confused about the one-to-four grading system used in elementary schools, adding that addressing the issue is the province’s responsibility. However, he clarified that no final decision has been made on whether to introduce a letter-based grading sys

Calgary police have arrested two men in connection with the kidnapping and hostage-taking of a woman, while a third suspect remains at large. Police received information about the incident on October 12. The following day, the tactical unit executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 block of 37 Street Southeast, where officers safely rescued the victim and arrested two suspects. Calgary residents Joseph Richard Frederick Sarrazin and Jordan Barry Taylor have been charged with forcible confinement and several other criminal offences. Police believe the kidnapping was a targeted incide

Elections Alberta released the official results Thursday of the October 19 referendum on immigration, constitutional reforms and Alberta’s separation from Canada. According to the results, 70.4 per cent of Alberta voters participated in the questions on requiring proof of citizenship to vote and whether the province should separate from Canada. These two questions recorded the highest voter participation. Official results showed that 74.95 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. On the remaining nine questions, a majority of voters supported several immigration-rel

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that anyone seeking a position on the United Conservative Party (UCP) board will have to sign a pledge opposing provincial separation at the party’s annual general meeting next month. Smith said Albertans voted overwhelmingly to remain part of Canada in last week’s referendum, and the party must respect the result. Current board members are also expected to honour the commitment. Candidates running under the UCP banner in next year’s provincial election will also be required to respect the referendum results. The move is aimed at keeping separ

A special weather alert has been issued for Edmonton and surrounding communities in Central Alberta, with up to 15 centimetres of snow expected by Thursday morning. According to the warning, the first major snowfall of the season began Tuesday night and is expected to continue through Thursday morning. Snowfall overnight has already caused difficulties for commuters travelling to work early Wednesday. Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys and prepare for rapidly changing and deteriorating road conditions. Mainroad Alberta Contracting, which maintains approximately 4,

Jamie Dacosta, who is accused of making death threats against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to plead guilty. His defence lawyer has been instructed to arrange a sentencing date. A court appearance on Thursday is expected to set a date for the guilty plea and request a pre-sentence report. The 31-year-old faces several other charges, including extortion, criminal harassment, uttering death threats and property damage. Dacosta’s mother, Kathie Dacosta, says he has been struggling with serious mental and emotional health issues. He is currently being held at the Calgary Reman

Alberta United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA Shane Getson has resigned from his position, citing personal and family reasons. However, he has not provided further details about his decision. Getson had represented the predominantly rural riding of Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland, northwest of Edmonton, since 2019. During his tenure, he became known for his outspoken remarks, which frequently drew criticism from political opponents. In 2025, Getson faced significant backlash over statements concerning transgender surgeries. In 2022, he also voiced opposition to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates

Alberta’s legislature is set to resume its fall session today, one week after the Oct. 19 referendum, in which about 75 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of remaining part of Canada. Premier Danielle Smith has made it clear that she expects separatist members of her United Conservative Party to accept the results and move forward, leaving the issue behind. Meanwhile, UCP backbencher Shane Getson resigned as a member of the legislature on Monday, citing personal and family reasons. Affordability and education are expected to be key topics during the session. Before the Christmas break, th

The Surrey Police Service (SPS) has appointed a new chief following the removal of former Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. The SPS Board announced Friday that Todd Matsumoto, who had been serving as interim chief, has officially been appointed as the city's Chief Constable. Surrey Police Board Chair Perm Jawanda expressed confidence in Matsumoto, describing him as the right leader to guide the SPS. Matsumoto brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in policing and public safety. He has been serving as interim chief since June 2026, replacing Lipinski. Following his appointment, Matsumo

A suspect wanted in connection with the death of a 22-year-old man in an SUV collision near Oliver, B.C., last year has been arrested in Quebec. According to BC Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on June 15, 2025, on Highway 97 near Oliver. The driver allegedly fled the scene following the collision. The BC Prosecution Service approved charges against the driver, identified as Dominic Cavanagh-Latreille, in June this year. Following an investigation and tips from the public, BC Highway Patrol arrested the suspect earlier this month in Drummondville, Quebec, with assistance from local police

Former B.C. NDP ministers Nikki Sharma and Ravi Parmar have expressed disappointment over the party’s election defeat, acknowledging that calling an early election was a major mistake. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a party caucus meeting in Victoria, former Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said the party and former Premier David Eby had clearly made the wrong decision by calling an early election. Former Attorney General Nikki Sharma said Wednesday’s virtual meeting of the outgoing caucus was highly emotional. She said Eby apologized for the decision to call the election and took f

A 50-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a cement truck near Vancouver International Airport in Richmond on Wednesday. According to the RCMP, the incident occurred at around 3:20 p.m. in the area of Russ Baker Way and Miller Road. Emergency crews closed the roadway completely for several hours while investigating the collision. Sergeant Pak Yim expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family. Police said the truck driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with investigators. The RCMP is asking drivers who travelled through the a

Surrey’s outgoing Mayor Brenda Locke has blamed David Eby’s snap election call for her defeat, saying the unexpected decision to hold a provincial election between municipal elections created confusion among voters during the final two to three weeks of the campaign and fuelled political change. Locke claimed that there was no major demand for change in the municipal election until Eby announced the provincial election, after which the political situation began to shift. Reflecting on her tenure, Locke described improving Surrey’s environment and launching projects such as new sports fie

A 17-year-old has died following a road collision in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. According to the RCMP, the crash occurred at around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Extension Road in the southern part of the city, involving a dirt bike and a car. First responders rushed to the scene and made extensive efforts to save the teenager’s life. However, the victim succumbed to serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Following an initial investigati

A boat caught fire in False Creek in Vancouver late Tuesday night. Police said they received a report of the incident at around 11:30 p.m., following which Vancouver Fire Rescue and Coast Guard crews quickly arrived at the scene to help extinguish the blaze. According to Constable Darren Wong, an initial investigation suggests the fire was caused by a technical malfunction in a generator on board the boat. Fortunately, both people aboard the vessel safely escaped the incident without sustaining any injuries. Police clarified that the incident does not appear to be suspicious or the result of a

The Canadian government may introduce new tax incentives for small businesses in its federal budget, scheduled to be presented on November 5. While economists and business organizations are calling for major reforms to Canada's overall tax system to boost economic growth and investment, government signals suggest the upcoming budget may focus on targeted tax relief measures. Rebekah Young, a former Finance Department official and an economist at Scotiabank, also predicted in a recent report that the government is unlikely to undertake major tax reforms immediately. Instead, the budget could in

Prime Minister Mark Carney has taken a firm stance against U.S.-based Cleveland-Cliffs, warning that failing to honour the conditions and legal obligations agreed to during its acquisition of Canadian steelmaker Stelco would be a serious mistake. Speaking to reporters at a news conference in Montreal on Thursday, Carney was asked whether the federal government had made a mistake by approving the company's purchase of Stelco. He said the real mistake would be Cleveland-Cliffs failing to respect its employment commitments. Under the 2024 acquisition agreement, the company is legally obligated to

Canada’s economy remained stagnant for the second consecutive month, with no growth recorded in August, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. Economists had expected the economy to grow by 0.2 per cent in August, following zero growth in July. However, real gross domestic product (GDP) remained unchanged. The slowdown was mainly driven by a 1.4 per cent decline in wholesale trade and weaker activity in the public sector. Some sectors, however, showed positive growth. Retail trade increased by 1.2 per cent, while the manufacturing sector also recorded growth. Meanwhile, Statist

U.S. tariffs are having a significant impact on Ontario’s annual budget, with Premier Doug Ford’s government projecting a deficit of $16.9 billion for the 2026-2027 fiscal year in its Fall Economic Statement. The projected deficit is approximately $3.1 billion higher than the $13.8 billion forecast in the March budget. Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the ongoing trade war with the United States and U.S. tariffs are the main reasons behind the widening deficit. He said American tariffs have hit Ontario’s steel, automotive and manufacturing sectors particularly hard. Ontar

The Canadian government has introduced a new penalty system to crack down on fraudulent immigration agents. Under the new rules issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals who provide false immigration advice or charge fees for immigration services without proper authorization could face fines ranging from $5,000 to as much as $1.5 million. According to the new guidelines, anyone acting as an immigration representative without a valid licence or required authorization will face a minimum fine of $5,000. Additionally, individuals who deliberately submit false or m

Canada’s Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has sent a strongly worded letter to Stelco President Paul Simon, demanding the immediate reinstatement of laid-off workers at the Ontario-based steelmaker. Joly said she is willing to meet with Stelco representatives and Lourenco Goncalves, CEO of its U.S. parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs. However, she made it clear that reinstating the laid-off workers would be a precondition for any discussions. Criticizing Goncalves, Joly said the company cannot use U.S. tariffs, which are hurting businesses on both sides of the border, as an excuse for the layoff

Three masked suspects broke into a home in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighbourhood early Thursday morning and opened fire on a family, seriously injuring a father and his two adult daughters. The incident occurred at around 3:45 a.m. at a residence on Hyde Park Circle. According to police, the three suspects entered the home through the back door armed with handguns and a hammer. They targeted a couple and their two adult daughters. When the family resisted the robbery, the suspects opened fire, shooting the father and both daughters. The mother was also injured after being struck with a hammer.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in a joint operation with the RCMP in Saskatchewan, has uncovered a cross-border tobacco smuggling operation and laid serious criminal charges against four individuals. According to the CBSA, the group allegedly used the railway network to smuggle approximately 116,000 kilograms of illegal tobacco from the United States into Canada and between different provinces between October 2020 and April 2024. All four accused are residents of Ontario: 47-year-old Harminder Grewal of Brampton, 49-year-old Avikesh Sharma of Mississauga, 48-year-old Johnny Gamboa o

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday nominated Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh. Puri was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in January 2018. His current term is scheduled to end on November 25, 2026. The Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh fell vacant following the resignation of former Union Minister L. Murugan. The Election Commission has announced a by-election for the seat, with November 2 set as the last date for filing nominations. The BJP's Central Election Committee has approved Puri's candidature. According

Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into drug trafficking, gangster activities and international arms-smuggling networks in Punjab. In his letter, Jakhar highlighted two cases. The first relates to the seizure of 4 kg of heroin in 2023 at Nathana police station in Bathinda district. According to the investigation, the consignment had allegedly been arranged by a man identified as Harry, who was serving a 20-year sentence at Ferozepur Jail. Jakhar alleged that police officials colluded to secu

The Punjab Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed five resolutions asserting the state’s rights over river waters following a debate in the House. Two additional resolutions were also passed, one moved by Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains seeking the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor and another moved by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to continue public welfare schemes. The five resolutions related to river waters were presented by Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal. The first resolution asserted Punjab’s historical and legal rights over the waters of the Y

Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) attached to the Punjab Chief Minister’s camp office, appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its zonal office in Chandigarh on Monday in connection with an alleged corruption case. Ghuman arrived at the office at around 2:30 p.m. and came out at approximately 7:30 p.m. after questioning. His legal representatives remained present outside the office during the proceedings. The CBI has summoned him again for questioning on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters after the questioning, Ghuman said the CBI had asked him around 40 to

The Congress will hold a massive ‘Hisaab Mango’ (Demand Accountability) rally in Sangrur on November 4, with party leader Rahul Gandhi expected to attend, ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. The rally will mark the launch of the party’s campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Party leaders K.C. Venugopal and Sachin Pilot shared the information on Monday. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said he would hold meetings with senior Punjab Congress leaders, district presidents and other party leaders to discuss preparations for the Assem

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Punjab soon ahead of the state Assembly elections. To review preparations and finalize the itinerary for his proposed visit, Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal will arrive in Chandigarh on October 26. During his one-day visit, Venugopal will hold high-level meetings with senior Punjab Congress leaders and party office-bearers. The meetings will focus on finalizing the overall schedule and programmes for Rahul Gandhi’s visit. According to information, Venugopal will also meet representatives of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committ

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has hinted at the possibility of an alliance between the Akali Dal and the BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Badal said the Akali Dal is a regional party and that Punjab remains its top priority. He added that the party would continue fighting for the rights of Punjabis, regardless of whether it forms the government. He identified the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the two biggest political opponents of the Akali Dal. Badal said the party has kept its alliance options open for any party that agrees with its ideol

Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, did not appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Chandigarh for questioning in an alleged corruption case. This is the third time the CBI has summoned Ghuman for questioning. During two previous sessions, the agency reportedly asked him a total of 90 questions. Meanwhile, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia targeted the Punjab government over allegations of corruption. He called for investigations into various matters, including alleged bribery in the transfer

At least 64 people have been killed in a devastating collision involving two high-speed trains in Spain. Rescue workers continued searching through the wreckage on Wednesday for more bodies. The incident marks the country’s second major deadly rail accident this year. Following the crash, injured passengers and survivors were evacuated from the trains. Hundreds of ambulances, helicopters and other emergency response vehicles were deployed at the scene. According to preliminary information, a private Iryo train had stopped near Toledo after a signalling fault, reportedly on the instructions o

Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that at least two Canadians were injured in a major train accident in Spain on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney expressed his condolences to the families who lost loved ones in the crash. He also said the Canadian government was ready to provide any assistance Spain might need during this difficult time. The accident occurred in Spain’s central Toledo province when a high-speed train struck another stationary train from behind. More than 60 people have reportedly died in the incident. Both trains were travelling in the same direction

U.S. President Donald Trump has congratulated Lorne Doerkson on the Conservative Party’s historic victory in British Columbia’s provincial election. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Congratulations to Lorne Doerkson on your big win. Conservatives are making strong gains in Canada.” During the election campaign, the BC NDP and David Eby had attempted to appeal to voters by portraying the BC Conservatives as being aligned with Trump-style politics. However, the Conservatives went on to win more than 60 of the 93 seats, marking their biggest electoral vi

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington and Ottawa are close to reaching a trade deal, while asserting that the United States holds all the cards in the negotiations. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said Canada was working very hard to secure an agreement with the U.S., adding that the final decision rests with Washington. Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, that Canada remained in regular contact with the United States and was ready to negotiate in good faith to reach a trade agreement that serves the intere

At least four Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli strikes and shooting incidents in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. According to Gaza health officials, two people were killed in an attack on a car in Gaza City. A Palestinian cyclist was killed in an attack in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, while a woman died in gunfire near the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by rearming and carrying out attacks. Hamas has rejected the allegations, accusing Israel of undermining the

At least 15 people, including 10 Nigerian soldiers, were killed in a landmine explosion and gunfire targeting a military convoy in Borno State, Nigeria. The victims also included five members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. Six soldiers were injured in the attack and were taken to hospital. According to reports, soldiers from a battalion in Gamboru were patrolling a road between Gamboru Ngala and neighbouring Cameroon on Saturday when a pickup truck struck a landmine suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram militants. Eight soldiers travelling in the vehicle were killed on the spot. The

Russian drone attacks in Ukraine early Friday killed around three people and injured several others. Two shopping centres were also targeted, while strikes on the energy grid disrupted electricity supplies to approximately 370,000 people in the country’s northwestern region. Two people were killed and 12 others injured in attacks on three districts of Kharkiv, according to local reports. In the Volyn region, near the Polish border, a drone strike on a food-processing factory killed one person and injured eight others. Authorities began restoration work on the damaged power infrastructure, an

Canadian Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson will visit China later this month, her office confirmed Thursday, as a deadline approaches for Chinese tariffs affecting Canada’s lobster and crab industries. China imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Canadian seafood in 2025 in retaliation for Canada’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. However, during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to China in January this year, the two countries reached an agreement under which Beijing temporarily suspended the additional tariffs until December 31, 2026. With the deadline a

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will depart on Saturday for a five-day visit to India and Uzbekistan, the U.S. State Department has announced. During his visit to India, Rubio will discuss energy cooperation and meet with government officials to exchange views on regional and global issues. According to the State Department, his itinerary includes Samarkand in Uzbekistan and Mumbai and Jamnagar in India. The visit comes as efforts to finalize a long-pending bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States have once again stalled. Officials from both countries indicated earlier