Canada Archives - Page 59 of 156

19 Jan

Laurentian University Faculty Go on Strike After Talks Collapse

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontariofaculty strike Canada, Laurentian University, LUFA strike, Sudbury Ontario, university labour dispute

Sudbury, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma): Faculty members, academic librarians and counsellors represented by the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) have gone on strike after mediated contract negotiations with the university reached an impasse. The strike came into effect at 12:01 am on Monday, following the breakdown of talks on Sunday afternoon, the union said. In a media release, LUFA president Fabrice Colin said faculty members had already made significant sacrifices to help the university survive its financial crisis and insolvency proceedings. “We made enormous sacrifices to keep Laurentian alive,” Colin said. “Throughout the insolvency process, we did our part to save…

19 Jan

Canada’s Top Court Hears Challenge to Quebec Ban on Random Police Traffic Stops

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaJoseph-Christopher Luamba, Quebec traffic stops, racial profiling, Supreme Court of Canada

Ottawa, January 19, 2026: The Supreme Court of Canada on Monday began hearing arguments in a landmark Quebec case that could have far-reaching implications for policing practices across the country, particularly the legality of random police traffic stops. The case centres on a challenge by the Quebec government to a lower court ruling that struck down provisions allowing police to conduct traffic stops without cause, finding that such powers contributed to racial profiling and violated constitutional rights. The matter originated from a legal challenge filed by Joseph-Christopher Luamba, a Montreal resident, who alleged that he was repeatedly stopped by police…

19 Jan

Mark Carney Calls Chinese EV Deal a ‘Chance’ for Ontario’s Auto Industry Amid Criticism

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, Ontario, TrendingMark Carney

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Mark Carney described the recent agreement with China on electric vehicles as a potential boost for Ontario and Canadian autoworkers, despite concerns from Premier Doug Ford and the Canadian Auto Workers union. Speaking at a news conference in Doha, Carney said Chinese companies have shown interest in producing “affordable” electric vehicles in Canada, signaling opportunities for local industry. “We’ve had direct conversations with Chinese companies expressing explicit interest in partnering with Canadian firms,” Carney said. “We’ll see what comes to pass. This is an opportunity for Ontario, for workers, and for Canada, done in a…

19 Jan

December Floods in B.C. Cause Nearly $900M in Insured Losses, IBC Calls for Faster Investment in Resilience

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Severe storms and flooding that swept across southern British Columbia and parts of Alberta in December have resulted in significant insured damages, with estimates approaching $900 million, according to data from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) cited by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). The Fraser Valley was particularly hard-hit, accounting for roughly $74 million of the losses, primarily affecting homes and businesses. Floodwaters breached borders into Abbotsford-area neighborhoods and farmland, inundating poultry barns and prompting emergency evacuations, reports said. IBC emphasized that these recurring flood events underline the urgent need for the province to…

18 Jan

Calgary Lifts Water Restrictions After Successful Testing of Repaired Main

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaBearspaw South Feeder Main, Calgary infrastructure, Calgary water restrictions, water main repair

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The City of Calgary has lifted all water-use restrictions with immediate effect after tests on a ruptured and recently repaired water main were completed successfully, city officials confirmed. Mayor Jeromy Farkas welcomed the development, calling it a positive day for Calgary, while cautioning that significant work still lies ahead. He noted that although the repaired section is now functioning properly, the entire feeder main will need to be replaced to prevent future disruptions. For more than two weeks, Calgary’s 1.6 million residents, along with those in surrounding municipalities, had been urged to conserve water. The measures included…

18 Jan

School Destroyed in Early-Morning Fire at Blueberry River First Nation in Northeastern B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaBlueberry River First Nation, British Columbia fire, First Nation school fire, Fort St. John RCMP

Blueberry River First Nation, British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A school located within the Blueberry River First Nation in northeastern British Columbia was completely destroyed in a fire that broke out early Saturday morning, authorities said. According to the Fort St. John RCMP, officers were dispatched to the community at around 6:30 a.m. after reports of a blaze. When police and fire crews arrived at the scene, the school building was already fully engulfed in flames. No injuries have been reported in the incident. In a news release, RCMP officials stated that there is currently no indication the fire was suspicious…

18 Jan

Kashechewan First Nation Evacuated After Water and Sewage System Failures Leave Only Hundreds Behind

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaKashechewan First Nation, northern Ontario evacuation, sewage contamination, water system failure

Kashechewan First Nation (Ontario): Only a few hundred residents remain in Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario after widespread failures in the community’s water supply and sewage systems forced a large-scale evacuation, raising serious public health concerns. Kashechewan First Nation Executive Director Tyson Wesley said that by Sunday, only around 400 people would remain in the fly-in community, which has a population of approximately 2,200 and is located on the western shore of James Bay. The community declared a state of emergency on January 4 after critical infrastructure damage led to sewage backing up into homes and contaminating the local…

18 Jan

Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2024 Murder of Brother of Lapu-Lapu Day Attack Accused

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaAlexander Lo killing, Dwight Kematch sentencing, Lapu-Lapu Day attack, Vancouver murder case

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced a Vancouver man to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole for 11 years, for the 2024 killing of Alexander Lo, the brother of Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who is accused in the Lapu-Lapu Day car-ramming attack that claimed 11 lives. Forty-one-year-old Dwight Kematch pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder. During sentencing proceedings on Friday, Kematch acknowledged the “ripple effect” his actions had on Alexander Lo’s family, including his brother, who is currently in a forensic hospital facing separate criminal proceedings. Crown prosecutor Mark Myhre told the court that…

18 Jan

Canada Sets March 31 Deadline for Gun Buyback Declarations as National Program Enters Next Phase

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaassault-style weapons, banned firearms, Canada gun buyback program, Public Safety Canada

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Canadian federal government has announced the next phase of its national gun buyback program, giving firearm owners roughly two months to declare their intent to participate in order to receive compensation for turning in prohibited weapons. Under the program, which was first announced in 2020, the government has banned approximately 2,500 makes and models of what it classifies as “assault-style” firearms, arguing these weapons are designed for combat rather than hunting or sport shooting. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said participation in the compensation scheme is optional, but compliance…

18 Jan

Dense Fog Prompts Safety Advisory Across Parts of Metro Vancouver

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingVancouver

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Motorists in southwestern Metro Vancouver have been urged to exercise caution as thick fog continues to blanket parts of the region, significantly reducing visibility on roads and bridges. Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a fog advisory on Saturday afternoon, warning that conditions could deteriorate to near-zero visibility in areas including Richmond, Delta and Tsawwassen. The advisory is expected to remain in effect through Sunday afternoon. According to the weather agency, visibility may drop suddenly in some locations, creating hazardous driving conditions. Drivers have been advised to switch on their headlights, reduce speed and leave extra space…