British Columbia

RCMP officers' group says Mounties shouldn't be 'scapegoats' in police shortage

VANCOUVER - The voice for almost 20,000 RCMP says its members should not be used as "political pawns" in the dispute between the British Columbia government and the City of Surrey over its policing si...

Jul 18, 2023

Lack of compensation for Doukhobor religious group disappointing: B.C. ombudsperson

VICTORIA - British Columbia's ombudsperson says he's "deeply disappointed" the government won't commit to compensating members of an exiled Russian religious group who were forcibly removed from their...

Jul 18, 2023

British Columbia's record-breaking wildfire season, by the numbers

British Columbia's wildfire season is now the most destructive on record, with about 14,000 square kilometres of the province burned, surpassing the previous high of 13,543 square kilometres set in 20...

Jul 18, 2023

Boy who died from asthma amid wildfire smoke is 'face of climate crisis,' doctor says

VANCOUVER - The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment says a nine-year-old B.C. boy who died from asthma exacerbated by wildfire smoke is the face of the climate crisis in Canada. The...

Jul 18, 2023

B.C. expected to surpass record 2018 wildfire season for most area burned

VANCOUVER - British Columbia is encroaching on its worst wildfire season on record as more than 370 fires burn in the province. BC Wildfire Service figures show wildfires have consumed more than 12,90...

Jul 18, 2023

Municipal police chief casts doubt on effectiveness of B.C. drug decriminalization

DELTA, B.C. - The chief of a municipal police force in Metro Vancouver has issued an open letter criticizing British Columbia's drug decriminalization policies as ineffective in the face of the ongoin...

Jul 17, 2023

CP NewsAlert: BC Coroner issues safety alert over wildfire smoke after child's death

VICTORIA - British Columbia's coroner has issued a public safety bulletin about wildfire smoke as it confirmed a nine-year-old boy died from a medical condition aggravated by the smoke. The service sa...

Jul 17, 2023

'The heart of us': colleagues and family honour fallen B.C. firefighter Devyn Gale

The British Columbia Wildfire Service is paying tribute to the 19-year-old firefighter who died after being struck by a falling tree last week, calling her "the heart of us."The service is also sharin...

Jul 17, 2023

Minister says he'll announce decision Wednesday on future of policing in Surrey, B.C.

CHILLIWACK, B.C. - British Columbia Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says he'll announce Wednesday whether Surrey will be allowed to revert to policing by the RCMP or be forced to continue the tr...

Jul 17, 2023

B.C. promises $3M to expand program that partners cops with health-care providers

CHILLIWACK, B.C. - British Columbia is spending $3 million to expand a program that partners health-care workers with police to respond to mental-health-related calls. Public Safety Minister Mike Farn...

Jul 17, 2023