"Some resilience" — those were the two words Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem used last week to describe how the Canadian economy is holding up under the weight of U.S. tariffs.
Just a few days later, U.S. President Donald Trump added 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods to a running tally that includes hefty duties on steel, aluminum, automobiles and, more recently, semi-finished copper.
With tariffs piling up over the past few months, economists say Canada's economy is starting to show cracks — but few signs of collapse.
TD Bank economist Marc Ercolao conceded it's a "bit of surprise" to see the economy holding up against a massive disruption from
big fat 'fake' Indian weddingGen Z's
What comes to mind when you think of a big fat Indian wedding?
Dazzling lights, glittering outfits, Bollywood hits, a lavish spread of food and an atmosphere soaked in celebration. Everything feels extravagant, emotional and larger than life.
Now imagine all of that without the bride and groom. No pheras (a Hindu marriage ritual where the couple takes seven rounds around a sacred fire), no relatives, no tearful farewells. Just the party. Welcome to the world of fake weddings - a rising trend in Indian cities where people gather to enjoy the wedding party, minus the actual marriage.
These ticketed events, organised by hotels, clubs and companies, are designed purely for fun and promise to offer the full experience of a wedding party without any stress, rituals or responsibilities. Simply put, it's a wedding-themed party night.
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Canada's largest trading partner.
"Many months ago, ourselves — as well as other economic forecasters — had an outlook for a much weaker Canadian economy. Obviously, that isn't manifesting now," he said in an interview.
"We are avoiding the worst-case scenario." What are tariffs doing to the economy?
On Thursday, Statistics Canada gave a glimpse at how the economy wrapped up the second quarter of the year when many of those tariffs came into full effect.
While the agency sees a couple of small contractions in real gross domestic product by industry in April and May, its flash estimates show the economy rebounding somewhat in June. Continued on Page 6...
People fleeing BC in huge numbers for Alberta and Ontario
British Columbia is losing residents to Alberta and other provinces due in large part to housing unaffordability, says the Business Council of B.C.
Nearly 70,000 West Coast residents left the province for other parts of Canada over the past year, according to a July 28 analysis by the business advocacy group.
Outflows have resulted in net interprovincial migration turning sharply negative, said the BCBC analysis.
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debt grows 50 per cent in two years to $134b despite lower-than-expected
British Columbia is weighed down by rapidly growing debt despite a lower-than-forecasted deficit for 2024, something that Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said the government is working hard to address.
But Bailey said the province needs to grow its revenue in addition to finding efficiencies in spending, a challenge in the economic uncertainty driven largely by tariffs imposed by the United States.
With that backdrop, Bailey said current debt levels are necessary in the shorter-term to fund infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and transportation networks while the province
works toward a longer-term solution.
“Yes, we are experiencing increased debt,” Bailey said Thursday during the release of B.C.’s public accounts for 2024-2025.
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Trump orders India tariff hike to 50% for buying Russian oil
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order hitting India with an additional 25% tariff over its purchases of Russian oil.
That will raise the total tariff on Indian imports to the United States to 50% - among the highest rates imposed by the US.
The new rate will come into effect in 21 days, so on 27 August, according to the executive order.
A response from India's foreign ministry on Wednesday said Delhi had already made clear its stance on imports from Russia, and reiterated that the tariff is "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".
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Poilievre tells BC Premier Eby that ‘one man can’t block’ pipeline proposal
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Canadians, including British Columbians, want a new oil pipeline and Premier David Eby can’t be allowed as one man to block the project.
Poilievre says the country can’t wait for complete agreement on the idea, calling it a “basic fact” that a new pipeline is needed.
Eby has repeatedly said there’s no point discussing or supporting a pipeline that is being pushed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and others, until there is a proponent for such a project.
Poilievre, speaking in Calgary, says that’s a “chicken and egg problem,” because the reason there’s no proponent is there has been inadequate government support.
Eby could not immediately be reached for comment, but deputy premier Niki Sharma says in a statement that there is still no prospective buyer for the existing TMX pipeline, which is owned by Canadian taxpayers.
She says provinces across Canada have shovelready projects with proponents and funding already in place, “real projects that we can all support.”
“In B.C., we have major projects that will grow our
economy, support trade between provinces and help protect workers and businesses from the harmful tariffs imposed by the Trump administration,” Sharma said in the statement Thursday.
Poilievre said he had nothing against Eby but “one man can’t block a project.”
“British Columbians want a pipeline, Albertans want a pipeline, Canadians want a pipeline. We can’t wait till everybody’s onside,” he said.
“There are some people out there who don’t think Elvis is dead. We can’t get everybody to agree on any basic fact, even the basic fact that we need a pipeline. So, you’re going to need national leadership,” he said.
Poilievre was speaking at a news conference to announce that the Opposition Conservatives will introduce a bill in Parliament called the Canadian Sovereignty Act, which would repeal “Liberal growth-blocking laws.”
Poilievre, who lost his Ottawa riding in the general election, is seeking to return to Parliament via a byelection in the rural Alberta seat of Battle River-Crowfoot. Advance polls in the Aug. 18 byelection open on Friday.
The days of British Columbians flocking to the United States for summer vacation appear to have ended, for now.
New data from the Border Policy Research Institute in Bellingham, Wash., shows in July there was a 29-per-cent drop in Canadian vehicles entering the U.S. at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings, year-over-year.
Last month, data showed there were around 5,000 fewer Canadian vehicles compared to July 2024, and the institute estimates two to three people per car.
Numbers like these have rarely been seen over the last 30 years, except during the pandemic and other border-closing events.
“We saw drops after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but again that was because people weren’t able to cross,” said Trautman.
According to International Trade Administration foreign travel is down across the United States. The World Travel and Tourism Council projects the country is on pace to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending this year. The small American-Canadian border town of Birch Bay appears have avoided the effects of the travel boycott.
Crews fighting an out-of-control wildfire on Vancouver Island are building helipads to improve access to the flames burning on challenging, rocky terrain.
An operational updated posted by the BC Wildfire Service said firefighters are working to prevent further westward growth of the fire below the bluffs on Cameron Lake.
The update said higher upslope, the western edge of the fire is burning in an area with limited ground access, so the helipads will improve access for a direct attack.
Crews and equipment from 22 fire departments across Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan are working on the fire, which measures about 5.7 square kilometres.
Residents of more than 100 properties forced to leave their homes last week were allowed to return on Wednesday, though an evacuation order issued by the Regional District of Nanaimo remains in effect for others.
Douglas Holmes, director of the regional district’s emergency operations centre, told a news
“We’re seeing a lot more of what I call ‘U.S regional business,’” said Sacha Sanguinetti, the event co-ordinator for the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce.
The C Shop has been in business in Birch Bay since 1971 and has been a staple for tourists to visit and pick up a sweet homemade treat.
Over those years, Keith Alesse and his family have watched waves of changes, including the pandemic, but have always adapted to stay afloat.
This year, they have watched the number of B.C. licence plates in their parking lot vanish.
Business remains steady despite the lack of Canucks stopping by. Alesse says revenue has only dropped around 2 per cent year-over-year.
Alesse understands the cross-border tension and is hoping for a resolution between the two countries quickly. He’s also hopeful Canadians will return when that day comes.
conference Thursday that about 30 people came back to check on their properties on the first day the order was lifted, but he doesn’t believe anyone stayed the night.
Holmes said about 300 addresses remain under evacuation order and 353 are on alert.
“We are extremely eager and very focused on getting everyone home. It’s too early to provide a time estimate on rescinding further orders, but please know we have dozens of people working on that task,” he said.
In the Fraser Canyon, where a fire burning near Lytton is now considered held, the Skuppah Indian Band rescinded its evacuation for properties that had been threatened by the blaze.
The Cariboo Regional District rescinded an evacuation alert related to the Mount Davidson fire, saying the threat to life and safety has passed.
Environment Canada forecasts for Sunday predict daytime highs of 26 C in Vancouver, 32 C in Kelowna, 33 C in Nelson and 36 C in Lytton.
About two dozen wildfires are classified as burning out of control.
Vancouver home sales tick 2% lower in July
Vancouver-area home sales were down two per cent in July compared with last year, as the city’s real estate board says it continues to believe the market is showing early signs of recovery.
Greater Vancouver Realtors said residential sales in the region totalled 2,286 last month, down from the 2,333 sales recorded in July 2024 and 13.9 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average.
trade negotiations with the U.S.A.,” Lis said in a news release.
Year-over-year sales were down around 10 per cent in June, roughly half of the decline recorded in May.
The composite benchmark price in July was $1,165,300, down 2.7 per cent from a year earlier and 0.7 per cent lower than June.
The agency’s director of economics and data analytics, Andrew Lis, said the figures confirm that the market has turned a corner after months of slow activity spurred by the Canada-U. S. trade war. “Although the Bank of Canada held the policy rate steady in July, this decision could help bolster sales activity by providing more certainty surrounding borrowing costs at a time where economic uncertainty lingers due to ongoing
There were 5,642 newly listed properties on the market in July, a 0.8 per cent increase from last year and 12.4 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average.
Total active listings rose 19.8 per cent year-over-year to 17,168, which was 40.2 per cent above usual levels for the month. “Although sales activity is now recovering, this healthy level of inventory is sufficient to keep home prices trending sideways over the short term as supply and demand remain relatively balanced,” said Lis.
“However, if the recovery in sales activity accelerates, these favourable conditions for homebuyers may begin slowly slipping away, as inventory levels decline, and home sellers gain more bargaining power.”
Sales in the detached homes category were down 4.1 per cent year-over-year to 660 last month, while 2.9 per cent fewer apartments changed hands at 1,158.
There were 459 attached home sales, a five per cent increase compared with July 2024.
Shots fired again at Kapil Sharma's Surrey cafe in second attack in less than a month
In less than a month, Bollywood actorcomedian, Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Surrey, British Columbia, was attacked for the second time on Thursday with shots being fired at it in the wee hours of the morning.
According to local residents the cafe, KAP’s Cafe, on the intersection of 85 Avenue and Scott Road, was attacked around 4:30 am. While details from the police are still awaited, no one was reportedly hurt in the incident. The details of the damage to the establishment are also awaited.
On social media gangster, Goldy Dhillon, who claims affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, took responsibility for the attack. An unverified post on the social media read, "Jai Shree Ram. Sat Shree Akaal, Ram Ram to all brothers. The firing that happened today at Kapil Sharma's Kaps Cafe in Surrey has been claimed by Goldy Dhillon, affiliated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. We called him but he did not answer the there.
On July 10, a similar attack had taken place around 1:50 a.m. Multiple gunshots were fired at Kap’s Café, with at least nine to twelve bullet holes visible in the café’s windows. While investigations are still on in the case, Harjit Singh Laddi, a Germany-based operative of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and a wanted terrorist on India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) list, had then claimed responsibility for the incident. The local police have still not validated this claim.
Kap’s Café had then issued a heartfelt statement on Instagram, expressing shock and heartbreak but emphasising resilience: “We opened Kap’s Café with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock, but we are not giving up.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney is considering replacing or rescinding the Online News Act.
Carney suggested that his government was considering the move while speaking in West Kelowna, B.C., about a loan and other supports for the softwood lumber industry. Per the National Post, Carney was asked about the Online News Act — also known as Bill C-18 — and Carney said that rescinding the legislation was “part of our thinking.”
The core concern is around the bill’s impact on local news, particularly as it limits the reach of news during critical times, such as the ongoing wildfire crisis.
Because of the Online News Act, Facebook owner Meta banned sharing news articles on its platform, which has reduced the reach of news organizations.
“This government is a big believer in the value
of … local news and the importance of ensuring that that is disseminated as widely and as quickly as possible. So, we will look for all avenues to do that,” Carney said. Meta wasn’t the only tech company impacted by the bill — it also hit Google, but the search giant took a totally different approach.
While the bill intended to correct an imbalance between tech giants and news publishers, the approach taken by the legislation hasn’t had the desired impact. Arguably, it also focused on the wrong problem and doesn’t address the monopoly that big tech companies like Google have on the online ad market. Hopefully any change that Carney’s government makes to the Online News Act will include another attempt to fix the problem — one that hopefully won’t hurt publications.
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China’s record purchases of Canadian crude could be a harbinger of more deals to come
By Eric Ham: China is now importing record amounts of Canadian oil after slashing U.S. oil purchases by roughly 90 per cent. As a result, imports of Canadian crude have surged, reaching a record 7.3 million barrels in March. This massive boon comes as Canadian negotiators are racing against the clock to make a trade deal with the White House.
The expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline has enabled China and other East Asian importers to access Canada’s vast crude reserves, which are relatively cheap and suitable for China’s advanced refineries that process dense, high-sulfur crude.
The shift reflects Beijing’s strategic move to diversify its oil sources away from the U.S., Russia, and the Middle East, with Canadian oil becoming an increasingly attractive option.
It’s a serendipitous endeavour, considering U.S. President Donald Trump’s unrelenting attacks on America’s northern neighbour, which are increasing as the deadline on a trade deal rapidly approaches.
Still, record purchases of Canadian crude by China could be a harbinger of more deals involving Beijing and Ottawa as Canadian leaders seek viable alternatives. A move that could see Canada exit America’s sphere of influence, as the relationship appears to be no longer mutually beneficial and grows more turbulent and confrontational with each passing day.
Instead of looking south, Ottawa is now looking (Far) East. During a recent summit in Bellevue, Washington, U.S. envoy to Canada Pete Hoekstra told the audience that Trump thinks the country is “nasty” to deal with. As a result of the rapid deterioration the brewing cold war between oncegreat friends and allies now has Beijing exploring a possible opening. As the uncertainty of difficult trade demands and erratic import duties stifle global markets, Ottawa and Beijing are looking increasingly more enchanting to each other, given the increasing volatility emanating from Washington.
China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner, trailing behind the United States. Canada exports $47 billion worth of goods to the world’s second-largest economy in 2024, according to Chinese customs data. After years of fraught relations and simmering tensions, the two nations agreed on a diplomatic reset after a phone call between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Li Qiang back in June.
Canada facing 35% tariffs
As the second half of summer kicks off and the Aug. 1 deadline set by United States President Donald Trump has passed, Canada doesn’t seem any further ahead on making a trade deal with the U.S.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has long said that any deal must benefit Canada; the fact that no deal has emerged suggests the government has yet to see something that meets this condition.
In July, Ipsos asked Canadians whether they thought Trump was bluffing, and 36 per cent of Canadians said they believed he was. Trump, it turns out, wasn’t bluffing. The president’s announcement of a 35 per cent tariff on nonCUSMA-compliant goods came into force as of Aug. 1.
How long these punitive tariffs — layered on top of additional aluminum, auto and forestry tariffs — will last remains to be seen. What is clear now is that we are in uncharted waters leading up to the fall, when Parliament returns, with “national security” a catch-all for more U.S. tariffs.
Canada’s negotiating position seemed to be complicated by Carney’s announcement that Canada would recognize a Palestinian state in September, subject to some conditions — at least according to a Truth Social post from the president.
Trump immediately linked that decision with the declining chance of a trade deal, further underlining that every action Canada takes could be tied to decisions about tariffs. Ipsos has tracked Canadians’ views on the relationship with the U.S. since February, and our latest Trump, Tariff and Turmoil results show that trust has been broken for some time.
In February, 57 per cent of Canadians agreed
“we can never trust the Americans the same way again.”
In July, that number stood at 59 per cent, and that was before the president unleashed tariffs on Canada.
Some in the Trump administration seem to have been confused by Canada’s reaction. U.S. ambassador Pete Hoekstra has said that he still doesn’t fully understand how personal and aggressive some Canadians have become on this issue.
In addition to feeling like trust has been broken with the U.S., Canadians feel the relationship is rapidly deteriorating.
In July, wo-in-three Canadians (63 per cent) felt the relationship between Canada and the U.S. had gotten worse over the period prior to the poll, and again, this was before the latest developments. Close to half (48 per cent) say they’ve bought fewer products made in the United States, or stopped buying American products altogether, led by baby boomers (65 per cent). In June, we found that boomers continue to be the generation who are most likely to boycott travelling to the U.S. (42 per cent).
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If those early readings pan out, StatCan said that would be good enough for flat growth overall on the quarter.
Some of those results are distorted by volatility — businesses rushing to get ahead of tariffs boosted activity in the first quarter, and that's giving way to weakness in the second quarter, for example.
It's still hard to pinpoint exact impacts tied to tariffs, Ercolao said, but a broad trend is emerging.
"What we can say over the last six months or so is that economic activity is somewhat flatlining," he said.
Services sectors are holding up relatively well, but Ercolao said export-heavy industries such as manufacturing and transportation are bearing the brunt of the impact.
In an attempt to shore up some of that weakness, the federal government has announced various programs to support tariff-affected workers and broader plans to accelerate defence and infrastructure spending. Macklem noted during his press conference Wednesday that business and consumer confidence are still low, but have
improved according to the central bank's recent surveys.
And while some trade-exposed sectors have faced job losses and the unemployment has generally trended upward to nearly seven per cent, employers elsewhere in the economy continue to expand their payrolls.
"Consumption is still growing," Macklem said. "It's growing modestly. It's certainly being restrained by the uncertainty caused by tariffs. But it is growing and we expect that to continue through the third and fourth quarters."
Will Canada hit a recession?
Last week the Bank of Canada kept its policy interest rate unchanged at 2.75 per cent in a third consecutive decision.
If the central bank were panicked about the Canadian economy's ability to withstand U.S. tariffs, Ercolao argued it would likely have lowered that rate.
The past week's GDP readings were good enough for BMO to raise its outlook for the third quarter into positive territory. Forecasters at the bank now expect Canada will avoid a technical recession this year.
BC debt grows 50 per cent in two years to $134b despite lower-than-expected deficit
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“And that reflects the fact that our government remains committed to ensuring that we support British Columbians, and we’re going to continue to do that.”
B.C.’s final deficit for the fiscal year came in at $7.3 billion, $564 million lower than the number projected in Budget 2024 and about $1.8 billion lower than the most recent third-quarter forecast.
But provincial debt climbed to almost $134 billion, spiking 50 per cent in just two years.
It includes a $23.7 billion boost in taxpayersupported debt from the previous year, bringing the figure to $99.1 billion — an increase of more than 31 per cent.
The Finance Ministry attributed the debt spike to the province having “supported people through climate emergencies and high costs,” and Bailey said the province was working on an efficiency review to find spending cuts.
But she said B.C. cannot rely on cuts and must increase revenue despite the current economic headwinds.
“There is no question that that challenge is more complex in the current trade environment,” she said. “But British Columbia has everything we need to be successful.
“We have incredible natural resources. We have amazing skilled workers and we have incredibly determined entrepreneurs. And our task as government is to set those groups up for success. That is the work we’re doing now.”
The B.C. Conservatives’ finance critic Peter Milobar said in a statement that the rising debt levels aren’t being reflected in the level of support for the public, saying the government was “racking up record levels of debt while delivering the worst public services in a generation.”
“This year alone, the NDP added $15.78 billion in new operating debt — and what do British Columbians have to show for it?" Milobar said. “ERs are still closing, schools are crumbling, and ferries can’t run on time.”
“David Eby isn’t just borrowing more — he’s making life more expensive for future generations while failing to fix anything today,” he said of B.C.’s premier.
University of British Columbia Sauder School of Business associate professor Thomas Davidoff said the public accounts match what’s typically seen in an economic downturn where there’s “more need and less revenue.” But that didn’t mean cost savings can’t be found if the province is willing to change tack on certain policies.
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is reporting what’s being called a “significant seizure” of cocaine at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward.
On July 23, CBSA said a commercial truck arriving from the United States was referred for a secondary examination and during an inspection of the trailer, border services officers found seven bags full of bricks of suspected cocaine.
According to CBSA, the total weight of the suspected narcotics was 197 kg, with an estimated street value of $24.6 million.
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Over the past few weeks, fake weddings have been making a splash in big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The attendees are usually young people looking to enjoy a night out with friends, indulging in the drama and fun of a traditional Indian wedding without the attendant pressures.
Last week, we attended one such curated event in Delhi - a fake sangeet (a sangeet is a night of music and dance usually held a few days before the wedding).
At the event, held at a plush club, the vibe was electric: women twirled in sequinned saris and lehengas (long skirts and blouses), men showed up in tailored kurtas and ethnic jackets. A traditional dhol drummer led the crowd to the dance floor and tequila-filled gol gappas (a popular Indian street snack) made the rounds.
Shivangi Sareen, who attended an event like this for the first time, found it "amazing".
A man wearing black glasses and a black shimmery kurta stands with a woman who has her hair open and is wearing a black Indian suit.
"At family weddings, there's so much pressurethe rules around dressing up, the judgement [from relatives]. But here, it's just fun," she said. "Especially because we got to do it all with our friends. We decided our outfits the day before and got ready
Ticket prices typically start at around 1,500 rupees ($17; £13) and can go up to 15,000 rupees or more, depending on the venue and facilities. Shivangi and her friends paid 10,000 rupees per couple to attend.
"I wouldn't mind spending this once a month. The whole experience was totally worth it."
Sharad Madan, owner of a restaurant which hosted the event, says the trend underscores that novelty is key in the hospitality sector.
"We have to keep doing something new for our patrons," he said.
It cost them around a million rupees to plan and organise the event, Mr Madan says, and the team expected to make double that through ticket sales.
But it's not just about profits, he says.
"It's about engagement. Even if it doesn't give me the same kind of returns, I would still do it because our patrons want something different."
Kaushal Chanani, co-founder of 8Club events which hosted a fake wedding party attended by 2,000 people in Bengaluru last month, says that the inspiration for fake weddings came from young Indians living abroad.
"People from the diaspora would gather and dance to Bollywood music, dress in ethnic [traditional] clothes and enjoy the evening," he said. "This is the idea we followed as well."
A 29 year old from Caledon, Ont. was arrested and transferred to the custody of the RCMP. The suspect has been charged by the RCMP with importation of cocaine, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
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South Asian woman lost $600K to ‘fraudulent scheme’ involving non-existent Dubai development
A woman who gave a couple “much of her life savings” to invest in a development in Dubai that never existed has been awarded nearly $1 million in damages in a civil suit, according to a recent judgment.
Manjeet Kaur Sandhu sued Meera and Kuldeep Virk, alleging the couple engaged in a “fraudulent scheme” to bilk her out of $600,000 with the promise of a 10 per cent annual return on her investment in the non-existent development, according to the judgment.
“Ms. Sandhu has clearly been significantly traumatized by the extent of the Virks’ deception of her,” the judge wrote.
“I am certain that Ms. Sandhu feels humiliated that she allowed the Virks to deceive her and effectively steal $600,000 of her money. The Virks, particularly (Meera) Virk, relying on claims of being a religiously and spiritually upstanding person, abused Ms. Sandhu’s trust.”
The lawsuit also named a number of other defendants alleged to have been involved in the
scheme who settled with Sandhu before the case went to trial.
The trial went ahead without the Virks’ participation after the judge determined they had been given ample opportunity to attend court to defend themselves but had “simply checked out of this proceeding.” Sandhu told the court she met the couple through her brother-in-law, who was a friend of Meera’s. The first payment Sandhu made was in February of 2016.
“Ms. Sandhu spoke to (Meera) Virk by telephone and was convinced by her claims of devotion to her Sikh faith, to invest $200,000 in a soon-to-be-completed construction project in Dubai,” the decision said, adding that Sandhu was told her investment would be “secured by a second mortgage against a property.”
A week later, Meera contacted Sanhu saying the development project was close to being finished, but more money was needed. A second bank draft for $200,000 was purchased and handed over, according to the decision.
Police investigating after man assaulted near Hinge Park
Police in Vancouver are seeking witnesses to a serious assault that occurred in Olympic Village two months ago. Officers and paramedics were called to the area of Hinge Park just after 4:20 p.m. on June 7 after a man reported being struck over the head, a statement from the Vancouver Police Department said Thursday.
The man was found along a walking and cycling path near the fenced dog area of the park and was rushed to hospital with significant injuries to his head and face.
Police believe there was “some form of interaction” between the man and the suspect before the assault, the statement said.
“Unfortunately, the victim’s condition is slow to improve, and his injuries will likely be life-altering,” said Const. Jason Doucette in the statement.
“Although the victim was found alone after the assault, we believe there were park users nearby who may have seen or heard something but didn’t realize the seriousness of the incident at the time. We are asking those people to come forward.”
Police have released photos of the victim’s backpack and bicycle. Anyone who recognizes them, or has any other information regarding the incident, is asked to contact investigators in VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541.
Family ‘heartbroken’ after BC mother and baby killed by falling tree
The family of a young mother and her fivemonth-old son killed by a falling tree at a Vancouver Island campground a week ago say they are “heartbroken” by the tragedy.
In a statement provided through the Comox Valley RCMP, the family thanks emergency responders and others on the beach at Cumberland Lake Park Campground who tried to save the pair on July 31. The statement identifies the victims as Lynae and Elias, without providing their last names.
A photo of the mother and child has also been released by the family and was provided by police. The statement says a community gathering to remember Lynae and Elias is scheduled for Sunday at Comox Marina Park, and the family is thanking the public for their support. Police said last week that the 26-year-old mother died at the scene while the baby was taken to hospital but did not survive. RCMP say no criminality is suspected in the deaths.
34-year-old inmate dies in BC prison
A 34-year-old inmate who was eight months into a three-year sentence in a federal prison in B.C.’s Fraser Valley has died, the Correctional Service of Canada announced Wednesday.
Michael Wallwork was an inmate at Matsqui Institution, a medium-security prison. He died on Aug. 2, exactly eight months into a sentence of three
years, one month and nine days that began on Dec. 2, 2024. The CSC did not specify Wallwork’s cause of death, nor the crime or crimes for which he was serving his sentence. “The inmate’s next of kin have been notified,” the service said, adding that it would be reviewing the circumstances of his death, as it does whenever someone dies in custody.
Windsor man found guilty of terrorism
A Windsor man has been found guilty of terrorism. Seth Bertrand, 22, was charged with a single count of participating in a terrorist group for applying to the National Socialist Order (NSO) and Atomwaffen Division (AWD).
In February 2021, he applied online to a recruiter - using his school-issued tablet - offering his military and mechanic skills and admitting to holding offensive views about white supremacy.
“It’s not necessary that the activity actually be carried out, or that he knew the specific activity that will ultimately be carried out,” federal prosecutor Xenia Proestos said Thursday. There is no evidence Bertrand carried out any activities on behalf of AWD or NSO. Justice Maria
Carroccia broke her 45-minute judgment into four parts; had the prosecutor proved AWD is the same as NSO, did Bertrand know they were a terrorist group, did he offer to participate in their activities, and did he offer to participate in an effort to enhance their activities. On all four, Carroccia found yes, all had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The accused espoused the ideology that was antisemitic, anti-Black, and anti-LGBTQ,” the judge said. “He indicates in the application that he filed to join AWD/NSO that he wants to be a part of a group that is doing things.”
Defence lawyer Bobby Russon said his client’s reaction is “flat.”
Mexico’s
President Sheinbaum says ‘no need’ for bilateral trade deal with Canada
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday ruled out a bilateral trade agreement with Canada when asked about the possibility, following what she called a “very good” meeting with top Canadian government ministers a day earlier.
“We have the trade deal with the United States, Canada and Mexico… There is no need,” Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference where she said she discussed expanding direct trade with Canada
Sheinbaum also confirmed Prime Minister Mark Carney will “soon” travel to Mexico for direct talks, but no date has been set for that visit. Tuesday’s meeting was “a preparatory meeting for Prime Minister Carney’s visit, and it was a very good meeting,” she told reporters.
She said an expansion of direct trade with Canada was among the topics discussed, but clarified that did not mean a separate trade deal from the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade, also known as CUSMA.
“I mean, there’s the framework to strengthen the Mexico-Canada relationship, as we’re doing with other countries as well,” she said.
Finance Minister FrançoisPhilippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand were in Mexico to strengthen the countries’ relationship, days after the United States hit Canada with higher tariffs. Champagne said during a virtual press conference from Mexico City on Tuesday evening that it was a “very successful trip” and that the mission was to “get to know each other a bit better.”
Ford warns on pending CUSMA renegotiation with Trump following meeting with Carney
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is warning that he believes U.S. President Donald Trump will be coming at Canada with “double barrels” when it comes time to renegotiate the existing free trade deal between the countries, known as the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
“Fasten your seatbelts. CUSMA or USMCA – whatever you want to call it – he (Trump) is coming at us hard. He is going to come at us with everything he has and we have to make sure that that we’re ready,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park Wednesday.
He added that while the deal is not set to be renegotiated until next year, Trump could “pull the carpet out from underneath us” at any time and said in his opinion, the U.S. president could move to reopen the deal as early as November.
“This isn’t gonna be a church picnic,” Ford said, referring to the pending renegotiation of the massive trade deal.
He made the comments following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and the other premiers about Canada’s latest response in the trade war. Ford said he has no knowledge about any call that is scheduled to take place between
Carney and Trump but he expects that the two leaders will chat in the coming days.
He said Canada needs to onshore as much of its production as possible in order to help mitigate against the impact of the trade war. He suggested lowering taxes and interest rates in order to stimulate the economy and using more domestic steel and other local materials.
“I’m praying that everything’s going to go fine, but if it doesn’t, I gotta ask the people, do you trust President Trump? I don’t. Do you?” Ford said.
Ford expressed confidence earlier Wednesday in Canada’s ability to fight tariffs, but offered few details from his conversations with key decisionmakers to shed light on Canada’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest salvo in the trade war.
While speaking with reporters at an unrelated transit announcement, he said he’s spoken with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick since the U.S. imposed 35 per cent tariffs Friday on Canadian goods not covered under an existing free trade pact.
People fleeing BC in huge numbers for Alberta and Ontario
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Net interprovincial migration figures exclude international migration that’s otherwise boosting the overall population size.
B.C. has seen net interprovincial migration of around -5,000 to -9,000 people per year since around 2023. BCBC said this is unusual because the province has not seen negative net interprovincial migration of this magnitude in 25 years. BCBC director of policy Jairo Yunis said housing and affordability were among the top issues raised by respondents of the organization’s recent “Stay With B.C.” campaign.
BCBC launched the campaign—a response to the Alberta government’s “Alberta is Calling” campaign—last December and heard from over 3,000 British Columbians, many of whom cited housing as a top concern.
“Even during Christmas Day, people were reaching out and sending us emails,” said Yunis, who co-authored the analysis. “We heard over
and over that people absolutely love this province but that they are struggling to see a future here.”
In a campaign update released Tuesday, BCBC said ultra-low interest rates, easy credit and high immigration overstimulated demand in recent years. Meanwhile, high construction costs, restrictive zoning and permitting delays drove up the cost of homebuilding. The result was heightened unaffordability, which may be causing some B.C. residents to pack their bags, including young families. Seventy-seven per cent of those leaving B.C. for other provinces since 1971 have been under the age of 40, according to the analysis. Yunis said affordability is not just about home prices, but also about whether incomes can keep up.
“Over the last two years we’ve been—in Canada and in B.C.—in a GDP-per-capita recession. That means the economy isn’t generating the kind of income gains needed to keep up with rising living costs,” he said.
NAME CHANGE
I, son of Jagjeet Singh, holder of Indian Passport N3452451, issued at Chandigarh, on 28/09/2015, permanent resident of #27719 Street No 16 Lal Singh Basti, Bathinda Punjab Pin-151001 and presently residing at 8974 140a St, Surrey, BC Canada V3V 7Z6 hereby change my name from Atinderpal Singh to Atinderpal Singh Sidhu, with immediate effect.
Parliament to consider new law aimed to modernise credit union sector in Fiji
A new legislative framework aimed at revitalising Fiji’s credit union sector has been introduced in Parliament yesterday.
The tabling of the Credit Union Bill 2025 seeks to replace the outdated Credit Unions Act of 1954.
An explanatory note to the Bill states credit unions have operated in Fiji for over 50 years, but their growth has been slow, largely due to an outdated legal and regulatory framework that has not kept pace with global best practices.
The Credit Union Bill 2025 proposes a modern structure designed to promote public confidence and strengthen the safety and soundness of credit unions operating in the country.
The Bill has been developed with guidance from the World Council of Credit Unions’ Model Law
and technical assistance provided to the Reserve Bank of Fiji.
It also incorporates feedback from government agencies, the Fiji Savings and Credit Union League, and local credit union representatives.
“The goal is to strike a balance between robust oversight and avoiding unnecessary regulatory burdens,” states the note.
Under the proposed law, the Reserve Bank of Fiji will assume expanded responsibilities as the Registrar of credit unions. This includes authority over registration, licensing, supervision, and enforcement actions.
The Bill is in 14 parts and 172 clauses and is expected to usher in a new era of accountability and stability for credit unions.
Checkpoint breach leads to arrest, $40,000 and drugs recovered from two
Two individuals were arrested at a checkpoint in Wainadoi last week with a large amount of cash and drugs.
The Fiji Times sources confirm the money found in their possession amounted to about $40,000.
The two were travelling from Navua to Suva when they failed to stop at the checkpoint.
They were arrested after a chase and taken to the Navua Police station. We have sought comments from Fiji Police.
Aiyaz
lists $7m luxury apartment
A LUXURY apartment complex in the heart of Wailoaloa, Nadi owned by former attorneygeneral Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has been put on the market for more than $7million.
Located at Lot 13 Palm Drive
Terminated
Rd, the freehold property — known as El Palm Apartments — has eight two-bedroom apartments. Title records obtained by The Fiji Times in 2023 showed that the property was owned by Midlife Investments Pte Ltd, one of two companies which Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and his wife Ela were shareholders.
The property is listed on the websites of two Nadi real estate agencies, Bayleys Fiji and Professionals West Fiji. The Bayleys listed price is for $7.9m while the Professionals listed price is for $7.3m.
Bayleys says the property has a valid fiveyear hotel licence and is currently operating as a boutique Airbnb-style accommodation.
The listing describes it as an investor’s dream that’s just minutes drive from the beach and close to the Nadi International Airport.
police officers say in court that drugs were found in Jonacani Bainimarama’s taxi in April 2021
Sacked police officers Penieli Ratei, who is now an Inspector and Police Constable Tomasi Naulu claimed in court that they found a bag of marijuana in former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s late brother, Jonacani Bainimarama’s taxi in April 2021. Voreqe Bainimarama is charged with one count of unwarranted demand made by a public official while Qiliho is charged with two counts of abuse of office.
Bainimarama and Qiliho allegedly made unwarranted demands to the then Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, to terminate the employment of these police officers from the Fiji Police Force.
While taking the stand in court, Ratei testified that he first encountered Jonacani Bainimarama when he was transporting drugs in a taxi in Delainavesi, Lami.
During cross-examination, defence counsel Devanesh Sharma asked whether Jonacani was arrested and whether there was any evidence of his arrest.
Ratei told the court that Jonacani was handed over to the Narcotics Bureau while Naulu says he was unsure whether an arrest had taken place.
He said a month later, they stopped Jonacani again in Nabua for a search, but nothing was found.
Inspector Ratei says that Naulu took a photo of Jonacani on 21st May and shared it in the Southern Division Operations Viber group.
Ratei says he had instructed Naulu to caption the photo as “suspected drug transporter.”
He explained that it is common practice to photograph high-risk criminals and individuals being searched, as part of police profiling. Both officers mentioned they were unaware at the time that Jonacani Bainimarama was the then Prime Minister’s brother.
Assistant DPP Laisani Tabuakuro asked whether they were aware that Jonacani was a police informer. Both officers said they had no knowledge of this. Ratei and Naulu stated that they served both the dismissal and the punishment.
off Wailoaloa
SOUTH ASIA
Pakistan resumes forced expulsions of 1.4 million Afghan refugees despite UN concerns
uthorities in Pakistan have resumed the forced deportations of Afghan refugees after the federal government declined to extend a deadline for their stay, officials said on Monday.
The decision affects approximately 1.4 million Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, whose legal status expired at the end of June.
Many had hoped for a one-year extension to settle personal affairs, such as selling property or concluding business, before returning to Afghanistan. In addition to PoR card holders, around 800,000 Afghans hold Afghan Citizen Cards. Police say they also are living in the country illegally and being detained
Pak
prior to deportations in the eastern Punjab, southwestern Balochistan and southern Sindh province. Monday's decision drew criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN refugee agency. At least 1.2 million Afghan nationals have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, according to a June report published by UNHCR. Repatriations on such a massive scale have the potential to destabilise the fragile situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government came into power in 2021. A 31 July government notification confirmed Pakistan’s decision to repatriate all Afghan nationals holding expired PoR cards.
Army chief Munir expected to visit US again
Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir is expected to visit the US this week for consultations with top American officials, his second trip to Washington since the four-day conflict with India, a media report said on Thursday. In June, Munir travelled to the US on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump. That meeting culminated in Trump’s announcement of enhanced US-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal.
Field Marshal Munir is expected in the US this week for consultations with his American counterparts, Dawn newspaper reported, citing official sources.
Sources told the paper that this would be a return visit, following a trip to Pakistan by Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), in late July.
In a press statement issued on August 4, CENTCOM recalled Gen Kurilla’s recent visit to Pakistan and other countries in the region.
During the visit, Gen Kurilla was also conferred the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) by the Pakistani government. During his previous visit to Washington, Munir was hosted by President Trump in an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of state or government. There was no official word on the visit from Inter-Services Public Relations or Pakistan’s embassy in Washington, but during his previous visit, the army chief had hinted that he expected to return to the US again later in the year.
The development comes just over a month after the US general described Pakistan as a “phenomenal partner” in counterterrorism efforts during a congressional hearing, where he also praised Pakistan’s role “in promoting peace and stability” in the region. After his meeting with Trump in June, Munir had held a comprehensive and candid exchange with senior scholars, analysts, policy experts, and representatives of leading international media outlets in Washington.
DSGMC announces parallel events for 350th martyrdom day of Guru
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Thursday announced parallel events to mark the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Teg Bahadur in November, even as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is yet to respond to its appeal for joint programmes in Delhi.
DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Khalsa held a meeting with various Panthic and Nihang organisations at Akali Phula Singh Burj, seeking their cooperation, while pointing out that the centenary events should be held in Delhi where Guru Teg Bahadur was martyred.
He said the DSGMC would organise various religious programmes to mark the occasion from November 23 to 25 at the Red Fort.
Nevertheless, it appears to be a case of political one-upmanship than religiosity as the Punjab Government, SGPC and now the DSGMC have announced parallel programmes to mark the martyrdom of the Sikh Guru.
All three entities are governed by three political groups who are at odds with each other, vying to establish themselves as the “better” representative of the Sikh Panth. The Punjab Government has also announced to hold parallel programmes on same dates. Meanwhile, the DSGMC president, along with office-bearers, today formally extended invitation to the SGPC, different Nihang organisations and other religious organisations for a joint commemoration of the 350th martyrdom day.
High Court order on land pooling policy validates farmers’ concerns: Congress
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday said the High Court’s order related to the land pooling policy has validated farmers’ concerns.
The Congress leader said he hoped that better sense would prevail among those in power following the order.
government to withdraw this policy using all legal, legitimate and democratic means,” he added. Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa said the order was a “historic victory” for the people of Punjab.
“The 2013 (Land Acquisition) Act provides strong legal safeguards for landowners, including making it mandatory to get the consent of 70–80 per cent of landowners, fair compensation, social impact assessment, rehabilitation and resettlement,” he said. Congress MLA Pargat Singh said the court order was a resounding answer to the “wrong policies of the AAP government and CM Bhagwant Mann”.
“The state government must now realise that land grabbing under the guise of development will not be tolerated and that looting Punjab’s land worth crores at the expense of farmers will
Putin to visit India later this year
NSA Ajit Doval has said during his meetings in Moscow that dates for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India are being worked out, according to sources. No specific date or time has been indicated by the NSA in his engagements, they said on Thursday. “NSA Doval, during his visit to Moscow, has said that the dates for President Putin's visit to India are being worked out,” said a source.
The time of end-August being reported in some media is incorrect, the sources said. Doval held talks with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and other senior officials that focused on bilateral energy and defence cooperation as well as Putin’s visit to India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled to Russia twice last year for an annual summit with Putin and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan.
The Russian president is visiting India for the annual summit this year.
Doval’s visit to Russia comes amid some strain in ties between India and the US over New Delhi’s
continuing procurement of Russian crude oil, notwithstanding Western sanctions on Moscow.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The additional duties raised the overall tariff on India to 50 per cent.
Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.
People familiar with Doval’s visit to Moscow said bilateral energy and defence ties as well as Western sanctions on Russian crude oil figured in his talks with Russian officials.
Russia has emerged as India’s top energy supplier since the West slapped sanctions on its crude oil after the invasion of Ukraine.
The NSA was also expected to press Moscow to ensure early delivery of remaining two regiments of S-400 air defence systems to India.
Rahul says EC colluding with BJP to rig elections; poll panel seeks affidavit
In his sharpest attack ever on the Election Commission, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the poll body of colluding with the ruling BJP to steal elections and urged the judiciary to step in and save democracy. The EC asked him to make disclosures on oath and enable a probe.
Citing an internal Congress probe into the EC’s electoral rolls of the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka’s Bangalore Central parliamentary seat, Rahul claimed the presence of over one lakh fake voters as the factor that turned the results in favour of the saffron party in 2024. BJP’s PC Mohan had bagged this parliamentary seat. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition went on to broadly allege that this
“model of vote theft can be replicated across India, which is why the EC is not granting the Congress request to share machine-readable electoral rolls which would make the investigation into poll rigging easy”.
“This is a crime against the Constitution and the flag,” said Rahul while sharing details of a six-month Congress probe into the electoral rolls of Mahadevapura which, he said, revealed “duplicate voters, bulk single address voters, zero address voters and duplicate first-time electors”. The Congress MP claimed “bulletproof evidence of vote theft in Maharashtra and also Haryana where, he said, the Congress lost to the BJP by just eight seats and the vote gap between the parties was just 22,779 votes out of two crore voters in the state”.
Modi says he won’t trade off farmer interests, ready to pay personal price
A day after US President Donald Trump doubled the tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday said his government would never compromise on the interests of farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen, even if it meant bearing personal consequences.
“I am fully aware I may have to pay a very heavy price personally, but I am prepared. For us, the interests of farmers are paramount,” the PM said at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference here. The US wants tariffs on products such as corn, soybeans, apples,
almonds and ethanol brought down as well as increased access for its dairy products. New Delhi is, however, resisting these demands as these will affect farmers. Trump on Wednesday announced additional 25 per cent tariffs — the earlier 25 per cent came into effect from August 7 — on Indian goods over Russian oil purchase, taking the total to 50 per cent. India called the move “extremely unfortunate”. The conference where the PM spoke was organised to mark the birth centenary of late agri-scientist Swaminathan, the architect of India’s Green Revolution.
Trump orders India tariff hike to 50% for buying Russian oil
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"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the brief statement read.
"India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," it added. The US president had earlier warned he would raise levies, saying India doesn't "care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine". On Wednesday, the White House said in a statement that the "Russian Federation's actions in Ukraine pose an ongoing threat to US national security and foreign policy, necessitating stronger measures to address the national emergency".
It said India's imports of Russian oil undermine US efforts to counter Russia's activities in Ukraine. It added that the US will determine which
other countries import oil from Russia, and will "recommend further actions to the President as needed".
Oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports, and Moscow's biggest customers include China, India and Turkey.
Russia is now the biggest seller of oil to India, accounting for more than 35% of India's overall supplies, according to global commodities data platform Kpler.
Trade data shared with the Reuters news agency showed that India bought about 1.75 million barrels a day of Russian oil in the first six month of this year.
Speaking later at an event in the White House, Trump took a question from the BBC on the subject and said the tariff on India was just the start - "You're going to see a lot more, so much secondary sanctions," he said.
