A 56-year-old man is facing a sexual assault charge after what Burnaby R-C-M-P are calling a "cleansing ritual scam".
Police say a 29-year-old woman was approached by a man at a Burnaby mall on August 5th.
They say the man claimed to be a Taoist Master and Chinese medicine practitioner who could perform a ritual to improve the woman's health and life.
Mounties say the victim and suspect drove to another location for the ritual, during which the suspect allegedly assaulted the woman
B.C. went on to experience deep and prolonged drought after a record-breaking heat wave in May spurred rapid melting and drying. Then came the province's devastating fire season. Thursday's bulletin says the low snowpack combined with warm seasonal forecasts and "lingering impacts" from the previous drought are creating "significantly elevated drought hazards" for 2024.
Premier David Eby says the first purchase using the government's Rental Protection Fund will save 290 affordable rental units in two housing co-ops that have expired leases and were facing the prospect of being sold out from under the residents. Eby says the government's fund will contribute $71 million towards the $125 million acquisition in the Metro Vancouver city of Coquitlam by the non-profit Community Land Trust of B.C.
Some dentists and hygienists fear they won't be fairly paid for services under a new federal dental plan, and they worry it will jeopardize the success of the massive program. Each province and territory has its own guide to how much dental services cost.
The group that represents residential builders in Canada wants Ottawa to offer a 30-year amortization period for insured mortgages on new homes. The Canadian Home Builders' Association says extending the period an additional five years would help with affordability and spur more construction.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is asking MPs to support more funding for Global Affairs Canada, despite the Liberals undertaking cutbacks across the government. Joly says that the United States, France and rapidly developing countries are staffing up to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex world.
Ottawa says it is aware of reports that another Canadian citizen has gone missing in the Gaza Strip. Global Affairs Canada says it is providing consular assistance to the family but can't share more because of privacy considerations.