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Attendants hold their devices as they walk during the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. A federal source says the coming budget will detail how the Liberals plan to go after hidden or unexpected consumer fees, following the United States announcing its own crackdown on these charges. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Emilio Morenatti

Budget 2023 to detail crackdown on ‘junk fees’ for consumers: federal source

Feds expected to take aim at tacked-on fees that hide, and inflate, the total cost

Attendants hold their devices as they walk during the Mobile World Congress wireless show in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. A federal source says the coming budget will detail how the Liberals plan to go after hidden or unexpected consumer fees, following the United States announcing its own crackdown on these charges. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Emilio Morenatti
A surgery is performed in the operating room at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Surgery wait times for cancer, joint replacement patients still lagging amid backlog

Pandemic created a backlog of surgical procedures providers still haven’t been able to catch up on

A surgery is performed in the operating room at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Earthquake and Volcano of the Korea Monitoring Division Director Ryoo Yong-gyu speaks in front of a screen showing seismic waves that were measured in South Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. New research says the largest recorded earthquake in Alberta’s history was not a natural event but most likely caused by disposal of oilsands wastewater. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ahn Young-joon

Largest recorded Alberta earthquake not natural, from oilsands wastewater: study

Peace River area rocked by series of quakes in November culminating with one at 5.6 magnitude

Earthquake and Volcano of the Korea Monitoring Division Director Ryoo Yong-gyu speaks in front of a screen showing seismic waves that were measured in South Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. New research says the largest recorded earthquake in Alberta’s history was not a natural event but most likely caused by disposal of oilsands wastewater. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ahn Young-joon
Pope Francis and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon watch a traditional dance during the final public event of his papal visit across Canada as he prepares to leave Iqaluit, Nunavut on Friday, July 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Pope Francis and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon watch a traditional dance during the final public event of his papal visit across Canada as he prepares to leave Iqaluit, Nunavut on Friday, July 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
File photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record

What to know about new research on coffee and heart risks

American university study offers a rare controlled evaluation of caffeine’s effect

File photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US vice-president Joe Biden walk down the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, December 9, 2016. U.S. President Joe Biden’s long-anticipated first trip to Ottawa this week is expected to put Canada’s defence spending back under the microscope.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US vice-president Joe Biden walk down the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, December 9, 2016. U.S. President Joe Biden’s long-anticipated first trip to Ottawa this week is expected to put Canada’s defence spending back under the microscope.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
Salvatore Vetro’s recall petition against Premier David Eby has failed after Vetro did not submit the necessary paperwork by March 20. (Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vetro)

Recall petition against Premier Eby fails

Salvatore Vetro, which launched the petition, failed to submit it by March 20 deadline

Salvatore Vetro’s recall petition against Premier David Eby has failed after Vetro did not submit the necessary paperwork by March 20. (Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vetro)
The BC Used Oil Management Association has opened a new recycling facility at the Quesnel Co-Op site to drop off used oil and antifreeze. (BCUOMA photo)

Auto fluid recycling centre opens in Quesnel

Drop off oil, antifreeze, auto fluid containers and filters at Co-Op

The BC Used Oil Management Association has opened a new recycling facility at the Quesnel Co-Op site to drop off used oil and antifreeze. (BCUOMA photo)
BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau last week tabled legislation that promises to limit the use of non-disclosure agreements. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Proposed legislation would stop NDAs from being used to ‘silence’ harassment victims: Furstenau

Sonia Furstenau’s legislation comes after Canadian Bar Association criticized NDAs

BC Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau last week tabled legislation that promises to limit the use of non-disclosure agreements. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)

VIDEO: This pair of B.C. bald eagles are expecting: 2 eggs seen in nest through livestream

Live cameras streaming other nests where watchers are hopeful more eggs will appear

A pair of bald eagle parents-to-be are carefully taking care of two eggs, laid March 17 and March 20. Two other pairs in Delta and South Surrey appear to be making efforts toward breeding eggs of their own, all visible on 24/7 live camera streams on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. (Hancock Wildlife Foundation/Facebook)
Randy Dodd fishes in a pool by Bridge Creek Falls back in 2021. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)

It will cost a little more to go freshwater fishing in B.C. this summer

The provincial government announced that angling fees are going up for the first time since 2003

Randy Dodd fishes in a pool by Bridge Creek Falls back in 2021. (Patrick Davies photo - 100 Mile Free Press)
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ottawa to spend $1.5 billion to improve access to drugs for rare diseases

Duclos wants to increase coverage for existing drugs, create list of new and emerging treatments

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Kennedy Stewart, carries his civic election ballot after marking it as he votes at an advance poll in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart wins $100,000 costs in NPA defamation case

Stewart was sued after he issued a news release in 2021 denouncing ‘hate and extremism’ in the NPA

Kennedy Stewart, carries his civic election ballot after marking it as he votes at an advance poll in Vancouver, B.C. on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Police-reported hate crimes rise again, as pandemic worsens discrimination: StatCan

Reports up by 27 per cent in 2021, after a 35 per cent increase in 2020

Statistics Canada building and signs are pictured in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
The CGGS M. Perley searches the waters of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 as they continue to look for five fishermen missing after the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis sank in the Bay of Fundy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Transportation Safety Board report on fatal Atlantic sinking cites lax federal rules

Stability testing may have helped prevent 2020 sinking of a Nova Scotia scallop dragger

The CGGS M. Perley searches the waters of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S. on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 as they continue to look for five fishermen missing after the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis sank in the Bay of Fundy. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
On March 18 BC Corrections said the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) in Oliver was closed to visitors and volunteers until further notice due to COVID-19. (File photo)

B.C.’s largest prison in Oliver is only at 20% capacity

167 prisoners out of a capacity of 800 are currently at the Okanagan Correctional Centre

On March 18 BC Corrections said the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC) in Oliver was closed to visitors and volunteers until further notice due to COVID-19. (File photo)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awarded a B.C. man $6,000 after two of his colleagues used a derogatory slur against him during a physical fight. (The Canadian Press)
Image: RCMP logo

2 family dogs die after suspected rat poisoning near Trail, sparking RCMP probe

Information? Call the Trail Detachment to speak to an investigator

Image: RCMP logo
A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)
A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)
Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)

$100K in vaping products sold to kids via Snapchat on Vancouver Island seized

Federal Tobacco and Vaping Products Act prohibits sale of vaping products to anyone under age 18

Police seized more than $100,000 in vaping products being sold to youth at local schools after executing a search warrant at a Saanich business Friday (March 6). (Courtesy Saanich Police Department)