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Businesses throughout British Columbia will be better able to manage costs as the Province pauses the planned expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to professional services. In response to new and ongoing international trade disruptions and the economic uncertainty they are creating, government intends to delay the PST expansion to professional services that had been scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.“There’s a time to stay the course and there’s a time to adjust. This is a time to adjust,” said Premier David Eby. “Delaying these changes until well after Trump’s disastrous trade war is over will give businesses some breathing room as they navigate tariffs and bans while pivoting to other markets.”Savings for people, local governments and businesses is estimated at approximately $260 million in 2026-27. “Businesses and communities need more flexibility at this time to be able to invest, adapt and grow,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Finance. “Pausing the PST expansion will protect jobs and help local governments that use professional services manage their costs of delivering infrastructure and community services.”The Province will continue to take action to ensure the right conditions are in place for businesses to succeed and for people to access the services they rely on.Support for businessesBritish Columbia is one of the lowest taxed provinces in the country.Pausing the PST expansion is one of several actions the Province has taken through the taxation system to help businesses reduce costs, attract investment and grow the economy.
The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade (SWRBOT) welcomes the Government of British Columbia’s decision to pause the planned October 1st expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to previously exempt professional services.SWRBOT has consistently raised concerns about the expansion and its potential impact on businesses, investment and economic growth. In February, SWRBOT joined business organizations from across B.C. in calling on the Province to reassess the measure, highlighting the additional costs and administrative burden it would place on businesses at a time when they are already managing rising operating costs and economic uncertainty.Professional services such as accounting, engineering, security, and commercial real estate are essential inputs for businesses, housing, infrastructure and investment. Applying a new tax to these services would have increased the cost of doing business and, in many cases, added costs throughout the broader economy. SWRBOT has also raised concerns about the impact of taxing security services at a time when businesses are already facing significant costs related to theft, vandalism, extortion, and property crime.“We appreciate the Province listening to concerns from the business community and pausing the planned PST expansion. Businesses need predictability and an environment that supports investment, growth and job creation, particularly during a period of significant trade and economic uncertainty,” said Joslyn Young, CEO of the Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade.SWRBOT recognizes the Province’s decision is a pause rather than a permanent cancellation of the planned expansion. We encourage the government to use this period to fully assess the economic impacts of the measure and continue engaging with businesses and industry before considering any future changes.We will continue to advocate for a full cancellation of the planned tax expansions to promote and embolden a competitive and predictable business environment that supports investment, economic growth and affordability across Surrey, White Rock and British Columbia.
The City of Penticton is advising residents and businesses about temporary detours on a section of Warren Avenue West beginning Sept. 23 as crews install new water and sewer services to support a new housing development.The work will take place on Warren Avenue West between Atkinson Street and Quebec Street, adjacent to Lion's Park, and is expected to take approximately one week, weather permitting.To safely complete the work, the road will be temporarily closed to through traffic on weekdays from Sept. 23 to 29, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. The road will reopen outside of construction hours and for the weekend.During construction hours, traffic will be detoured via Industrial Avenue West using either Atkinson Street or Quebec Street.Anyone travelling through this area is encouraged to allow extra travel time, follow directions from traffic control personnel, and use alternate routes where possible.The City appreciates the community's patience and understanding while completing this work.
Investigators with the York Regional Police Firearms Investigation Team have identified a second shooting incident and are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a suspect following a shooting at a Vaughan club in July 2026.On Sunday, July 5, at approximately 2:20 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire at a nightclub in the area of Steeles Avenue and Scholes Road. Two male suspects confronted security, discharged a firearm and struck an adult male patron of the club. He was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The two suspects remain unidentified and outstanding. Following a lengthy investigation, investigators identified a second shooting that occurred shortly after the initial incident. The second shooting has been determined to be unrelated to the first.Shortly after the initial shooting, a male suspect discharged a firearm multiple times from the driver’s-side window of a dark-coloured BMW sport utility vehicle as it drove through the plaza parking lot.No one was struck and there were no injuries.Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a suspect in relation to the second shooting.He is described as a Black male, between 25 and 35 years old with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with writing on the front, blue knee-length jean shorts, a black baseball hat and white sneakers. He was also seen carrying a black crossbody bag. Investigators are appealing to anyone who has not yet spoken with police to come forward. Officers are also seeking any surveillance video or dashcam footage from the area captured around the time of the shooting.
Israeli artillery shelling injured two people in the southern Lebanese town of Chaqra, while Israeli troops engaged in standoff encounters and brief clashes with Lebanese soldiers near border towns like Deir Mimas. Despite a June U.S.-brokered framework agreement calling for a gradual Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment, Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon and launch strikes, including setting fire to a public hospital in Meiss el-Jabal and shelling al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun. The standoff near Deir Mimas ended after Israeli tanks withdrew to neighboring positions following intervention by international deconfliction authorities. Health ministry figures show Israeli attacks have killed over 4,300 people in Lebanon since the current conflict intensified in March.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) issued over $4,000 in fines to local businesses following an enforcement project aimed at reducing youth access to bear spray.This comes after 2026 recorded an increase in incidents involving youth with bear spray, which include assaults, disturbances, and weapons seizures.Between January 1 and August 15, VPD recorded 104 incidents where youth were involved in a bear spray related incident. This compares to 83 recorded incidents during the same period in 2025. In response, The Youth Investigative Unit (YIU) detectives conducted inspections of businesses suspected of selling bear spray, coyote spray, and dog-repellent spray. Detectives visited 27 businesses across Vancouver to identify potential sources of bear spray and promote compliance with the City of Vancouver bylaws, which note that such spray is not to be sold to people under the age of 19 and that records of sale (including the identification of the buyer) be retained for 12 months. The inspections resulted in $4,000 in fines issued to three businesses for four by-law violations. All businesses visited also received information outlining by-law requirements and best practices for compliance. "Reducing youth access to bear spray is a priority," said Inspector Dave Ballance of the VPD’s Youth Services Section. "This enforcement initiative will contribute to the safety of the community, and we hope it will lead to a reduction of youth committing assaults with bear spray." The YIU will continue monitoring youth bear spray incidents, gathering intelligence on supply sources, and working with law enforcement partners across the Lower Mainland to support similar enforcement efforts where bear spray by-laws exist.
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has approved up to $414 million in financing for Canadian firm Global Atomic’s Dasa uranium project in Niger, Africa's highest-grade uranium deposit. The deal comes two years after the U.S. withdrew troops from Niger following a 2023 military coup that saw the country pivot toward Russia for security and dispute ties with French state miner Orano. Urged by U.S. Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon under a renewed Trump administration focus on African deal-making, the investment aims to secure strategic uranium resources—recently added to the U.S. critical minerals list—before rival powers step in. Despite potential security risks highlighted by a recent mutiny attempt in Niamey, the project marks a strategic energy move and a rare point of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada amidst ongoing trade friction.
Police in the northern Indian state of Punjab have arrested a Canadian permanent resident after allegedly seizing two hand grenades near a stadium in Faridkot.The suspect, identified as Navjot Singh, also known as Nav, was taken into custody by the Punjab Police Counter Intelligence Wing’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) just five days after returning to India from Canada.Investigators allege Singh has links to Pakistan-based terrorist modules and retrieved an explosives consignment delivered across the border via drone to disrupt peace in the region.Police have charged Singh under the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) at the SSOC police station in Fazilka.However, the suspect's father, Suba Singh, disputed the police narrative regarding the arrest. He claimed his son arrived in India on Sept. 12 and that the two were together on Thursday evening to pick up a courier delivery at Sadiq Chowk when officers detained them both. He said police released him later that night while keeping his son in custody.Police said questioning remains ongoing to map out the network and identify potential targets ahead of an upcoming religious event.
As part of a suicide attack and gun battle at a mosque situated in a police headquarters in the Pakistani town of Kohat, at least 27 people have lost their lives while a number of others sustained injuries. Of the people who were killed include 15 members of the police force and six civilians in addition to a number of others who sustained injuries in the attack that happened on Friday as people worshiped. There was an explosion that made the outside wall of the building collapse before six of the terrorists were shot dead by the security forces. The attack that was carried out by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (Ittehadul Mujahideen) came after a roadside bomb blast in the neighboring town of Hangu resulting in six fatalities among military personnel.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated Friday that his state has no extra water to share with neighboring states, vowing to protect Punjab’s natural resources.Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day farmers’ fair at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, Mann said sharing river water is off the table.“Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state. The question of giving even a single drop does not arise,” Mann said, accusing previous administrations of compromising the state's interests for personal gain.Mann highlighted his government’s efforts to modernize agriculture and protect groundwater, noting that canal irrigation coverage has expanded to 88 per cent. He added that 14,000 kilometres of underground pipelines have been laid, with plans to add another 7,000 kilometres by the end of the year.The chief minister outlined several key agricultural initiatives, including bolstering seed research, investing 1.3 billion rupees ($21 million CAD) in horticulture, and fixing the country’s highest sugarcane price at 416 rupees per quintal.Mann also urged the central government to support farmers by setting lucrative Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for alternative crops and offering financial assistance to discourage paddy straw burning.
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