The Canada Border Services Agency says it has opened 372 immigration investigations in an effort to “disrupt extortion networks” across the country.

It says the CBSA began formally monitoring immigration enforcement cases potentially linked to extortion in the Pacific and Prairie regions last August before expanding the work to the Greater Toronto Area in November.

The agency says that as of last Thursday, it had issued a total of 70 removal orders on various inadmissibility grounds, and 35 have been enforced.

Among the communities most impacted by extortion is Surrey, B.C., where there were 133 reported cases of extortions in 2025 and police are looking into 64 cases so far this year.

The CBSA says it is investigating people alleged to be engaged in extortion, operating a tip line where it encourages people to share information or directly report the “whereabouts of those who are inadmissible to Canada.”

A followup email from the agency says as of March 12, 34 removal orders were issued in Pacific region, which includes B.C. and the Yukon, and 25 people have already been removed from Canada.

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It says the Pacific region’s first extortion-related immigration investigation began on August 26, 2025, ahead of the September announcement of B.C.’s Extortion Task Force.

Federal Conservative shadow minister for immigration Michelle Rempel Garner said in a statement that there were more than 13,000 reported incidents of extortion in Canada in 2024.

“While not all extortion incidents involve individuals who should be deported, the fact that CBSA has still only managed to enforce 35 removal orders does not denote progress,” she said.

2:10
Carney government unveils plan to tackle Canada’s growing extortion problem

The agency’s president, Erin O’Gorman, says in the news release that extortion “empowers organized criminal groups, targets vulnerable people and inflicts lasting harm on Canadian communities.”

“The CBSA is committed to using every tool we have to counter this threat,” she says.

“By increasing our removal capacity and deepening our partnerships with police, we have made significant progress toward ensuring these criminals cannot remain in Canada.”

The agency highlighted two deportation cases, including that of Arshdeep Singh, who entered Canada on a study permit in 2022 but was arrested by border officers last year, accused of “membership in a criminal organization linked to extortion, arson, drug trafficking, and firearm offences.”

The CBSA says he was removed from Canada under escort in January.

Another deportee, Sukhnaaz Singh Sandhu, entered Canada as a temporary resident in 2016 but was arrested and detained for inadmissibility due to “organized criminality” in 2025, the agency says.

The CBSA says he was held in immigration detention on the grounds of being a danger to the public until his deportation under escort last month.

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The Hockey Hall of Fame says the pucks used to score the gold medal-winning men’s and women’s goals at the Milan Cortina Olympics are part of its permanent collection after being donated by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The Hall released a statement about its artifacts from the Games on Wednesday, a day after Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal in overtime for the U.S. men, told ESPN he wanted the puck so he could give it to his father, Jim.

“These artifacts are preserved, exhibited and shared with fans worldwide through our museum and international outreach programs, ensuring that defining Olympic and World Championship moments remain protected and accessible to the global hockey community,” the Hall said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “We hold tremendous respect for the men and women who create these unforgettable moments on the ice, and we remain committed to preserving their achievements in a manner that is responsible, secure and accessible to fans everywhere.”

The U.S. swept men’s, women’s and Paralympic sled hockey gold, beating Canada in each final to win all three for the first time in the same year. Megan Keller scored the women’s golden goal, also in OT, and that puck is similarly enshrined.

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“These donated items represent defining moments on the world’s biggest stage and carry powerful stories of national pride and hockey history at its highest level,” Hall of Fame President and CEO Jamie Dinsmore said in a statement Monday about the Olympic showcase. “The Olympics ’26 display will help ensure that these unforgettable Olympic moments are preserved for our guests from around the world to experience.”

A stick from American Brady Tkachuk and gloves from teammate Jack Eichel, along with jerseys from Canada captain Sidney Crosby and Sweden forward William Nylander, are among the more than 70 items that will be on display for a limited time.

“Since the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the IIHF has provided the Hockey Hall of Fame with official pucks and other historic artifacts commemorating key moments from each Olympic hockey tournament, including Sidney Crosby’s iconic 2010 ‘Golden Goal,’ as well as Natalie Darwitz’s Gold Medal winning goal puck from the 2008 World Championships,” the Hall said. “Our mission is to collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and promote artifacts, images, and stories that are significant to hockey’s worldwide legacy. Established to honor and preserve the history of hockey, the Hockey Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the game.”Hoc

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government took steps Wednesday to drastically restrict who’s eligible for medical assistance in dying.

Smith’s United Conservative Party government introduced a bill that, if passed, would limit medical assistance in dying, better known as MAID, to those likely to die of natural causes within a year.

Those under 18 would still be prohibited regardless of condition, in line with current federal rules.

Smith said the federal rules are missing the mark.

“I think that we’re failing in our duty to give people hope,” Smith told reporters before the bill was introduced in the house.

“We believe MAID must be a compassionate option reserved only for those who will not recover from terminal illness.”

The major limitation in Alberta’s bill resembles how Canada’s MAID program began in 2016.

Restricting access to MAID unless it was reasonably foreseeable that someone would die was ruled unconstitutional by a superior court judge in Quebec.

Ottawa then expanded eligibility in 2021.

The changes permit those suffering from a serious illness or disability that isn’t considered terminal and who are in an advanced state of unreversible decline to use MAID.

6:58
Alberta UCP considers own legislation on MAID

Alberta Justice Minister Mickey Amery said the Quebec decision isn’t binding on Alberta and his government would defend the bill in court if it’s challenged.

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“We think that this bill finds the appropriate balance between allowing people who are eligible for the original intention of MAID to be able to seek that, but also to find a balance in protecting our vulnerable,” Amery told reporters.

The bill repeats many of the same safeguards in place under federal law, including the prohibition on children receiving MAID as well as those deemed unable to make their own health-care decisions.

Alberta would also restrict mental illness as a sole condition.

Ottawa had planned in 2024 to allow it — depending on certain criteria and other safeguards. But the final decision was delayed until next year as debate continues.

Smith said Alberta is acting now to prevent that possible change from taking effect in her province, saying she has “profound misgivings” about it.

Other care and treatment options are often available for those who aren’t facing a reasonably foreseeable death, she said.

“MAID should not become a permanent response to a moment of crisis or despair that can change with care and time,” Smith said.

Alberta Health Services says 1,242 people died through MAID in the province last year, though the statistics don’t break them down by eligibility factors.

The government says deaths in Alberta under Ottawa’s expanded eligibility rules increased by 136 per cent between 2021 and 2025.

1:57
Majority of Canadians support MAID for mental illness patients, research says

More than outlawing MAID for certain circumstances, Alberta’s bill would also prohibit medical professionals from referring patients to providers in other provinces.

And it would create new professional sanctions for doctors and nurse practitioners that break provincial rules.

Government officials said sanctions would range from mandatory training to losing a licence.

The bill would also require all medical professionals who provide MAID services to undergo new training.

It aims to prevent medical professionals from discussing MAID with patients unless they bring it up first.

It also restricts hospitals, doctors’ offices and continuing care homes from displaying information about MAID, such as on posters.

As with Ottawa’s rules, Alberta’s bill would prohibit requests made by patients in advance.

2:00
Robert Munsch sparks conversation about MAiD

That includes people recently diagnosed with diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s who may want to provide their consent for MAID before they lose capacity to make the decision.

Quebec currently permits such requests.

Alberta’s bill also repeats that medical providers have the right to refuse patient evaluations in the MAID process and to refuse performing the procedure for religious or conscientious reasons.

A spokesperson for federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement that Alberta has jurisdiction when it comes to providing health care.

“As for the federal government, Parliament is currently studying the question of eligibility expansion through (a special joint committee),” said Lola Dandybaeva.

“We will be guided by that process and its findings before any decisions are made about next steps.”

— With files from Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press

— More to come…

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Crown prosecutors have stayed charges against Romana Didulo, the self-proclaimed “Queen of Canada,” following a high-profile police raid at a rural Saskatchewan compound last year.

Didulo had been charged with failing to comply with an undertaking and intimidation of a justice system participant, according to Saskatchewan RCMP.

Both charges have now been confirmed to be stayed.

The charges stemmed from a police operation on Sept. 3, 2025, in the village of Richmound, Sask, where Didulo and some of her “followers” had been living at a former school since 2023.

Saskatchewan RCMP executed a search warrant at the privately-owned, decommissioned school after receiving a report that someone inside the building had a firearm.

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Didulo and her followers referred to the school as the “Kingdom of Canada.”

Police arrested 16 people at the site, including Didulo, who identified herself to officers during the raid.

Officers seized several imitation firearms during the search.

At the time, RCMP said those arrested could either be charged, brought before a court or released within 24 hours, noting that further charges could be laid as investigators gathered more evidence.

The group has drawn widespread attention for promoting conspiracy theories, including those linked to QAnon, and has faced ongoing complaints from residents in the small community.

In the months leading up to the raid, locals reported harassment and intimidation, prompting the village office to restrict public access outside of scheduled appointments.

Following the initial arrests, Didulo was later re-arrested and accused of breaching conditions and attempting to intimidate individuals connected to a prior investigation.

A stay of proceedings halts the prosecution, but charges can be reintroduced within one year.

The reason for Didulo’s stay of charges has not been made public yet.

1:44
Self-proclaimed ‘Queen of Canada,’ Romana Didulo, arrested by RCMP

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An autopsy has confirmed that a Kelowna man who died on a catamaran off the coast of Belize was killed in a fall.

Thomas David Harman’s body was found last week on board his boat.

A post-mortem examination has now determined that the 72-year-old died as a result of blunt force traumatic injuries after falling from a “height,” the report stated.

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Given that Harman was on board a catamaran at the time, there is speculation that he fell from the sail.

Gregory Soberanis, the commandant of the Belize Coast Guard, said last week that the drifting boat came into contact with a cruise ship that was able to rescue a woman on board, but it could not take the body.

He says days later, the boat was in their jurisdiction and was brought to shore.

A Nova Scotia politician is urging the New Brunswick premier to reconsider newly announced plans to introduce a toll near the provincial boundary.

Premier Susan Holt’s government announced the toll in its provincial budget Tuesday, estimating it would bring in $10.4 million annually once in place in 2028. New Brunswick Finance Minister René Legacy said the toll would be imposed on out-of-province vehicles on the Trans-Canada Highway by Aulac, N.B.

Independent member of the Nova Scotia legislative assembly, Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, said going ahead with the toll will hurt many residents in her constituency of Cumberland North who travel across the provincial boundary regularly for work, shopping and medical appointments.

“This creates a serious fairness issue for Cumberland County residents, who rely on the Aulac corridor as part of everyday life,” Smith-McCrossin said in a letter to Holt that she shared on social media.

Smith-McCrossin said Nova Scotians and New Brunswickers who live near the provincial boundary represent a single connected community, and it does not make sense to create this proposed barrier at a time when Maritime provinces should be working together to prioritize economic growth.

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She said that if New Brunswick is unwilling to reconsider this toll, it should “at minimum” provide an exemption for the residents of Cumberland County, “whose connections to southeastern New Brunswick are long-standing, necessary, and deeply rooted in shared family, economic, and health care realities.”

2:10
N.B. Opposition critical of how province is handling ballooning deficit in budget

Holt’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

New Brunswick government officials said on Tuesday that the Aulac region was chosen because it’s the best catchment area for non-residential traffic. They said they are unable to introduce a toll close to a provincial boundary with Quebec, near Edmundston, N.B., due to an existing agreement with the federal government that does not allow tolls there.

Smith-McCrossin said, “whether intended or not, the decision gives the appearance that Nova Scotians, and especially residents of our border communities, are being singled out to bear a new burden without consultation.”

Megan Mitton, the Green Party member who represents the district of Memramcook-Tantramar where the toll would be located, also urged the Holt government to consult the public.

“We need to have a discussion about exactly what all of this means. This is kind of blindsiding to the region of Tantramar,” she told reporters, adding that Tantramar and the Amherst, N.S., region, on the other side of the boundary, are “like one big community.”

She said she was worried about how it would affect Nova Scotians who regularly frequent her area to shop and work.

“Many people travel across the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick (boundary) daily to work, to take care of relatives, to do lots of things, to spend money,” Mitton said on Tuesday.

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Law enforcement officials hope new provincial offences pushed through by the Ford government last year will give them more options to deal with public drug use as major cities struggle with enforcement.

As part of its Safer Municipalities Act last year, Ontario began the process of creating a provincial offence for people using illegal drugs in public.

The offence means police officers will be able to hand out non-criminal tickets to people ordering them to court if they’re found using illegal substances in the open.

The government is currently considering offering the power to special constables, who work in places like transit and university campuses, as well.

Sarah Kennedy, president of the Ontario Special Constables Association, said the powers would give her and her colleagues an important middle ground between a full criminal offence and being forced to move people on without taking any further action.

“(Currently), they would be arrested for possession of a controlled substance and searched accordingly. They’d be fingerprinted and photographed, and they’d be put through a criminal process. That’s extensive and cumbersome considering it’s for personal use — it’s a small, small amount,” she explained to Global News.

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“Alternatively, if we don’t pursue a criminal avenue, the alternative is to do nothing.”

The provincial government recently posted its proposed regulation to allow special constables to hand out tickets for public drug use.

Advocates responded with concern, particularly over how it could be used on Toronto’s public transit system.

“Quite frankly, we’ve had problems in the past with special constables using force on the TTC,” Coun. Gord Perks told Global News. “There have been court cases over it … this is a big step back.”

Kennedy, however, said she believed it could offer a route for people to get help instead of being bounced from one station to another. Or, alternatively, going through a full trial for possession of an illegal drug.

“The criminal courts are full. They’re full, full of stuff, lots of busy stuff going on. Is it not in the public’s interest to have the criminal courts going after drug dealers and importers? Those are the people that prey on the people with addiction issues,” she said.

“The reason that pursuing a provincial avenue is beneficial to everyone involved is because … they can get before a justice of the peace and that justice of the peace can put a probation order or a peace bond on them where they are required to seek treatment and get help.”

A spokesperson for Ontario’s solicitor general said offering the powers to special constables was still under consultation. If approved, it would be added to mandatory training offered by the police college.

Tim Farquharson, chief of police in Port Hope and a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, said public consumption offences would compel people to court.

“In this case (public consumption) it would be a  Part 111 summons with no set fine and simply a court date given to the person and they will attend court and a fine would be issued,” he wrote in an email.

Ontario’s police chiefs also welcomed the changes, which they said will give officers more ways to deal with dynamic situations.

“This approach recognizes that incidents involving substance use are often complex and require responses tailored to the specific circumstances, particularly where individuals may be vulnerable but unwilling to comply with available supports,” the chiefs said in a statement.

“We acknowledge that enforcement alone cannot solve the complex challenges facing our communities. Police services continue to pursue balanced approaches that prioritize support and treatment, while maintaining the ability to use discretionary policing tools when required.”

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A child been struck by a train in Mississauga, according to Peel Regional Police.

Emergency crews were called to the area of Alexandra Avenue and Fourth Street in Mississauga near Lakeshore Road East around 2:45 p.m.

A person was hit by a train, prompting a large emergency response and road closures in the area, Peel police said in a social media post.

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The condition of the child is currently unknown.

Road closures are in effect, with Fourth Street shut down from Ogden Avenue to Alexandra Avenue.  Alexandra Avenue is closed from Fourth Street to Lakeshore Road East.

Police are urging drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes as delays are expected.

More to come.

An Ontario junior hockey team says it will take “appropriate action” after an opposing player was subjected to racist taunts during a playoff game Monday.

The Stratford Warriors issued a statement on its website decrying the “inappropriate and unacceptable language” directed at the London Nationals player during its game in Stratford, Ont.

“We want to be unequivocally clear: there is no place in our game, our arena, or our community for racist or discriminatory language of any kind,” the team, which is a member of the Greater Ontario Hockey League, said.

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“This behaviour does not reflect the values of our organization, our players or the vast majority of our fans. We sincerely apologize to the player, their team and their organization for what occurred.”

The team added it is working with arena staff and league officials to review the incident, “and will take appropriate action.”

It did not specify what was said or who said it, but the Nationals issued its own statement in reply, praising Stratford’s “professional handling” of the situation.

“It is important to recognize that the actions of one individual do not reflect an entire organization, its players, or its fanbase,” the team said.

“The London Nationals remain committed to promoting respect, inclusivity, and accountability across our sport.”

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has heaped praise on a homeowner who shot an intruder in Vaughan, suggesting he should have “shot him a couple more times.”

It was just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday when York Regional Police say they responded to reports of a shooting at a home around Carville Woods Circle and Crimson Forest Drive.

Officers said an armed suspect had forced their way into the residence, where a legal gun owner had shot at them. The suspect fled the scene and was later found in hospital.

“Congratulations, I’m glad you shot the guy, teaches the rest of these robbers,” Ford said during an unrelated news conference on Wednesday. “These guys, they need to be shot, as far as I’m concerned.”

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The premier has lamented his perception that crime is rising in Ontario, suggesting it wasn’t the case a decade ago.

“We’ve all lived here our whole lives, did we ever see this 10 years ago? Fifteen years ago? No, we’ve never seen this,” he said in Brockville, Ont., on Monday. “We’ve seen it starting five years ago, it’s running rampant across Ontario and we’re going to put an end to it.”

Ford was first elected premier in June 2018, almost eight years ago. Meanwhile, in Toronto, almost every major crime indicator — including homicide, assault and break and enters — was down last year.

During his news conference on Wednesday, Ford went on to repeat his praise of the homeowner.

“They need to rot in jail for the rest of their lives. Congratulations for shooting this guy. Should have shot him a couple more times as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Later, he added, “What I’m saying, the vast majority of people are thinking in the province, I can assure you.”

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