In the news today: Gunshots herald ostrich cull on B.C. farm

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed…

Gunshots herald ostrich cull after police limit access to British Columbia farm

Gunshots rang out at a British Columbia ostrich farm as a Canadian Food Inspection Agency operation to cull hundreds of the birds got underway. Police have limited access to the property, while bright floodlights and the bales obscured what was happening inside the enclosure after dark had fallen. But the CFIA says it was moving forward with “complete depopulation and disposal” of the flock, fulfilling an order it issued more than 10 months ago in an avian flu outbreak that went on to kill 70 of the birds. The owners of the farm near Edgewood in southeastern B.C. fought the order, but on Thursday the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear their final appeal, lifting a stay on the cull.

StatCan to release October jobs report today

Statistics Canada is set to release its jobs report for the month of October this morning. The consensus among economists polled by Reuters is that the labour market took a breather last month, with 2,500 jobs expected to be lost. That would come after a surprise hiring surge in September, when more than 60,000 positions were added. The unemployment rate is forecast to remain unchanged at 7.1 per cent. The October jobs figures come after the Bank of Canada, undeterred by September’s labour market strength, cut its benchmark interest rate for a second time in a row last month.

Here’s what else we’re watching…

Moe vote looms as Saskatchewan Party meets

Saskatchewan’s governing party is hoping to regain support from the province’s two major cities as members prepare to meet at its biennial convention this weekend. Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff says one of the themes at Saturday’s event is being called ‘Earn Back Saskatoon’ and ‘Earn Back Regina.’ He says the push follows last year’s election that saw the party wiped out in Regina and almost eliminated in Saskatoon. Cheveldayoff, who is the Saskatchewan Party’s only legislature member from the two major cities, says the party needs to listen more to reverse its losses. The convention in Saskatoon will feature policy resolutions, a speech from Premier Scott Moe and a leadership review vote.

Budget cuts force Concordia to defer sabbaticals

Concordia University says it’s deferring sabbaticals and won’t be renewing some teaching contracts in response to federal and provincial immigration policies. The university in Montreal says provincial funding cuts for international students have also played a role in its decision. Concordia announced the cost-saving measures in a budget update earlier this week. The university says international enrolment fell by 23 per cent this year compared to 2024, while applications by international students dropped by 40 per cent. In response, Concordia says it is deferring sabbatical applications for one year, and offering full-time faculty voluntary retirement packages.

Bid to save Vancouver Chinatown’s last post office

Community members and advocates in Vancouver’s Chinatown are petitioning for Canada Post to keep its neighbourhood post office open, calling it a lifeline for area residents. It comes after Canada Post announced it plans to shut down the only post office that services Vancouver’s Chinatown on Wednesday. Jeffrey Wong, the vice-president of Wongs’ Benevolent Association, says the post office is vital to the area, which serves some of the city’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents. Activist group Save Chinatown YVR launched an online petition, calling on Canada Post not to stamp out the post office. Canada Post says the decision to close that location came after it and the business owners “mutually agreed.”

Vintage Hudson’s Bay blankets headed for auction

If you’ve ever wanted to own a vintage Hudson’s Bay blanket, you’ll soon have a chance. The company is putting 52 blankets, including two dating back to 1900, up for sale later this month. Some of them are almost 100-year-old point blankets with HBC’s classic green, red, yellow and indigo motif, while others are slightly more recent and feature scarlet, lavender, wild cranberry, rose, empire blue and gold hues. The first online sale will run from Nov. 12 to Dec. 4, 2025, with others to follow next year. They are meant to drum up cash to repay the collapsed retailer’s creditors and help HBC find new homes for its 4,400 art pieces and artifacts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2025.

The Canadian Press