Video of contact with possibly rabid skunk in B.C. prompts health authority warning
Vancouver Coastal Health is warning anyone in the city's downtown who has had contact with a possibly rabid skunk to get a medical assessment immediately after a video emerged on social media.
The video posted on Facebook on Oct. 10 shows a skunk struggling to cross a Vancouver street, attracting a number of bystanders before a man picked up the animal using a sweater and moved it onto the sidewalk.
On Wednesday, Vancouver Coastal Health reported a skunk captured in the city's downtown has tested positive for rabies, but it is unclear if it's the same animal shown in the Facebook video.
The health authority says a small number of people were bitten by the skunk and have been assessed, as well as receiving rabies vaccinations and immunoglobulin as a precaution.
It also says that it is aware of videos capturing other exposures, and anyone in the West End and Stanley Park areas who have had contact with a skunk between Sept. 22 and Oct. 17 should contact Vancouver Coastal Health immediately.
The rabies virus is found in the saliva of infected animals and can be transmitted through bites or scratches, and an infection affects the brain and nervous system leading to possible death.
The health authority says the virus is not transmitted through other types of exposures such as the spray, urine or feces of an infected skunk.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Canada Pension Plan payments for October are going out soon and max amounts are over $1,500
You can expect a direct deposit or cheque.
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payments for October will be issued to eligible individuals soon.
The maximum amounts are more than $1,500, and the average amounts are more than $850!
Service Canada administers this federal benefit through direct deposits and paper cheques.
If you're eligible for the government payment, you can expect to receive money near the end of the month.
Here's what you need to know about CPP, including eligibility, payment amounts, the October payment date, and more.
What is the Canada Pension Plan?
CPP is a monthly retirement pension that's meant to replace part of your income when you retire.
It's a taxable benefit that can also include disability, children's and survivor benefits.
If you qualify for this retirement pension, you'll receive CPP payments for the rest of your life.
Who is eligible for the Canada Pension Plan?
To be eligible to receive CPP, you must:
- be at least 60 years old
- have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP
A valid contribution can be from work you did in Canada or from credits received from a spouse/common-law partner after a divorce or separation.
If you're eligible, you won't automatically get CPP payments. You must apply online through your My Service Canada Account or by mail with a paper form.
The standard age to start CPP is 65, but you can start as early as age 60 or as late as age 70.
Service Canada said starting earlier means smaller monthly payments, and starting later means bigger monthly payments. But there is no benefit to waiting until after age 70 because the maximum monthly amount is reached once you turn 70.
If you apply after age 65, you can request a retroactive start date, which could be as early as 11 months before your application is received, but no earlier than the month after your 65th birthday.
How much money can you get from Canada Pension Plan payments?
The amount of money you get from the pension depends on the age you start receiving it, how much you contributed to the CPP, how long you contributed to the CPP, and your earnings throughout your working life.
The maximum CPP payment amount for 2026 is $1,507.65 per month.
In October, the average CPP payment for new beneficiaries at age 65 is $858.34 per month.
Your retirement pension won't be reduced even if you're still working while receiving CPP.
When is the next Canada Pension Plan payment date?
The next CPP payment date is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
How do you receive Canada Pension Plan payments?
Service Canada issues CPP payments via direct deposit or cheque.
Your payment will be deposited into your bank account if you have direct deposit set up with Service Canada.
If you don't have direct deposit as your preferred payment method, your CPP payment will be mailed as a paper cheque during the last three business days of the month.
Payments are issued on the scheduled dates each month, but can take a few days to arrive. Since cheques are sent by mail, it can take longer than with direct deposit for you to get money.
You can sign up for direct deposit with Service Canada at any time.
Conservatives call for cuts to permanent residency admissions in immigration plan
The Conservatives are calling on the government to implement temporary resident exit tracking, boost collaboration with the provinces and further reduce permanent residency admissions in the coming immigration levels plan.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner outlined these and other demands in a press conference today, and blamed government policy for a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment in recent years.
She said the government should be putting more emphasis on integrating newcomers to restore faith in the system and ease social tensions around immigration.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday the government "will not budge" on its goal of making immigration numbers sustainable and its plan is "getting them to that level now."
Last year's immigration levels plan, which set a target of admitting 380,000 permanent residents annually between 2026 and 2028, also included two programs aimed at giving permanent status to more than 130,000 temporary residents who aren't included in the broader target.
The government must provide an updated levels plan in the next few weeks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2026.
By David Baxter | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Un ours noir a été aperçu dans les rues d'une municipalité de Lanaudière
La Ville appelle à la prudence.
Des résident.es d'une petite municipalité de Lanaudière ont eu toute une surprise durant leur lunch alors qu'iels ont vu un ours noir roder dans la ville. L'animal aurait été aperçu dans les environs du rang de l'Église et du domaine du Villageois, à Saint-Liguori, vers midi, le 12 juillet 2022.
Dans une publication sur Facebook, la Municipalité a tenu à rappeler aux citoyen.nes les consignes de sécurité et les gestes à prendre afin de diminuer les risques : « Soyez prudents dans les secteurs boisés de la municipalité. Assurez-vous de faire du bruit pour signaler votre présence. »
Contacté par Narcity Québec un employé du bureau municipal a affirmé que l'ours n'aurait pas été revu depuis hier. Bien que les agent.es de la faune aient été contacté.es par la Ville, ceux-ci et celles-ci ne se sont pas encore déplacé.es sur les lieux au moment d’écrire ces lignes.
Selon le ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, il y aurait 70 000 ours noirs sur le territoire de la province. Ce mammifère est connu comme un animal craintif, à priori rarement agressif, mais très glouton. Il ne faut donc surtout pas laisser de la nourriture à des endroits qui lui serait facile d'accès.
Voici les consignes de prévention du ministère afin de diminuer les risques d'attirer un ours noir :
La Ville de Saint-Liguori invite les citoyen.nes à communiquer toute information utile pour signaler l'animal par téléphone au bureau municipal, soit au 450 753-3570 poste 0.