BC SPCA urges election candidates to commit to pet-friendly housing laws
As British Columbia chooses a new provincial government on Saturday, the SPCA has launched its own campaign urging voters to call on election candidates to commit to changing laws so that families with pets will have equal access to housing.
The plea comes after Erin Hayman's family spent months hunting for a place to live with their pets when they lost their home in the Bald Range wildfire, which destroyed about 150 structures in the district of Summerland, B.C. in August.
A statement from the BC SPCA says Hayman's family was determined to keep their whole family together, including their two dogs and four cats, after flames destroyed their home this summer, but housing limitations made it "impossible."
Hayman's four cats, Peaches, Miso, Gauntlett and Calamari, have been staying at the SPCA's emergency boarding program since the fire, and they found temporary housing that accepted their dogs.
But a statement from the SPCA says it has taken the family about three months to find pet-friendly, long-term housing that will allow them to reunite with their cats in November.
Hayman says it has been "incredibly difficult" for his daughters, as they are dealing with the pain of losing everything in the fire, and fearing at one point that they might have to give their cats away.
Sarah Herring with the BC SPCA says they are seeing too many families being forced to surrender or rehome pets they love because they can't find pet-friendly housing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Publishers rely on trust, not tech, to ensure books aren't AI-generated
In the absence of surefire technology to determine whether something was written by artificial intelligence, some Canadian publishers say they have to rely on something nearly as thorny: trust.
Alana Wilcox, the editorial director of Coach House Books, wrote in an email that the company asks writers to be upfront about whether their work contains material generated by AI.
She says the existing tools to discern the use of AI aren't reliable.
There is renewed attention on the role of artificial intelligence in the book industry after a Quebec publisher cut ties with an author accused of using AI to write his debut novel.
Earlier this week, Montreal-based publishing house Les Éditions du Boréal said an analysis of some documents' metadata found evidence author Thélyson Orélien used AI while writing his novel "C’était ça ou mourir" ("It was either that or dying").
Allegations that Orélien used AI in his book first emerged on social media in September. The author denied using AI to write the book but said he had used it for research. Orélien did not respond to The Canadian Press’ request for comment following the publisher's announcement on Wednesday.
Before the controversy, the novel had been nominated for several major French literary awards and won the Prix du Roman Fnac. It has since been removed from contention for France’s prestigious Prix Goncourt.
Les Éditions du Boréal didn't specify which metadata showed the AI use.
And while the allegations against Orélien illustrate that trust may not always be enough, Wilcox said Coach House Books doesn't see much of an alternative.
"Our contract asks the author to affirm that their book does not contain AI-generated material. But there is no reliable way to police this: the tools that exist have proven unreliable and problematic in countless ways," she wrote.
"Nor are we interested in supporting systems that were trained on stolen material — our books," she added, referencing the fact that AI detection tools are, themselves, artificial intelligence.
Lisa Quinn, president of the Association of Canadian Publishers, said AI technology is a broad descriptor and there is nuance in how assistive AI tools can be used in the publishing industry.
But she says "the publishing industry strongly believes that artistic creation, intellectual creation is a human-centred activity."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
By Kaitlyn McGrath | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Alberta introduces new flag rules and restrictions for all schools starting in 2027
The Alberta government has announced new rules on when, how, and what flags can be displayed at schools.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the flags of Canada and Alberta must be flown outside schools during the school year.
Other flags -- including the Franco-Albertan flag, municipal flags and the Royal Union Flag -- can be displayed on specified days.
First Nations and Metis Settlement flags and foreign national flags can be displayed inside a school building during official occasions and on other specified days.
No other flag displays are permitted without permission from the province.
The new rules begin on Jan. 4, 2027.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Un dîner tout en blanc débarque à Québec dans un lieu secret et ça s'annonce magique
Gastronomie, party et paysage magnifique!
Tu n'as pas besoin de chercher quoi faire à Québec pour passer un moment magique dans cette ville pittoresque ce mois-ci, puisque le Diner en Blanc (DEB) est de retour après cinq ans d'absence et c'est l'événement estival à ne pas manquer. Imagine la scène : tu as minutieusement élaboré ta tenue originale d'un blanc immaculé, ton pique-nique est préparé ou réservé, puis tu te rends à un point de rencontre prédéterminé avant d'être mené.e vers un lieu secret où une vague de personnes en habits monochromes se rassemble pour un moment gastronomique chic d’inspiration française et festif à souhait.
Après avoir mangé, place à la fête sous le ciel étoilé, lancée en allumant des sparklers distribués aux invité.e.s. Danse, musique live et ambiance électrisante sont au programme.
Voilà ce qui t'attend au fameux DEB qui célèbre du même coup son dixième anniversaire dans un esprit mettant la mode, la nourriture et la convivialité à l'honneur
Si le lieu reste secret, l'organisation te promet un emplacement remarquable, alors que des éditons passées ont envahies le Grand Théâtre de Québec, le Quai 22 au Port de Québec et le Jardin Saint-Roch, pour te donner une idée. Cela dit, note qu'il y a certaines règles à respecter afin de participer.
Les personnes qui le souhaitent pourront donc apporter leur propre repas ainsi que leur vin et leur champagne (les deux seuls types d'alcools permis afin de respecter l'influence française de l'événement), ou réserver l'un des deux menus conçus pour la fête.
Ceux-ci offrent trois à quatre services pour deux personnes et détiennent chacun au moins un plat proposé par des chefs locaux de renom comme Arnaud Marchand et Olivier Langlois de Chez Boulay, Pierre Gagnon de Le Bedeau ainsi que Emeline Pero de Les Botanistes.
Tu peux sélectionner La boîte découverte à 85 $, qui inclut un parfait de foie gras au nard des pinèdes avec confit d'échalotes à l'aronie et pain brioché, du saumon confit badigeonné d'une laque miroir de vin rouge présenté avec une émulsion d'algues, et pour le dessert, une tartelette au citron meringué et osmanthus.
La seconde option est affichée à 110 $ et se compose d'une burrata farcie au praliné amandes et fruits séchés, d'un gravlax de flétan de la Gaspésie servi avec rhubarbe, agastache, cucurbitacées et riz soufflés, d'une mosaïque de poireaux au nori et magret de canard cuit au sel, ainsi que d'un tiramisu aux épices et grains du Québec.
Tu as déjà l'eau à la bouche? Alors, n'hésite pas à réserver ta place dès maintenant sur le site du DEB.
Le Diner en Blanc de Québec
Prix : 51 $ par personne pour l'inscription - À partir de 85 $ par repas pour deux personnes
Quand : Le 22 août 2024
Adresse : Un lieu secret dévoilé quelques minutes avant l’événement
Site Internet du Diner en Blanc