Police arrest man who allegedly stole Calgary Transit shuttle
Police say at about 10:41 p.m. someone got onto the unoccupied vehicle, which was parked at 90 Avenue and 14 Street S.W., and drove away.
Officials say the bus was found eight minutes later at 24 Street and Oakfield Drive S.W.
A man was arrested without incident.
Police say there was no damage to the bus or other property as a result of the incident.
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Global News
6 minutes ago
- Global News
Wife of terror group ‘member' backed by public safety minister does not live in his riding: documents
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree's claim that he was helping a constituent when he lobbied federal officials to let a terrorist group 'member' resettle in Canada is contradicted by documents on the case, a Global News investigation has found. In defending letters he wrote before he joined cabinet that urged border security officials to approve the immigration application of a suspected member of the Tamil Tigers, Anandasangaree has said he assisted the man's Canadian wife as an MP. 'That a constituent, a Canadian citizen, with a Canadian child, would want to reunite her family in Canada is not unusual,' Anandasangaree said in a July 14 statement explaining the letters he penned in 2016 and 2023. 'MPs from all parties provide letters of support for constituents as a routine matter,' he said. Last week, he added that he was only 'executing my duties as a Member of Parliament, one that I believe constituents expect me to do.' Story continues below advertisement But court records and interviews indicate the woman is not Anandasangaree's constituent. Rather, she is a longtime resident of Markham, Ont. — which is outside his Scarborough-Guildwood-Rouge Park riding. Her immigration records, tax returns and commercial receipts each list a Markham home address, and two additional letters of support she gave immigration officers were from a city councillor and MPP — both in Markham. Reached by phone, she declined to answer questions and referred a reporter to her lawyer, who confirmed the woman had resided in Markham since at least 2016 and could not recall ever living in Anandasangaree's riding. The revelations have raised new questions for Anandasangaree, who became Minister of Public Safety in May, and promptly recused himself from making national security decisions related to the Tamil Tigers. When Global News first reported on Anandasangaree's support letters, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his appointee to oversee Canada's national security agencies had been 'transparent about the details of that situation and he has my confidence.' The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the evidence suggesting the man's wife was not actually Anandasangaree's constituent. The minister's office released a statement on Monday that portrayed his earlier statement as lacking clarity. 'It is not uncommon for MPs to assist Canadian citizens that are out of their riding, especially if the local MP is unable to assist due to their role in cabinet, as was the case in this situation,' the statement said. Story continues below advertisement 'It is also important to note that this particular applicant's family was introduced by a known constituent of Scarborough-Rouge Park. This should have been made clearer in the minister's statement of July 14, 2025.' 3:13 Letters reveal public safety minister's support of suspected terror group 'member' Support letters for terror group 'member' Earlier this month, Global News reported that before joining cabinet, Anandasangaree wrote two letters asking the Canada Border Services Agency to grant permanent residence to Senthuran Selvakumaran. Story continues below advertisement The Sri Lanka man married a Toronto-area woman in the United Kingdom in 2005 after British immigration officials rejected his asylum claim. She then applied to bring her husband to Canada, but border officials have repeatedly rejected him on the grounds he was a self-admitted paid member of the Tamil Tigers. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Also known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, the group committed scores of assassinations and bombings during Sri Lanka's civil war, and raised millions in Toronto, partly through extortion, before landing on Canada's list of terrorist organizations in 2006. 'In truth, I have helped the LTTE not only because I wanted to help them, I also got payment for it,' Selvakumaran wrote in an asylum claim. After telling immigration officers in Britain, and then Canada, that he had worked for the Tigers for seven years, Selvakumaran changed his story and insisted he had lied about his involvement because of bad legal advice. But the CBSA still had doubts and rejected him. Writing on his House of Commons letterhead, Anandasangaree then asked the CBSA to reverse that decision, adding that 'as a Member of Parliament' he had met and counselled Selvakumaran's wife Nilushie Senthuran. 'Providing guidance, advocacy, or support letters in support of Canadians is a standard responsibility of Members of Parliament across all parties. It is part of an MP's duty to assist, in accordance with federal rules, Canadian citizens seeking to reunite with their families,' the minister's latest statement said. Story continues below advertisement Anandasangaree's last letter to immigration officials on the matter was dated July 18, 2023. He was Parliamentary Secretary of Justice at the time and joined cabinet on July 26, 2023. The Office of the Ethics Commissioner said parliamentary secretaries were permitted to work as MPs 'for their constituents,' but declined to comment further. 'At this time, we're choosing not to make further statements.' Last year, the CBSA president recommended that, regardless of Anandasangaree's request, Selvakumaran should not get permanent residence because he was a terrorist group member. Selvakumaran appealed that decision to the court and used Anandasangaree's endorsement as evidence against the government. In a court document, Selvakumaran's lawyer, Lorne Waldman, described Anandasangaree as the wife's MP — a claim that was repeated in the judge's ruling on the case. But the lawyer acknowledged last week that was a mistake. 'While it is correct that we, as Mrs. Senthuran's legal counsel, mistakenly stated that Mrs. Senthuran was a constituent of MP Anandasangaree, that was an error on our part,' Waldman said. He noted that neither of Anandasangaree's letters said she was a constituent. 'A referral between MP Anandasangaree and Mrs. Senthuran was made through a constituent,' Waldman said. 'After MP Anandasangaree and his staff met with Mrs. Senthuran and reviewed her extensive documentation, he agreed to support her husband's application.' Story continues below advertisement He said it was a regular practice for Members of Parliament to write letters of support, and there was 'nothing improper or irregular' about Anandasangaree writing such a letter after meeting her. But in his response to questions from Global News asking why he wrote letters asking the CBSA to give permanent residence to a foreign national who had been deemed a terrorist group member, Anandasangaree called her a 'constituent.' 2:10 Cabinet minister under scrutiny over letters supporting terror group 'member' The Markham councillor and the MPP None of residential addresses in the wife's applications to sponsor her husband to immigrate are not part of Anandasagaree's Toronto riding, according to the Elections Canada website. Story continues below advertisement 'Nilushie has been a resident of Markham since the time she came to Canada in September 2002,' Juanita Nathan, then a Markham city councillor, wrote in a July 10, 2023 letter supporting Selvakumaran's bid to immigrate. Now the Liberal MP for the Pickering-Brooklin riding east of Toronto, Nathan told Global News her letter was incorrect and the woman had only actually lived in Markham since 2007. She wrote the letter as part of her previous municipal duties, 'which is a common practice among elected officials when assisting residents navigating immigration processes,' she added. 'The letter was based on humanitarian grounds and was not an endorsement of any individual's past affiliations. My commitment has always been to support families in our community within the bounds of Canadian law and procedures.' The Ontario provincial Conservative MPP for Markham-Thornhill, Logan Kanapathi, also wrote a support letter dated July 10, 2023. It identified the woman's address in Markham. The home has been owned by her sister since 2007, according to property records. Kanapathi did not respond to emails requesting comment. 2:12 Carney says he still has confidence in public safety minister Court sides with CBSA The letters Anandasangaree wrote when he was a backbencher and parliamentary secretary in Justin Trudeau's government resurfaced in court two months after Carney named him public safety minister on May 13. Story continues below advertisement The appointment has put the former lawyer and Canadian Tamil Congress activist in charge of Canada's counter-terrorism and border security institutions, including the RCMP and CBSA. In the public safety portfolio, he has been tasked with seeing through legislation to strengthen Canada's borders and appease U.S. President Donald Trump amid a chaotic White House trade war. Last month, Anandasangaree recused himself from decisions related to the Tamil Tigers and its Canadian front, the World Tamil Movement, which are both listed terrorist groups. He also said that when he joined the federal cabinet, he instructed his staff to no longer provide letters of support, and as a minister he would not make decisions 'on any matter wherein I advocated for a constituent.'
CTV News
6 minutes ago
- CTV News
Car theft numbers are dropping, but will your insurance rates?
Experts say car thieves are employing new tactics as awareness and enforcement has resulted in a drop in auto thefts in 2025. John Vennavally-Rao reports. Experts say car thieves are employing new tactics as awareness and enforcement has resulted in a drop in auto thefts in 2025. John Vennavally-Rao reports. Car thefts are down dramatically across Canada this year, but don't expect your auto insurance bill to get any cheaper. New data shows vehicle thefts dropped 19 per cent nationally in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Ontario saw the biggest decline at 26 per cent. But insurance industry officials say the improvement in theft rates won't necessarily translate to lower premiums for drivers anytime soon. 'It's encouraging to see some small steps in the right direction,' Hanna Beydoun, director of auto policy at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, told CTV News. 'But the problem remains significantly above historical levels, and it's far from the only factor that contributes to the cost that drivers pay for auto insurance.' According to a new report from Equate Association, 23,000 personal cars and trucks were stolen in the first half of this year, which is down substantially from the 34,000 by July of 2023. While the numbers represent progress, they come after a decade of rising theft rates. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says over the last 10 years, claims are up more than 115 per cent and auto theft costs have skyrocketed 371 per cent. 'One year is great, it's a great indication of where trends might go,' Beydoun said. 'But there's still lots more work that remains to be done to get us out of this auto theft crisis.' Why premiums keep rising Beyond theft, Beydoun says several factors are driving up insurance costs across the country, including repair costs having jumped 22 per cent since the pandemic began, noting that tariffs on vehicle parts are making replacements more expensive. She also says Alberta has seen collision-related lawsuits rise significantly. 'Unless all the cost drivers are completely pulled out of the system, there's going to be continued upward pressure on auto insurance premiums across the country,' Beydoun said. For Ryan Tostik of Milton, Ont., the theft statistics aren't just numbers. They represent a devastating personal loss. His beloved 2004 Chevy Silverado was stolen from an auto repair shop on July 18. Tostik had spent six years and a lot of money restoring the truck, including a fresh paint job and new engine. 'It's all a big shock, to be honest. I kind of feel violated,' he said. 'Considering how much money that I put into it, and it was considered almost finished.' Tostik says to him, the truck was worth between $50,000 and $60,000, and he can't believe it was gone 'within minutes.' He says the response from police was discouraging. 'They just say it's an everyday occurrence. So, more or less, they tell me you're on your own,' he said. 'Otherwise, call your insurance company.' Now Tostik is hoping his insurer will recognize the truck's value, and is armed with receipts for all the restoration work. 'I never had anything stolen in my life. So it's a big shock and a gut-wrenching feeling in the stomach,' he said. 'I'd like to have the vehicle back. I'm not hopeful, but I'm trying to be hopeful.' Brian Gast, national vice-president of Investigative Services at Equite Association, credits the decline in thefts to increased public awareness and a collaborate effort between various levels of government and law enforcement agencies. 'I do caution that even though the numbers are going down, they're still high,' he said. 'It doesn't mean that we need to take our foot off the gas.' Gast says auto theft remains a major funding source for organized crime and criminals are adapting. Gast says investigators are seeing more 'chop shops,' where stolen vehicles are dismantled and sold for parts, and they're also replacing the vehicle identification number on stolen vehicles. How to protect yourself Gast has a few recommendations when it comes to vehicle security: Park in a garage or well-lit area, when possible Keep windows up and doors locked Never leave key fobs inside the vehicle Consider aftermarket tracking devices Use visible deterrents like steering wheel locks 'You don't have to do them all, but we call it a layered approach,' Gast said.
CTV News
6 minutes ago
- CTV News
Katrina Chen's kids' book tells of gender-based violence. It's a story she knows well
Former British Columbia MLA Katrina Chen poses for a photograph, in Burnaby, B.C., on Monday, July 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck BURNABY — Former British Columbia legislator Katrina Chen sits on a couch in her Burnaby home, reading aloud from the children's book she's co-written. ''Maybe,' Mommy tells me, 'It's time for a stronger house. We leave everything behind. And we go.'' The mother and son in the story, 'A Stronger Home,' co-written with Elaine Su, turn their backs on a scene of domestic turmoil: a broken vase, furniture overturned, sofa cushions in disarray. 'I wrote this book as a survivor of gender-based violence with personal experiences about how violence has touched and impacted my whole life,' said Chen, B.C.'s former minister of state for child care. She considers the scene by artist Delphie Coté-Lacroix, showing the mother and son's exit, to be among the most powerful in the book — having the courage and strength to leave a violent situation is not easy, she said. Chen, who also has a young son, sees the problem as an urgent one, pointing to a recent spate of alleged intimate partner violence in B.C. This month alone, there has been the killing of an 80-year-old Abbotsford woman and the death of her husband in what police consider a murder-suicide; the killing in a Richmond apartment of a 51-year-old woman whose partner has been charged with second-degree murder; and the death of Bailey McCourt, allegedly beaten to death in a Kelowna parking lot by her estranged husband, James Plover, also charged with second-degree murder. Chen said it was 'totally heartbreaking and unacceptable' to hear of such tragedies, and society needed to see the violence as an emergency. She and other advocates want changes to the legal and social justice systems to prevent it from continuing. 'Gender-based violence is a form of violence that's the most pervasive and most persistent,' said Chen. 'It's the longest human rights violation throughout human history.' Chen, who represented the riding of Burnaby-Lougheed until last year, was best known in B.C. as an advocate for the NDP government's $10-a-day childcare program, as well as co-chairing Premier David Eby's campaign to lead the party. But in 2022, Chen announced she was taking herself out of contention for a new ministerial position, revealing she wanted 'time and space to heal' from the trauma of gender-based violence. 'I have long-term trauma that has yet to be fully unpacked,' she said at the time. Chen said in a recent interview that she was a victim of gender-based violence during her childhood, but she never talked about the trauma until she was hurt again in her late 30s. 'I started realizing that the impact of violence can really impact a whole person's career, your life choices,' said Chen. She said it was important to break the cycle of violence from generation to generation. But opening up isn't easy — revealing emotional scars came with misunderstanding, judgment, and stigma, said Chen. 'I was very little when I was first touched by gender-based violence, and as I was growing up and realizing what was happening to me, I questioned myself, I judged myself,' said Chen. 'A safer way to live' It's a feeling that Sarah Sherman has struggled with, too. In 2004, her husband, Jeff Bethell, attacked her in her Nanaimo, B.C., home, tied her up, and tried to kill her. She freed herself and alerted police, but when Bethell saw a police car, he crashed his own vehicle, killing himself and a four-year-old boy in a car he struck. Sherman said she lived with 'shame and guilt for many years,' relocating to New Brunswick to escape the past and be 'invisible' again. 'Some people were critically injured. They lost their child. How do I ever make up for that?' said a tearful Sherman, 'I can't, I can't, and that is the most heartbreaking part.' Sherman is the founder of charity We're Here for You, which provides comfort kits to survivors of intimate partner violence. She believes sharing can empower other victims. 'When we share truthfully and authentically, we give other people hope, possibly inspire them to find a better way or a safer way to live.' On the legal front, there has been some progress. Last year, B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma appointed lawyer Kim Stanton to conduct an independent review of the B.C. legal system's treatment of intimate partner violence and sexual violence. Stanton said she found numerous barriers to action and made nine recommendations to help survivors, including an increased focus on prevention, reform in the courts, and legal aid funding for family law services. Chen called it a good start. She also said the reform process could not involve a better person than Sharma, who supported her personally while she was struggling with violence. 'But we need actions,' said Chen. She would like to see all the proposals in Stanton's report enacted, she said. Sharma said 'the work is underway,' and a team within ministries, including hers, was looking at how to implement the recommendations. 'I've seen that there are gaps in the justice system that we need to change,' she said. Sharma said she pressed for changes to the Criminal Code to improve risk assessments when she attended last month's first minister's meeting in place of Eby, who was overseas. 'In particular, what I'm asking to see changed is changing it so after the person's convicted, the bail conditions are looked at so they are held based on the risk that they pose, instead of them being released until sentencing,' said Sharma, adding that this period is usually 'the riskiest time' for the victim. The killing of McCourt in Kelowna had occurred a few hours after Plover was convicted of a separate assault; there was no discussion of keeping him in custody, a recording of the hearing revealed. Eby said last week that he had delivered a letter from McCourt's family to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had committed to bail reform 'on multiple occasions.' Sharma said she plans to meet with Justice Minister Sean Fraser soon to continue such conversations. 'I think that anybody who has known somebody who's been the victim of intimate partner violence, or anybody who's been a victim themselves, understands that the system doesn't take the crime as seriously as it should,' said Sharma. 'And that makes me angry.' Chen, who is now president of An Xin Community Savings Credit Union in Richmond, said her recovery journey isn't easy, but she is grateful for community support. 'It took me a while to understand how important it is to find my own sense of self and reflect on what I truly want in life — rather than simply reacting to what has happened to me, like constantly feel angry, hurt or sad.' she said. 'With the support of family, friends, counselling and coaching — and knowing I am not alone — I began to focus on my own well-being.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
