Novice drivers in B.C. are now eligible to get their full licence under new system - CBC

British Columbia·NewNovice or "N" drivers will no longer need to take a second road test to obtain their full license in B. C., as of Monday. The change is meant to increase access, according to the province, but road safety advocates have concerns. Road safety advocates raise concerns about approving full licences based on driving recordsArden McLeod · CBC News · Posted: Oct 19, 2026 12:31 PM EDT | Last Updated: 14 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. The province says removing the second road test will improve access to driver's licences in First Nations and rural communities. (Ben Nelms/CBC)Novice or "N" drivers will no longer need to take a second road test to obtain their full license in B. C., as of Monday. Previously, the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) functioned as a three-stage system, starting with a learner’s permit at age 16, followed by a road test to acquire a novice licence after one year as a learner. Finally, drivers would take a second road test to become fully licensed

Informations complètes et à jour, compilées par Google Actualités à partir de sources d'actualité du monde entier

Oil prices have reversed higher in light of fresh reports about two separate Middle East strikes. WTI had traded down to $99.24 earlier and brent to $106.82, both after the US waived santions on Russian fuel. That move now seems to have bought about 15 hours of lower oil prices and now crude is up on the day, with WTI at $103.13 and brent just above $110. Two stories have driven the gains, the first is that the Iranian navy said the US attacked the Konarek naval base with "two light projectiles" early this morning and that wo solidiers were injured. More recently, a pair of reports highlight that Houthis claimed six attacks on Saudi Arabia in the past 48 hours, including strikes on the Yanbu oil facility owned by Aramco, the Shaybah oilfield and airports in Ryiadh and Abha. Today, Saudi Arabia cancelled this year's 'Davos in the Desert' conference. The next quesion is what will be the retaliation for the latest strikes on both sides. The US hadn't attacked Iran in seven weeks; Trump also said no attacks before the midterms. This one was characterized as small so perhaps it's ignored as Iran continues to focus on striking ships transiting Hormuz.

Published: October 19, 2026 at 1:11p.m. EDTOntario is not only reducing winter electricity pricing this November, but it is also cutting down on its ratepayer rebates. As of Nov. 1, the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER) will change to 15.7 per cent, reflecting a near eight per cent drop. The rebate is applied on the electricity bill of all residential, small business and farm customers. “Our government continues to keep electricity costs down for Ontario families. With electricity prices falling this winter, we continue to provide an energy rebate saving an average family nearly $275 annually,” Noah Mawji, spokesperson for Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said in a statement. A typical customer, using 700 per kilowatt hour of electricity each month, will see their bills decrease by $23 every month now, according to the province. Before, the OER decreased bills by about $36 each month, or $432 annually. The reduction in the rebate percentage does not necessarily mean electricity bills will be more expensive. In the last five years, the OER has ranged between 13.1 per cent and 23.5 per cent.

Over the past few weeks of campaigning, the BC NDP has released a flurry of campaign promises ahead of the snap provincial election, including saving the average driver $20 per tank on gas, a tax on unsold condos, lower grocery bills, and giving the City of Surrey its own municipal charter. But it was just two years ago that B. C. was gearing up for its most recent provincial election, where the BC NDP would ultimately win a narrow majority government.