B.C. NDP Leader David Eby announced during a campaign stop in Burnaby that, if re-elected, his government would introduce a new empty condo tax targeting developers who leave completed condo units unsold and vacant for more than a year. Under the proposed measure, the tax would increase by one percentage point for each additional year a unit remains vacant. Eby said just 10 developers are holding more than $2 billion worth of completed condos that they are unwilling to sell at what he described as reasonable prices. He warned developers that they would have to either sell the units or pay the

Two people were hospitalized after a serious two-vehicle crash in Surrey on Thursday night that caused a pickup truck to roll over. According to Surrey Police Service and B.C. Emergency Health Services, the collision occurred at around 10 p.m. at the intersection of 152 Street and 99 Avenue. A Mercedes and a Ram pickup truck collided, sending the pickup rolling into a utility pole before coming to rest on its side. Surrey Fire Service and paramedics responded to the scene and transported two occupants to hospital. Police confirmed that their injuries were not life-threatening. Police have not

A new report by U.S. magazine Mother Jones has revealed details of the alleged ChatGPT history of Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old identified in connection with the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. According to the report, Van Rootselaar had previously used ChatGPT to discuss a potential mass shooting at a shopping mall, after which the account was banned. She later created a second account and allegedly told the chatbot that the earlier scenario had been fictional. Mother Jones reports that Van Rootselaar subsequently used hypothetical or fictional framing to get responses to violent

Two former B.C. MLAs facing serious criminal charges could be back on the ballot in the upcoming provincial election. Former B.C. Conservative MLA Jordan Kealy has already confirmed that he will run as an independent in Peace River North. Kealy was charged in June with sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident that occurred before he became an MLA in 2024. He has denied the allegation and says he is innocent. The case has not yet gone to trial. Meanwhile, the office of former Richmond Centre MLA Hon Chan says he is considering running again. Chan is facing charges including assault

A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a Ford pickup truck on Highway 3 in the Hope area of B.C. Wednesday night. Hope RCMP said police received a report of the collision at around 8:38 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, the pedestrian had already died. Just minutes before the crash, police had also received a report of a person walking in the slow lane near the Highway 1 junction on Highway 5. Police said the truck driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Corporal Carmen Keener said there were no initial indications that alcohol was a factor.

Former BC Conservative leader John Rustad will not seek re-election in his riding in the Oct. 24 provincial election, with the party expected to nominate a new candidate there. The political development comes as the BC Conservatives announced business and political leader Pavneet Singh as their candidate in Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. Singh currently serves as the party’s vice-president. The party’s board of directors has also outlined its position on the leadership of interim leader Lorne Doerkson. According to a statement from the board, if Doerkson leads the party to victory in the

BC Green Party MLA Rob Botterell has announced his retirement from politics, opening the door for party leader Emily Lowan to contest the Saanich North and the Islands riding in the upcoming provincial election. Botterell confirmed his decision during a joint news conference with Lowan in Victoria. Lowan will now seek the seat, which has been held by the Greens since Adam Olsen won it in 2017 and was retained by Botterell in the 2024 election. Elections BC records show Botterell was elected with the Green Party in 2024. The riding is considered significant for the BC Greens, given the party’

Crown Counsel has approved charges after a 19-year-old man was allegedly slashed in the face with a blade during an early-morning robbery on Vancouver’s Granville Street last month. Vancouver Police are also asking the public to help identify a second suspect. The incident happened around 3:20 a.m. on August 8 in the 900-block of Granville Street. Police say two men approached the victim and his friends, removed a chain necklace from the victim’s neck and slashed him. The victim suffered a five-inch cut stretching from the tip of his nose, beneath his eye and ending near his eyebrow. On Se

Election activity is intensifying in British Columbia, with Elections B.C. announcing that advance voting will be held from October 16 to 21. Voters will be able to cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the advance voting period. Political parties and independent candidates will have until October 3 to enter the race and complete their registration. The 2024 provincial election cost approximately $91 million to conduct. For this election, Elections B.C. has initially requested a budget of $50 million, although the final cost will only be known after the voting process is completed. V