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john-rustad-criticizes-eby-government-over-health-care-crisis
BCJan 30, 2025

John Rustad Criticizes Eby Government Over Health Care Crisis

BC opposition leader John Rustad has sharply criticized the Eby government for what he calls the province’s failing health care system. Rustad stated that British Columbia’s health care is now among the worst globally, with patients dying while waiting for treatment. A recent report highlights that the provincial government is not fulfilling its promises. Dr. Charlene Lui, president of the BC Physicians Association and a Burnaby family doctor, revealed that 700,000 residents in British Columbia currently lack a family doctor. Dr. Lui described the situation as alarming, emphasizing the ur
sonia-furstenau-resigns-as-bc-green-party-leader
BCJan 28, 2025

Sonia Furstenau Resigns as BC Green Party Leader

Sonia Furstenau has resigned as leader of the BC Green Party following her loss in the October 2024 legislative election. Although Furstenau, 54, had led the party since 2020, she decided to step down after her defeat. Furstenau had served as the MLA for Cowichan Valley since 2017. However, in the most recent election, she chose to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill, where she was defeated by NDP cabinet minister Grace Lore by 3,688 votes. The BC Greens now have only two MLAs in the province. Born in Edmonton, Sonia Furstenau earned a degree in education from the University of Victoria before workin
b-c-government-sets-five-year-housing-target-for-surrey
BCJan 28, 2025

B.C. Government Sets Five-Year Housing Target for Surrey

The B.C. government, under Premier David Eby, has set a five-year housing target aimed at delivering a total of 27,256 homes in Surrey by June 30, 2029. The provincial government has requested that the city submit an annual progress report to Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon. The housing target, which began on July 1, 2024, outlines specific milestones for new construction: 4,233 homes are expected to be built by June 30, 2025, followed by 4,639 homes between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, 5,248 homes are planned, followed by 6,060 new homes between July 1,
hitmen-face-sentencing-for-b-c-murder-of-former-air-india-suspect-malik
BCJan 28, 2025

Hitmen face sentencing for B.C. murder of former Air India suspect Malik

One of the admitted hitmen who killed former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik is set to be sentenced for his part in the murder today in a New Westminster, B.C., courtroom. Tanner Fox and accomplice Jose Lopez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last October, with Fox scheduled to be sentenced today, and Lopez due back in court on Friday. Malik, who was acquitted of charges related to the 1985 Air India bombing, was shot dead in Surrey, B.C, on July 14, 2022. Fox and Lopez, who were both in their early 20s at the time of the killing, were originally charged with first-degree
bc-green-party-leader-could-announce-leadership-change-tomorrow
BCJan 27, 2025

BC Green Party Leader Could Announce Leadership Change Tomorrow

BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau could announce a change in party leadership tomorrow. Furstenau suffered a defeat in the October 2024 legislative election, but despite this, the leadership of the party has remained with her so far. Furstenau first won a seat in 2017, when her party played a key role in forming the New Democrats' government. In last year’s election, Furstenau left her former seat of Cowichan Valley to run for Victoria-Beacon Hill, where she was defeated by the NDP candidate. According to sources, BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau will hold a press conference tomorr
b-c-opposition-leader-warns-premier-against-responding-to-u-s-tariff-threat
BCJan 24, 2025

B.C. Opposition Leader Warns Premier Against Responding to U.S. Tariff Threat

B.C.’s main opposition leader, John Rustad, has cautioned Premier David Eby against making a statement in response to the looming threat of U.S. tariffs. Rustad advised that while a trade war could be initiated, the reality is that Canadians would ultimately bear the cost. As leader of B.C.’s Conservative Party, Rustad emphasized that the United States has historically been Canada’s strongest ally. His remarks came as a 25 percent U.S. tariff on Canadian goods is set to take effect on February 1. While acknowledging the potential damage caused by the tariffs, Rustad made it clear that t
b-c-government-faces-challenge-as-contracts-of-400-000-public-sector-workers-expire
BCJan 23, 2025

B.C. Government Faces Challenge as Contracts of 400,000 Public Sector Workers Expire

The B.C. government is facing a challenging situation as the contracts of 400,000 public sector workers are set to expire this year, in both the spring and fall. Amid fiscal issues and potential tariffs from the Trump administration, the province will need to negotiate new contracts with unions regarding wages and other demands. These workers include nurses, hospital staff, and post-secondary school instructors and support staff. The challenge comes as the provincial government projects a $9.4-billion deficit for this fiscal year and has pledged to take steps to reduce it. The nurses’ union
john-rustad-supports-deporting-zain-haq-to-pakistan-for-violating-study-permit
BCJan 22, 2025

John Rustad supports deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for violating study permit

B.C.’s opposition leader John Rustad has voiced support for deporting Zain Haq to Pakistan for allegedly violating his study permit. Haq is accused of participating in protests instead of focusing on his studies. In 2021, Haq was arrested along with 17 others during a demonstration on Burrard Bridge that disrupted traffic, including access to St. Paul’s Hospital. Rustad emphasized that individuals coming to B.C. to study should not break the law. Zain Haq, a prominent climate activist in B.C., was ordered deported on January 25. He and his wife Sophie are appealing to Immigration Minister
sleeping-driver-leads-to-drugs-guns-being-seized-mounties-say
BCJan 22, 2025

Sleeping driver leads to drugs, guns being seized: Mounties say

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say they seized guns and a "significant" amounts of drugs after finding a man sleeping inside a running vehicle at a restaurant parking lot. A statement from the RCMP says officers saw "numerous weapons" in plain view as they approached the truck Monday to check on the driver. Police say they found a loaded handgun, ammunition, and body armour, along with a modified rifle and loaded magazines. Supt. Jeff Pelley says police also seized more than 1.5 kilograms of suspected fentanyl and 85 grams of cocaine. The statement says the man in his late 30s was arrested and rele

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trump-tariffs-could-put-87-000-canadian-jobs-at-risk-carney-says-ottawa-wont-beg-for-talks
CanadaAug 24, 2026

Trump Tariffs Could Put 87,000 Canadian Jobs at Risk; Carney Says Ottawa Won’t Beg for Talks

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada currently has no plans to restart trade negotiations with the United States, reducing hopes that the ongoing trade war between the two countries will end anytime soon. Carney said Canada will return to the negotiating table when the United States is prepared to engage in talks in the right manner. However, he made it clear that Ottawa will not accept an approach that treats Canada as a “subsidiary” of the United States. Carney indicated that Canada will not seek to restart negotiations at this stage. However, it remains possible that the Trump adminis
b-c-ex-conservative-mlas-announce-plans-to-form-new-political-party
BCAug 24, 2026

B.C. Ex-Conservative MLAs Announce Plans to Form New Political Party

Two former British Columbia Conservative MLAs have announced plans to form a new political party, saying they want to provide an alternative for voters who feel politically homeless. Delta South MLA Ian Paton and Peter Milobar, who left the Conservative Party earlier this month, say they plan to register the new party with Elections BC before the fall legislative session. Paton said the direction of the Conservatives under new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay no longer aligns with his beliefs. He said the new party would provide “a home” for people who feel politically homeless in B.C. Speaking
pm-carney-announces-11b-deal-to-build-six-icebreakers-in-quebec
CanadaAug 24, 2026

PM Carney announces $11B deal to build six icebreakers in Quebec

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that the federal government will invest more than $11 billion to build six new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard at Chantier Davie in Lévis, Quebec. The government says it is the largest shipbuilding contract in Quebec’s history. The new vessels will replace the Coast Guard’s aging heavy and medium icebreakers and will support missions including Arctic operations, search and rescue, environmental response and keeping key waterways open during the winter. The ships will be built using Canadian steel and other domestic materials under the fed
canadian-ministers-urge-citizens-to-buy-canadian-as-trump-tariffs-escalate
CanadaAug 24, 2026

Canadian Ministers Urge Citizens to ‘Buy Canadian’ as Trump Tariffs Escalate

Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson have urged Canadians to support domestic products and “Buy Canadian” in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Champagne said that when a close trading partner uses negotiations as a tool to exert pressure rather than seeking a mutually beneficial outcome, it sends a serious message to the world and makes it clear that the United States has changed. He said the greatest strength of Canadians and Canadian companies is their purchasing power. By choosing Canadian products at grocery stores,
more-than-60-new-wildfires-sparked-by-lightning-in-b-c-50-flights-cancelled-at-vancouver-airport
BCAug 24, 2026

More Than 60 New Wildfires Sparked by Lightning in B.C.; 50 Flights Cancelled at Vancouver Airport

More than 7,000 lightning strikes across British Columbia over the weekend sparked more than 60 new wildfires across the province. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, around 67 new fires were reported over the past 24 hours. However, rainfall brought by the thunderstorms helped prevent the fires from spreading, and most of the new blazes have been brought under control. The severe thunderstorms also disrupted operations at Vancouver International Airport. For safety reasons, airport operations were suspended from 9:30 p.m. Saturday until 2:55 a.m. Sunday. The disruption left thousands of p