Democracy Watch says its legal challenge of the validity of Premier John Horgan's snap election call in late 2020, as the COVID 19 pandemic was nearing its height, begins today and continues tomorrow in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver. Democracy Watch says the goal of the court challenge is not to overturn the election. Instead, it wants the court to rule that the election call violated the sovereignty of Parliament because it happened one year before the fixed election date which had been approved by the legislature. Democracy Watch advocates for democratic reform and government accountability

Mediated talks between striking bus drivers in the Sea-to-Sky region and their employer have ended almost as quickly as they began. Unifor, representing about 80 transit workers in Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton, says talks began and ended yesterday when PW Transit, the third-party contractor for BC Transit, would not consider union proposals for wage parity with bus drivers in Metro Vancouver and Victoria. But a statement from the contractor says it put forward two wage offers and is disappointed the union walked away without putting either one to its members. A transit strike in the Sea-t

Politicians ask a lot of questions in British Columbia’s legislature, but for New Democrat member Rick Glumac, his question posed Wednesday was especially important. Glumac, the member for Port Moody-Coquitlam, stood in the legislature to acknowledge all the partners who support the unique work that politicians in the legislature do, saying it certainly isn’t a normal job.He noted that his partner, Haven Lurbiecki, was in the legislature’s gallery and he told her that every day she made the world better and filled his heart with love.Amid applause and cheers from his colleagues, Glumac a

A man from Gibsons who killed his sleeping mother with an axe has been found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder. Kevin Webster had been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Moirin Webster on December 27th, 2020. BC Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Gomery says Webster had suffered from schizophrenia for years and was ``psychotically driven'' by the paranoid belief that he was the target of a murderous conspiracy by his family. The judge said he agreed with the Crown and defence that it was appropriate to find Webster not criminally responsible and order him held

Police have identified a husband and wife, both in their 70s, as homicide victims in Abbotsford, B.C. Investigators say 77-year-old Arnold De Jong and 76-year-old Joanne De Jong were found dead in a home on Monday. A statement from police says it's unclear if the killings were random or targeted. Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says they are releasing the names and a photo of the victims to further the investigation and identify other possible witnesses. The statement says homicide investigators are still collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses and trying to b

Police in Vancouver are warning parents about a disturbing trend involving teens that swarm a lone peer before punching and kicking them until they fall to the ground, then forcing them to kiss their attackers' shoes. The Vancouver Police Department says the demeaning bullying rituals are sometimes videoed and posted online. Sergeant Steve Addison says beyond physical harm, these types of incidents can cause deep-rooted emotional trauma, and parents should speak to their children about bullying and violence. He's asking parents to encourage their children to call police if they have informati

Talks have resumed for the first time in weeks between striking transit workers and their employers in the Sea-to-Sky corridor including Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton. More than 80 transit workers, including bus drivers, have been off the job since January 29th. The dispute is focused on job security and wage parity with B-C Transit drivers in Metro Vancouver. A spokesman for Unifor, which represents the workers, says the union will ``enter the negotiations in good faith and will continue to bargain for fair compensation.''

An Indigenous group in Saskatchewan is calling on the Vancouver Police Department to further investigate the death of a 24-year-old woman whose remains were found in a vacant house in the city nearly two years after she was reported missing. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says Chelsea Poorman's family deserves to know what happened to her before contractors working at the home discovered her remains in April. Police have said an investigation into the death of the woman from the Kawacatoose First Nation was launched immediately and officers have met with some of her family mem

Homicide detectives are investigating two suspicious deaths in Abbotsford, B.C.Police in that Fraser Valley city say they were called to a Home in a rural area of north Abbotsford on Monday.Two unnamed victims were found dead inside the home.The police statement says early indications suggest the deaths are not connected to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict.The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is now handling the case and will provide any further updates.It is appealing for any dashcam or surveillance video taken in the area around the 33600 block of Arcadian Way between Sunday mo