B.C. NDP Leader David Eby unveiled his party’s healthcare plan during the election campaign today, promising to open 20 new urgent community-care health centres across the province, including three in Surrey. Speaking at Simon Fraser University, where a new medical school is being developed, Eby also announced incentives for doctors to offer same-day appointments and appointments outside regular working hours to help patients access medical care without long waits. The plan also includes adding 1,000 new seats in post-secondary institutions to train future healthcare professionals. In addit

B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson has announced a proposed $1,000 annual provincial income-tax cut for low- and middle-income families. Speaking at a grocery store in Surrey, Doerkson said that if elected premier, his government would raise the provincial basic personal income-tax exemption to $32,000. He said this would mean British Columbians would pay no provincial income tax on their first $32,000 of income. Doerkson said a two-income household could save up to $2,000 a year under the proposal, with the money remaining in families’ pockets rather than going to the government. He al

A 27-year-old Abbotsford man has been charged in connection with a fatal crash in Burnaby that killed an elderly couple nearly two years ago. According to Burnaby RCMP, the crash occurred on December 21, 2024, at Boundary Road and Forest Street, where two vehicles collided and one vehicle struck the other from the side. A 67-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man, who were travelling in the same vehicle, died at the scene. Following an investigation that lasted nearly two years, the RCMP’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team determined that charges were warranted. The B.C. Prosecution Servic

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby has promised to freeze ICBC insurance rates for another three years if his party is re-elected. Speaking during a campaign stop in Richmond, Eby said the move would mean B.C. drivers would go a total of 10 years without facing additional increases in their vehicle insurance rates. Eby credited his government’s no-fault insurance reforms for helping move B.C. from having some of the most expensive auto insurance in Canada to among the most affordable. He also criticized B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson, warning that insurance rates could double again if the Co

Canada’s House of Commons is set to vote today on the federal government’s controversial Bill C-39, which aims to fast-track approvals for major projects. The bill has drawn criticism over a provision that would amend Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, giving the Labour Minister the power to intervene in an ongoing strike by citing the national interest. NDP parliamentary leader Don Davies has called the bill an attack on workers’ and Indigenous rights, as well as environmental protections. He said he is concerned about a growing trend of power being concentrated in the hands of cabi

Vancouver’s municipal election advance voting has set a new daily record, with 25,142 people casting their ballots on Wednesday, the second day of advance voting. According to preliminary figures released by the City of Vancouver, it was the highest number of advance votes recorded in a single day in the city’s history. The previous record was set just four days earlier, on Oct. 3, when 21,824 voters cast their ballots on the first day of advance voting. In comparison, only 10,502 people voted on the second day of advance voting during Vancouver’s 2022 municipal election. This year’s f

Sixteen vehicles were vandalized in the parking lot of Brentwood Mall in Burnaby on Monday evening. According to the Burnaby RCMP, the incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m., when the windows of several parked vehicles were smashed. Officers were called to the scene after receiving reports from witnesses, but the suspect had already fled before police arrived. Cpl. Mike Kalanj said investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the area in an effort to identify the suspect. Police have not released any image of the suspect at this time. RCMP said a total of 16 vehicles had their windows damaged

A major traffic incident has been reported on Highway 1 near Sumas Way in Abbotsford, where a grain-loaded semi-truck overturned. The crash forced the closure of several highway lanes, causing significant traffic disruptions. No injuries have been reported in the incident. Abbotsford Police and emergency crews attended the scene to manage the situation. Highway 1 was reduced to a single lane in both directions, while the westbound on-ramp from Sumas Way was also closed. Police urged morning commuters to exercise extreme caution while travelling through the area, use alternate routes where poss

BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerksen announced during a campaign stop in Surrey today that his party would eliminate the provincial sales tax on capital equipment, such as machinery, for businesses across British Columbia. Doerksen also promised to appoint a Red Tape Reduction Minister to cut government paperwork and simplify complex regulations affecting businesses. He also responded to accusations from B.C. NDP Leader David Eby that the Conservatives would scrap the province’s no-fault insurance system. Doerksen said he agrees with Eby that insurance must remain affordable, but argued tha