BCSep 26, 2025
Talks to resume between B.C. government and its public service union
Talks are resuming between the union representing British Columbia's public service workers and the provincial government. Paul Finch, president of the BC General Employees' Union, says the government has reached out to the union saying it has a new offer and negotiations will start again on Monday.
Finch says union pickets will remain up. The union has been conducting escalating strike action over the last four weeks, with up to 15,000 workers conducting job actions including picketing and overtime bans.
Finch told a gathering in Victoria that there has been unprecedented level
BCSep 26, 2025
Stay of ostrich cull in southeast B.C. an ongoing potential health risk, CFIA says
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the "ongoing delay" in carrying out the cull of ostriches at a British Columbia farm presents "potential animal and human health risks."
The agency says in a statement that it will continue to feed the birds under veterinary oversight, and it will be using the feed provided by Universal Ostrich Farms' regular suppliers.
The statement says it has determined there are between 300 and 330 ostriches on the farm in southeastern B.C., and work on determining a more precise count is ongoing.
The agency also says it has identified one ostrich on-site "with comp
BCSep 26, 2025
Repeat offender charged in Nanaimo, remains in custody
An incident from July 4, 2025, in which a bicycle was stolen from an unsuspecting youth has resulted in charges and the offender being remanded into police custody on numerous other criminal code offences. The news release that followed the bike theft garnered significant interest and outrage from the public via social media.
The investigation was handled by the Special Investigations/Targeted Enforcement unit (SITE). This team, consisting of highly motivated skilled investigators caught a break on the file when on August 24, 2025, the primary suspect in the theft was arrested for shoplifting
BCSep 26, 2025
Environment Canada issues warning for Vancouver Island as heavy rain expected
Heavy rain is forecast to return to British Columbia's coast this week, with parts of Vancouver Island expecting up to 100 millimetres of precipitation.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a rainfall warning for much of the west coast of Vancouver Island, covering communities including Sooke and Tofino.
The weather agency says heavy rain is expected to begin later today and continue into Saturday morning.
It says the heavy rain could cause flash floods, while low-lying areas may also experience localized flooding.
The weather office says the heavy rain is due to a Pacific storm sy
BCSep 26, 2025
Port of Vancouver says record volumes of cargo moved during first half of 2025
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority says 13 per cent more cargo moved through Canada's biggest port during the first six months of the year than during the same period of 2024.
That amounted to a record 85 million metric tonnes being handled at the Port of Vancouver.
The biggest increase could be seen in crude oil exports, which were almost five times higher than the first half of last year thanks to the startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in May 2024.
About 60 per cent of the crude export volumes during the first half of 2025 went to China.
Canola oil exports moving through the p
BCSep 26, 2025
Police confirm pilot's death after plane crash in Lillooet, B.C.
Police in Lillooet, B.C., have confirmed that a pilot has died when a small plane crashed near the community's airport.
RCMP say they were notified that a bush plane had crashed just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
They say emergency responders pulled the unconscious pilot from the aircraft, but that they died at the scene.
The Transportation Safety Board has said that a team of investigators would be sent to the site.
The agency described the aircraft as a privately registered Bushmaster Super 22, but no additional information was released.
BC Emergency Health Services has said that multiple ambul
BCSep 25, 2025
Man convicted in 2021 Richmond RCMP drug investigation
Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit (OCU) has secured a conviction against a man in a drug trafficking case dating back to 2021.
Led by the OCU Drug Target Team, the investigation began in April of 2021 in regard to a residence in the 8000 block of Demorest Drive. During the subsequent investigation, officers established grounds to believe the residence was being used as a hub for the distribution of controlled substances. On May 6, 2021, a search warrant was executed at the residence.
On April 28, 2022, charges were approved by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada against three individual
BCSep 25, 2025
Operation Hang Up reminds drivers to leave their devices while driving
Surrey Police Service, Delta Police Department and Surrey Crime Prevention Society, in partnership with ICBC, organized Project Operation Hang-Up today (Sept. 25th).
The education and enforcement campaign focused primarily on distracted driving. Volunteers can be seen keeping an eye on the drivers during operation hang-up. While officers were present to participate in this campaign, a large number of volunteers also educated drivers under this campaign and installed signs at various places in the area of Highway 10 and 152 Street in Surrey. SPS and ICBC representatives pose for a pictur
BCSep 25, 2025
New BC Green leader Lowan says province must create sustainable funding for cities
Newly elected BC Green Leader Emily Lowan says a wealth tax and a windfall profit tax would bring more money for social services and "ensure that the richest corporations and one per cent in B.C. are paying their fair share."
Lowan spoke to delegates at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual convention just a day after becoming the party's new leader, winning on the first ballot against Jonathan Kerr and Adam Bremner-Akins.
She says senior levels of government consistently tell municipalities there's no money for social services, "yet when foreign, state-owned companies or America