It's been a year since B.C.'s premier committed to reviewing the Mental Health Act after the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy — but there's still no progress or info on when the review may begin.
I looked into why this review has been called for, and the stakes for getting it right.
tinyurl.com/4pz7nxhu
Congrats on all the nominations, Zak! Very deserved.
First Nations leaders say B.C. hasn’t made much progress in preventing outsized impact of toxic drug crisis
by @thatemfagan.bsky.social #publichealth #harmreduction #toxicdrugs #healthequity
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
What’s the difference between a coroner’s inquest and a public inquiry, and why are some pushing for both in the case of Tumbler Ridge?
I thought it might help to break down these two types of investigations, and the paths to finding answers that they could take:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Absolutely wild. WSJ reporting that some OpenAI staffers thought the Tumbler Ridge shooter's use of ChatGPT raised the potential of real world violence but leadership decided not to alert RCMP. www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
the investigator assigned to investigate the complaint was not sufficiently independent because the investigator was also the Gold Commander with overall operational responsibility for the decampment.
In its new report on the Hastings forced evictions, the BC Human Rights Commissioner just identified a, uh, pretty major gap in oversight:
I wrote a big piece that was, in part, about ICE arrests in Texas last summer. I ended up cutting a section on what it's like for kids in family detention. But if you're wondering what that five-year-old from Minnesota is now going through in Texas, this will give you some idea.
A wind storm that caused B.C. Ferries to cancel almost all sailings between Vancouver and the island came at the peak of the holiday travel season – leaving the fate of many passengers and their travel plans uncertain.
I spoke to several of those left stranded.
Latest:
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RCMP are investigating after two early-morning shootings have taken place over the past three days on residential streets in the Cowichan Valley.
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
By mid-afternoon, the flurry of activity from the morning’s news had quietened. That’s when Rustad, taking a break from cleaning out his office, wandered into the press gallery and began regaling reporters with stories of animals he's encountered in northern B.C. For about 20 minutes, he told stories about otters, wolves, eagles and other animals. Once, he said, while snowshoeing through the bush, he realized he was downwind of a fully grown moose. He coughed, alerting the moose to his presence — and it began to charge, he said. With only an axe to defend himself, Rustad said, he held his ground. Just before it reached him, the moose stopped, snorted and turned away. "Politics is nothing compared to that," he said.
What a post-script, from @thatemfagan.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#bcpoli
B.C. could be on the verge of flirting with another attempt at proportional representation. But after three failed attempts, what would make this time different?
My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Canada’s drug laws are facing a constitutional challenge from the founders of a Vancouver compassion club.
In trying to beat back a wave of toxic street drugs, "You feel lost and powerless, because you are," Jeremy Kalicum testified.
pressprogress.ca/drug-laws-fa...
While Premier Eby says changes to the Mental Health Act are necessary to make sure workers are protected from liability, some in the industry have raised questions about why this change is necessary — as they say the act already covers liability protection.
Latest:
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You wouldn’t believe the lengths @kehyslop.bsky.social had to go to to get basic info on the training for school liaison officers. This contoversial VPD program was briefly shuttered in 2021 before being reinstated in 2023. #vanpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Politicians and experts are calling for nasal naloxone to be free for everyone in B.C.—as it is in other provinces—as they say providing a more accessible option for the general public could make a difference in saving lives amid the toxic drug crisis.
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
My initial reaction to Minister Parmar's comments was raised eyebrows and rolled eyes
A few weeks later, standing on the edge of a freshly logged cutblock in the Walbran Valley, his words seemed even more jarring
In fact, "the clearcutting continues as we speak" #bcpoli
A Canada-wide agreement signed today will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods, except food and alcohol, starting in December.
Latest:
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Columbia Journalism Review recently interviewed Betsy Reed, editor of the Guardian's U.S. edition. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...
She says: "If we regard it, for good reason, as being extreme and out of line with basic humane values, we won’t treat it as part of the normal discourse in America."
Many services on Salt Spring Island are experiencing a labor shortage, driven by a lack of housing workers can afford.
It's pushed businesses around the island to offer housing for workers in order to improve recruitment — including illegal trailers.
My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
B.C. Green Party MLA Rob Botterell says in a province where a third of residents are renters, it’s time to remove the ability for landlords to raise rent prices after evicting tenants.
He's pushing for vacancy control — but is facing an uphill battle.
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department
It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets
Table showing VicPD’s proposed 2026 budget increase. VicPD has labeled $7.8 million as a “core increase” and $3.1 million as “optional resources,” totalling $10.8 million, a 13.73% increase, or $89,845,665. Next to text indicating VicPD is asking for 17 new officers as “optional resources,” red text is added that says “Doesn't mention they're actually asking for 25 new officers; they just decided to brand eight of them "non-optional." The entire budget is optional.” Red text added below the “Total budget” says “+ $925,425 still under appeal, rejected by Esquimalt last year $90,771,090 (if appeal succeeds).”
The #yyj police board is presenting its draft 2026 budget at 5:00 pm. They want $90 million+, including 25 new officers. It would be an $11 million increase, or 14% (a 52%, $31 million increase from 2021). Budget: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... 🧵 with highlights before the meeting starts. #vicpdboard
A B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid the eight-week BCGEU strike.
My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Public service workers told me they've faced a high toll for being on strike these last six weeks — more than anything, they want to return to their jobs helping people.
But with negotiations at a standstill for weeks, it's unclear when a deal will be reached.
Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting the psychiatric treatment they need, and are being kept in jail longer than required, because the province has only one 190-bed hospital for them, @mikehager.bsky.social reports:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...
Freelancers based on Vancouver Island or the BC coast, please get in touch if you're available over the next few weeks!
A judge has sentenced a man who he says was involved in a shooting and arson at the B.C. home of musician AP Dhillon in 2024 on the direction of the Bishnoi crime group, which is now a terrorist entity in Canada.
My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
UVic's president committed to implementing all 18 of an independent report's recommendations in the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus — most before September.
While progress has been made, few recommendations were finished by the start of term.
My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...