Add Bruce Banman to the list of MLAs who are quitting the BC Conservative caucus. The Abbotsford-South member announced his departure on Thursday, bringing leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s defections to six MLAs. Several party staffers have also quit or been fired this summer. Banman says person after person has informed him Findlay is unelectable. On Wednesday, close to five dozen party faithful met in the basement of a downtown Vancouver White Spot to discuss damage control and next steps as the party falls apart.

Meanwhile, Elections BC has approved a petition drive by newly elected BC Conservative MLA Harman Bhangu. He wants to get rid of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The Langley-Abbotsford MLA says the legislation has been a disaster for B.C. and needs to be repealed. The anti-Indigenous property rights petition has the full endorsement of Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Two more BC Conservative MLAs have quit. Party Operations Director Apollo Chung is fired. And leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay faces new anger as her party implodes. Teresa Wat and Brennan Day are the latest MLAs to announce their departure from the BC Conservative caucus, citing issues with Findlay’s leadership. They join Rosalyn Bird, Ian Paton and Peter Milobar who have all decided to sit as independents. The Conservative leader is not responding to credible media outlets about this week’s developments.

Premier David Eby is asking Prime Minister Mark Carney to consider retaliatory trade war tactics rather than counter-tariffs. Eby says that includes Canada walking away from the purchase of American fighter jets and hampering the shipment of thermal coal from Montana through Delta. That position comes as the Prime Minister announces dollar-for-dollar counter tariffs on $28B worth of American products.

The U.S. must change its attitude before Canada returns to trade talks - that’s the word from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The PM told reporters in Quebec it’s become clear the American negotiators want to destroy Canada’s major industries. Carney pulled-out of trade talks on Friday - President Donald Trump has now imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of exports. A Tuesday news conference has been scheduled for Canada to announce more details about retaliatory tariffs.

Those living on the Washington state side of the Canada-U-S border are growing increasingly concerned about a huge drop in southbound crossings at the Peace Arch. Traffic in July was down 21% from two years ago and 48% from 2019. Business owners in Blaine tell KOMO News, their community was trying to recover from the COVID pandemic before the current trade war started. Many say there is a great deal of fear in Blaine right now.

Job losses are inevitable and the future of small and medium sized businesses is in peril - that’s the warning from the BC Chamber of Commerce following the collapse of trade talks between Canada and the U.S. Chamber President and CEO Jen Riley tells CTV News B.C. businesses are set to bear a disproportionate burden. However, Riley says Prime Minister Mark Carney made the right move in breaking off trade talks because sovereignty was on the table. Premier David Eby says Canada didn’t ask for this fight but will win it.

Close to 400 jobs are being lost as Howe Sound’s pulp and paper mill, along with a wood chipping facility, are closing forever. Domtar says it’s closing the Port Mellon mill and Bayview Fibre facility due to reduced demand from Asia. The operations will wind down through to October. The Truck Loggers Association calls it a serious setback for B.C.’s coastal forest sector and the communities that rely on it.

Crews are now fighting a small but growing wildfire near Chilliwack Lake. It broke out Wednesday afternoon, prompting an initial call-out for the area’s volunteer firefighters. The fire is now in the hands of the BC Wildfire Service. Temperatures have been over 30 degrees in the area with more hot and dry weather in the forecast for Thursday and Friday.

An evacuation order is over as residents in or near Summerland return home - many to find their houses damaged or destroyed by the Bald Range wildfire. According to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, nearly 150 structures were hit as the fast moving wildfire swept through the area early this month. The wildfire is still burning and those who have returned are still on evacuation alert. Highway 97 is now open in both directions, 24 hours a day.

Vancouver civic party OneCity wants to reboot the Vancouver Economic Commission - an office that was shut down by the ABC-led council three years ago. It’s plan to set up an entrepreneur liaison office is part of the party’s five-point plan to make new Vancouver business ‘easier, faster and cheaper.’ OneCity is also proposing to use taxpayer money for a multitiered micro-grant system to help businesses start or scale up.

B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey is about to give more details about her future after revealing she has cancer. Bailey says her cancer is in the early stages and she has been discussing her path forward with Premier David Eby. The Vancouver-South Granville MLA comes from the tech sector where she co-founded girl and women oriented video game studio Silicon Sisters. Earlier this week, Bailey announced a reduction in the provincial deficit from $10.9B to $7.7B.