An MLA from the Interior has scored a huge coup in the crowded BC Conservative leadership race - getting the backing of five members of caucus. Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar has been endorsed by Ward Stamer, Gavin Dew, Kiel Giddens, Brennan Day and Scott McInnis - all are from outside the Lower Mainland. Milobar faces ten other declared candidates seeking the leadership.

A backcountry skier has been killed in an avalanche in Sea-to-Sky country. RCMP say the avalanche happened near Joffre Peak, east of Pemberton. Search and Rescue reached the victim Tuesday afternoon and has been devising a plan to recover the body. This is the third avalanche death in B.C. in the past week.

Canadian based airlines are starting to resume scheduled flights to and from Mexico. That’s good news for the thousands of Canadian tourists stuck in violent hotspots like Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Many tourists have been sheltering in place since the weekend following fire bombings of cars, shops and buildings - an apparent revenge rampage linked to the killing of drug kingpin ‘El Mencho.’ More than 70 people have died since the violence broke out on Sunday.

Those from B.C., along with other Canadians, are sheltered in place as widespread violence breaks out across Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Cars have burned, blocking roads, and travellers have taken cover as heavily armed thugs seek revenge following the killiing of the Jalisco New Generation cartel boss - a man known as El Mencho. YVR and other airports across Canada have cancelled flights to the tourist destination. Global Affairs is warning Canadians in PV to shelter in place. Travel to Mexico is not advised.

The BC Human Rights Tribunal has ordered former Chilliwack school trustee Barry Neufeld to pay $750K in a long standing hate speech complaint. Neufeld has been ordered to compensate LGBTQ+ teachers for his public attacks on gender-identity education - something which the Tribunal says created a ‘poisoned’ work environment. The Chilliwack Teachers’ Association, along with the BCTF, filed the complaint back in 2017.

Close to three dozen B.C. healthcare workers snooped into the medical records of the victims being treated following the Lapu Lapu Festival attack. A report from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for B.C. finds close to half of those injured had their privacy breached while being treated at various hospitals and healthcare facilities. The Commissioner is recommending Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health institute stronger measures to prevent future breaches. On April 26 last year, the driver of an SUV hit a crowd of people leaving the festival - 11 people died and 30 others were hurt.

Increased taxes, cuts to the public sector and more debt - it’s all part of the Eby government’s provincial budget. This year’s 2026 budget does include new funding for core services in education and health care but at the expense of many other programs. Thousands of public service jobs will be cut. At $9.6B, the budget is also down a bit from the last quarterly forecast of $11.2B. The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is giving this year’s budget a D.

A tough, unpopular budget. That’s the strong hint from Victoria as the B.C. government gets set to deliver its provincial budget Tuesday. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says tough decisions have to be made but there will not be any cuts to core services. The Eby government has delivered three deficits in a row and nearly doubled the provincial debt in as many years. The BCGEU reached a contract deal with the government last fall that gives public sector workers a 3 per cent wage increase in each year. The BC Teachers Federation is said to be very close to approving a contract with the same pay raises.

I carry a sorrow - that’s what the father of the Tumbler Ridge shooter is saying following the mass shooting in the north eastern B.C. community. Justin Van Rootselaar says “words feel far too small for the sorrow we carry together.” He’s offered his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Nine people, including shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar died in the shootings at his family home and Tumbler Ridge Secondary.

Hundreds of people have attended a Wednesday evening candlelight vigil in Tumbler Ridge - the north eastern B.C. community rocked by a mass shooting Tuesday afternoon. Eighteen-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar’s victim’s include the shooter’s mother and stepbrother - killed at home - and five students and an educator who were shot dead at Tumbler Ridge Secondary. Van Rootselaar later died by suicide. More than two dozen others are still recovering from various wounds. Premier David Eby promises he’ll get answers to questions about the shooter’s mental health and police interaction history. Thursday has been declared a provincial day of mourning. The planned B.C. Throne Speech has been cancelled.