Vancouver Rundown

Friends and family of a couple murdered in Abbotsford are outraged after a B.C. judge ruled the killers’ Charter rights have been been breached. Justice Brenda Brown has ruled the Criminal Code’s 25 years without parole infringes on guarantees against cruel and unusual punishment. It means sentencing for the three men who killed Arnold and Joanne De Jong in 2022 has now been pushed to February. Khushveer Toor, Abhijeet Singh and Gurkaran Singh have already been found guilty of first degree murder and will serve life sentences - parole eligibility needs to be decided.

Vancouver is the first major Canadian city to elect a Green mayor. Pete Fry, 57, has defeated incumbent mayor Ken Sim by more than 30,000 votes in Saturday’s civic elections. Along with the win, Fry will have a city council made up of many left-of-centre councillors. Sim’s ABC party failed to elect all but one of its candidates - Mike Klassen. Fry has been a city councillor since 2018.

The BC Conservatives have dumped their youngest candidate over social media posts about the Holocaust and Hitler. Vancouver-Strathcona’s Jordan McIntosh has been linked to a nameless X account that contains posts downplaying Hitler’s actions against the Jews. McIntosh is 18-years-old. The posts were made when he was 15. The Conservatives dumped McIntosh within hours of his social media posts being called-out by his NDP opponent.

B.C.’s economy, taxation and healthcare dominated the discussion as the province’s three main party leaders squared off in Wednesday evening’s broadcast debate. All three stuck to their party platforms with no major surprises in what many describe as a civil debate. Early voting in the provincial general election starts on Friday while Oct. 24 is election day.

The Washington state suspect, charged in connection with the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, has been denied bail. A judge in Seattle has ruled the risks could not be reasonably addressed by setting release conditions for James Cody Bryant. The Bellingham resident is charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country. Jesse Van Rootselaar died by suicide after killing eight people - including six at Tumbler Ridge Secondary - on February 10, 2026.

NDP leader David Eby is under attack by opponents for benefiting from B.C.’s now-paused $10 per day daycare. Eby, who is married to a physician, confirmed his children are in a subsidized daycare facility. The BC Conservatives responded to the comments, made at a Sunday campaign stop, by saying David Eby looks after David Eby first while struggling parents deserve a premier who looks for a solution for affordable daycare. The NDP has responded by saying childcare fees in B.C. have declined by 50 per cent since 2017.

The MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill has been kicked out of the BC Conservative caucus over social media posts that promote violence toward pro-Palestinian protestors. Joachim Agou has been removed by leader Lorne Doerkson who says there’s no excuse and the actions will not be tolerated. Agou’s name has been removed from the Conservative’s website - he will likely still appear on the BC election ballot next to his former party affiliation.

NDP leader David Eby promises to freeze ICBC rates for three years, claiming his government has already held the costs for the previous ten years. The campaign promise comes as the NDP and Conservatives announce two different approaches to ICBC. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson is calling for an end to no-fault insurance. The NDP is also accusing the Conservatives of sending a ‘private’ letter to trial lawyers promising changes to the system - that letter was widely distributed to thousands of lawyers and reported on by the media two years ago.

There’s an early start to B.C.’s cold and flu season as health officials ramp up vaccines. For the first time, an enhanced flu shot is being offered as well as am RSV immunization for seniors. Two mRNA vaccines will be available for those wanting to avoid COVID-19. While cases are on the rise earlier than usual, they are remaining at a moderate level…so far.

The main accused in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting apparently had a coconspirator from Washington state. Members of the FBI and RCMP have told a Seattle news conference James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, assisted Jesse Van Rootselaar by providing advice, money and technical assistance. Bryant has now been arrested and charged in one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings. Eight people, including six children, were shot at a home and school in Tumbler Ridge back on Feb. 10.

NDP leader David Eby continues to defend his campaign promise of additional taxes for those who earn over $190,000 per year and a new provincial tax bracket for those who make more than $1M. Eby says he cheers those who make more money but also notes it’s all right to ask them to pay more in income tax. The BC Conservatives call the move a doctor tax and say Eby’s plan will deter physicians from coming to the province. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are promising a $50M emergency fund to help fight those temporary ER closures - especially those in the BC Interior.