Vancouver Rundown

Job losses and cuts to programs are coming as the City of Vancouver pushes ahead with its zero per cent property tax increase. Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC councillors have voted as promised, after a series of sharp increases over the past three years. The tax freeze has the support of Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and several other business improvement and hospitality groups.

Meanwhile,

The price tag for a new amphitheatre at the PNE has almost tripled to $184M. The City blames the huge cost increase on rising construction prices, building materials and challenging ground and soil conditions. It’s hoped the outdoor theatre will be ready in time to host some events connected to Vancouver’s portion of the FIFA World Cup.

Two Surrey Police officers are hurt after crashing their cruiser and a suspect remains at large following an injury shooting west of Whalley Sunday evening. Police say the suspect fired multiple rounds at a home on 101B Avenue just after 9:00 p.m. A woman is expected to recover after being hit. Police admit two officers were hurt after their cruiser hit another vehicle while responding to the scene with lights and siren on. Police are not saying whether this latest incident is related to any ongoing extortion investigation.

The hunt continues for three grizzlies believed responsible for a brutal attack on a group, including elementary school students, in Bella Coola on Thursday. Three students and a teacher were injured when the bears attacked 11 people on a trail just outside the community. No decision has been made on what to do with the bears once they’re tracked down.

An instructor at Langara College who was fired after praising the pro-Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel two years ago has won her job back. An arbitrator has reinstated Natalie Knight and told the college she should be ‘made whole’ for the loss of compensation. Three weeks after the Oct. 7, 2023 assault, Knight told anti-Israeli demonstrators at the Vancouver Art Gallery the attacks were '“an amazing, brilliant offensive.” Her comments sparked outrage in the Vancouver Jewish community. Knight was put on paid leave and later fired after making more remarks in support of Hamas. The Langara Faculty Association backed Knight citing a tolerance for all views.

Ten people have been arrested by authorities in Canada and the U.S. in an effort to find and prosecute a former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin who grew up in Coquitlam. The FBI has placed Ryan Wedding on its Top 10 Most Wanted list saying the Canadian fugitive runs a violent, international drug ring. Wedding is hiding in Mexico - there’s a multimillion dollar reward for his capture and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel calls him a modern day Pablo Escobar.

Single Room Occupancy hotels on Granville Street are a failed experiment - that’s the word from the Hospitality Vancouver Association after a man was stabbed to death on Monday. The HVA says the so-called SROs are dangerous and unstable and the group is again calling for the 300 low cost rental units to be permanently closed. A man died in hospital after being stabbed on Granville at Helmcken - no arrests have been made.

The cash-strapped City of Vancouver is considering digital billboards at key locations to generate revenue. The proposed idea comes as Mayor Ken Sim promises a zero per cent property tax increase. Suggested locations for the largest billboards include the Oak Street and Ironworkers Memorial bridges, Southeast Marine Drive near Knight Street, Expo Boulevard and McGill Street. The City is seeking interest from advertisers before pushing ahead with the idea.

David Eby has a been given a strong endorsement from his party to continue as leader of the NDP. Members who cast a ballot have voted over 82 per cent against holding a leadership review. The premier admits his party has to do a better job of supporting grassroots members. He also promises his party will always support collective bargaining. Eby used his appearance at the NDP’s convention to promise a better future for the province based on several high profile natural resource projects.

BCGEU members have voted 89 per cent in favour of ratifying their contract deal with the provincial government. The four year agreement ended a public service strike that lasted eight weeks. Workers will get a 12 per cent wage increase over the life of the deal as well as improvements to vision care and counselling benefits. The B.C. government remains in negotiations with nurses and teachers who are both working with expired contracts.

Police now confirm it was an eight year old girl who fell to her death from a balcony in Vancouver’s Yaletown on Tuesday afternoon. It happened at the luxury high rise, known as the Arc, at about 2:30. The young girl died at the scene. Police are still trying to figure out the circumstances.