Students at Surrey’s Clayton Heights Secondary are receiving grief counselling after learning police shot an autistic Grade 10 classmate dead on Sunday. Family members say the 15-year-old was not suicidal and not carrying a real gun despite what officers believed when they opened fire. The Independent Investigations Office continues to look into the actions of police - standard protocol when any person is injured or dies.

Donald Trump is going ahead with his 25 per cent tariffs on aluminum and steel imports. The U.S. president is using a Monday announcement to green light the first of his tariffs on Canadian imports. He also says he’ll impose extra penalties on any countries that reciprocate. The aluminum smelter in Kitimat is a major exporter to the States. Canada and Mexico continue to prepare for what will likely be tariffs on all goods in three week’s time.

The BC Conservatives are demanding a public inquiry into allegations of fraud, abuse, drug trafficking and organized crime infiltration linked to the provincial government’s prescribed opioid alternatives program. This follows the explosive findings in an internal Health Ministry report into the PharmaCare harm reduction program. There are concerns millions of taxpayer dollars are being diverted into drug trafficking networks instead of going to people in need. The NDP government’s safer supply program was launched in 2020 as a way to help combat B.C.’s opioid crisis.

Another truck has hit a Lower Mainland overpass, snarling traffic during the afternoon rush. A truck, with an load that was not properly secured, hit the Gilmore Diversion over Highway One in Burnaby. It happened Wednesday afternoon causing minor eastbound delays. Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officers are still investigating.

Police are now looking for those responsible for the kidnapping of a 19-year-old who died after being found in the Crescent Beach area of Surrey. Investigators say the man died five days after being attacked and shoved in a vehicle in Abbotsford in the early morning hours of Jan. 27. Police say the victim was targeted and there is no risk to the public.

Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports to the U.S. are now on hold - for 30 days. Trump’s tenuous change of heart comes as Justin Trudeau promises to appoint a Canadian fentanyl czar and beef up patrols along the border. The development also means most of Canada’s counter actions are also on hold including B.C.’s ban on booze from many southern States. Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is urging senior levels of government to use the next month to get into a better negotiating position. Almost 40 per cent of Surrey businesses plan to seek government support in light of the pending tariffs.

Trudeau and Trump will be talking Monday. Word of that major development comes as the trade war involving the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China ramps up before it even starts. The Prime Minister has announced a long list of 25 per cent tariffs on American imports as a reaction to the Trump Administration’s tariff assault. A number of B.C. businesses have joined in supporting Premier David Eby in his ban on U.S. based companies doing business in the province and his ban on booze from Republican-led states. Meanwhile, hockey fans at Rogers Arena booed the U.S. national anthem before the Canucks-Red Wings game.

Donald Trump has confirmed Canada and Mexico will be hit by 25 per cent tariffs on U.S. bound exports on Saturday. The U.S. President also warns those tariffs could go up if both countries fail to meet American demands over fentanyl and migrants crossing the border into the States. Trump does say oil might be excluded from the tariffs.

Breaking News: A passenger plane has crashed into the Potomac River in Washington D.C. It’s believed 60 passengers and four crew were on the American Airlines regional jet when it reportedly collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport Wednesday evening - a closure will remain in effect until at least Friday. It appears the pilots of the airliner were not aware of the approaching helicopter. Search and recovery efforts continued through the night. There’s no reliable early word on the possible cause of the crash.

Sonia Furstenau is stepping down as leader of the BC Greens. The 54-year-old was first elected as an MLA in 2017 and became leader five years ago. But Furstenau failed to win a seat in last fall’s election after choosing to run in the NDP stronghold of Victoria-Beacon Hill. A new leader will be chosen by the party in September.