Students urge government to take action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Students across BC are urging the federal government to take action on the 94 recommendations in the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). A key recommendation of the TRC is with regards to education, including the creation and funding for new Indigenous education legislation, which protects languages and...
Patient advocates pan province plans for contracting out surgeries
Patient advocates are concerned that the BC Ministry of Health's plans to increase contracts with for-profit clinics is not an effective solution to surgical wait times. They are urging the province to scrap contract plans and focus instead on taking advantage of unused public Operating Room time. Minister of Health Terry...
Weekend fire destroys Hope businesses
Two businesses were destroyed and two other’s badly damaged by fire over the weekend. On May 30 at approximately 9:30 p.m., police and Hope Fire Department responded to a fire alarm in the 500 block of Wallace Street. Emergency responders arrived to find smoke billowing from a local business and three adjoining businesses ...
Richmond B-&-E forces RCMP to fire gun at dog
Shortly after 8 a.m. on May 29, Richmond RCMP responded to the 9000 block of Walford Street, for a report of a Break and Enter in progress. A local home owner was startled to find an unwanted male in his residence. This suspect fled once discovered. Police quickly established a containment field and officers scoured the area...
Three men badly injured after Courtenay drug op explodes
Police are confident that the cause of a house explosion and fire on May 22 in Courtenay is criminal in nature. Police conducted a search of the residence, after obtaining a search warrant under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, on May 23and located equipment and other evidence that is used in the production of hash ...
Spree of taxi cab robberies prompts police to ask for help
Five robberies of cab drivers have police asking for public help in catching the suspects, according to a press release issued today by RCMP Sgt. Dale Carr. Surrey RCMP’s Robbery Unit is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying suspects involved in a series of taxi cab robberies that occurred this past month. Since...
Mandatory off-road-vehicle registration delayed
Mandatory off-road vehicle registration is being deferred from June 1 to Nov. 1, 2015. The extra time provides additional time for off-road users to prepare for the mandatory registration, while the regulatory details are finalized on both registration and safety. As well an ICBC-issued numbered sticker will be available in...
Election Spending Rules in BC
“Don’t mind the elephant in the room, we’re redecorating.” When the B.C. government tabled its legislation to amend the Election Act in March, it was probably hoping no one would notice. They were in for a bit of a shock. While much of the focus has been on the provision which would give political parties […]
Hudson Hope car stolen with child still belted inside
On May 7, at 12:48 p.m. the Hudson’s Hope RCMP received a report that a vehicle had just been stolen with a three-year-old child still inside. Officers immediately attended the scene and obtained details as quick as possible in order to activate an Amber Alert. Surrounding RCMP detachments in every direction possible were...
$10,000 reward offered to catch/convict Surrey prison escapee
Surrey RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in providing information regarding a male subject wanted on several warrants. Shawn Merrick, 43 years old from Surrey, is currently wanted on a Canada wide warrant for Escape from Lawful Custody. He escaped from a minimum security institution on March 31, 2015. He was serving...