British Columbia Archives - National Times

04 Nov

Melissa Granum Sworn In as Delta Mayor, Pledges Accountable Governance and Community-Focused Leadership

nishuthapar10 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, Canada, Delta, Melissa Granum

Delta (Amrit Dhot): Delta has officially ushered in a new era of municipal leadership, as newly elected Mayor Melissa Granum and members of the City Council were sworn into office on November 2, 2026, at Delta City Hall. The inauguration marks the start of the 2026 council term, with Granum pledging to prioritize accountable governance, livable neighbourhoods and collaboration across political differences. The Honourable Justice Tina Dion administered the oaths of office and allegiance during the inaugural meeting, attended by community representatives and dignitaries. The new Delta City Council for the 2026 term comprises Mayor Melissa Granum, representing Delta First,…

25 Oct

B.C. Conservatives Win Most Seats; Eby Offers to Resign

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaB.C. Election 2026, BC NDP, British Columbia, Canada News, Conservatives, David Eby, Elections BC

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): The Conservatives, led by John Rustad, won 46 of British Columbia’s 93 legislative seats in the Oct. 24 provincial election, while the New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Premier David Eby, won 45. The Green Party, led by Sonia Furstenau, won two seats. One riding remained unresolved at the time of the initial results, leaving the Conservatives short of the 47 seats required for a majority. The Conservatives received approximately 44.1 per cent of the popular vote, compared with about 42.3 per cent for the NDP and 8.3 per cent for the Greens. Eby acknowledged the defeat…

17 Oct

CentreBC Pledges 25,000 New School Seats By 2031, More Counsellors And Education Assistants

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia, CentreBC, Education, Education Assistants, Elenore Sturko, School Counsellors, Schools, Student Support

Victoria (Rajeev Sharma): CentreBC has announced a proposed education plan for British Columbia, promising additional classroom capacity, more student support staff and expanded programmes to address learning challenges. Party leader Elenore Sturko unveiled the proposals in Langley on October 16, outlining commitments aimed at improving access to education and helping students succeed. The plan includes a pledge to create 25,000 new school seats by 2031, increase the number of education assistants by 1,500 and expand school counselling services. CentreBC also wants to strengthen literacy and numeracy support, improve access to school meals and provide specialised assistance for students experiencing behavioural…

16 Oct

A 3-Day Conference Vs A 3-Hour Hockey Game: Linda Annis Challenges Surrey’s $600 Million Arena Plan

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaBrenda Locke, British Columbia, Linda Annis, Local Politics, Surrey

Surrey, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Surrey First candidate for mayor Linda Annis says a combined conference and performing arts centre at City Centre provides a bigger economic impact than Brenda Locke’s 10,000-seat arena being billed to taxpayers. “A concert or hockey game at the arena is a three-hour visit, while a conference is a three-day event with every delegate worth more than $1,000 in economic impact,” said Annis. “A one thousand delegate conference is worth more than $1 million to our city. The numbers are pretty clear -- a combined conference and performing arts centre outperforms an arena.” Annis said her…

03 Oct

B.C. Conservatives Face Questions Over Talks With OneBC

nishuthapar10 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Richa Walia): The B.C. Conservatives are facing criticism from CentreBC Leader Elenore Sturko after interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson confirmed that his party has held discussions with OneBC ahead of the provincial election. Doerkson acknowledged that conversations had taken place with OneBC but said there was no formal agreement between the two parties. OneBC interim leader Dallas Brodie has separately indicated that she is open to an electoral arrangement with her former party. The discussions have drawn renewed attention to the relationship between the two parties. OneBC emerged as a breakaway group from the B.C. Conservatives, with Brodie having…

25 Sep

COCAINE SHOCKER: RECORD 328-KG DRUG HAUL FOUND HIDDEN IN T-SHIRT SHIPMENT

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, cocaine bust, drug seizure, organized crime, shipping container, Vancouver police

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Vancouver police have made the largest cocaine seizure in the city’s history, recovering 328.55 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of $5.8 million from a shipping container packed with boxes of T-shirts. The drugs were discovered on July 21 after employees at a Vancouver-based company found 14 duffle bags concealed among the legitimate commercial shipment and immediately contacted police. Investigators said the company was not involved in the drug shipment. Vancouver Police Department Drug Unit Sgt. Travis Fraser said the quantity of cocaine, along with stamps and packaging found with the drugs, indicates police believe organized…

23 Sep

B.C. EARLY ELECTION SHOCK: EBY SENDS PROVINCE TO POLLS OCTOBER 24

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia is heading to the polls on October 24 after Premier and B.C. NDP Leader David Eby called an early provincial vote Tuesday, abruptly shifting the political calendar nearly two years ahead of the previously scheduled 2028 vote. Announcing the decision in Victoria, Eby said British Columbia is confronting what he called an “existential moment” arising from the Canada-U.S. trade conflict. He said a fresh mandate is needed to address the economic challenges facing the province. The move comes as B.C.’s political landscape undergoes a major shake-up, particularly within the Opposition Conservatives. Former Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne…

22 Sep

British Columbia Sues OpenAI in California Over Tumbler Ridge School Shooting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Tumbler Ridge (Rajeev Sharma): The British Columbia government has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in California, seeking accountability over what provincial officials allege was the company’s failure to alert authorities about threatening activity on ChatGPT before the deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge earlier this year. Attorney General Niki Sharma announced the legal action Monday, saying the province wants answers over whether an intervention could have prevented the tragedy. The lawsuit is separate from legal cases already brought by victims’ families and other people affected by the attack. The February 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby family…

05 Sep

POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE IN B.C.: FIVE MLAs BREAK AWAY TO FORM NEW PARTY

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Victoria, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s political landscape has been rocked by a major internal split, with five MLAs breaking away from the B.C. Conservative caucus and joining forces to create a new provincial political party. The dramatic realignment brings together Peter Milobar, Ian Paton, Rosalyn Bird, Bruce Banman and Áʼa꞉líya Warbus, who are moving ahead with plans to establish a new political organization that could emerge as a significant force inside the B.C. Legislature. Milobar has been named interim leader, putting a veteran provincial politician at the helm of the new group as it begins the process of building…

08 Jul

Foreign Crime Networks Face U.S. Crackdown as B.C. Communities Demand Stronger Action Against Extortion Gangs

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A major law enforcement crackdown in the United States targeting alleged international organized crime networks has reignited concerns over the growing threat of extortion, intimidation and targeted violence affecting communities in British Columbia, especially in Surrey and the Lower Mainland. The latest action by U.S. authorities against individuals accused of involvement in transnational criminal activities has drawn strong reactions from B.C. opposition leaders, who say the move highlights the need for a more aggressive approach to organized crime investigations and prosecutions within the province. For years, South Asian communities and local business owners in parts of…