British Columbia Archives - National Times

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…

16 Jun

School Field Trip Turns into Nightmare: 12 Students Injured in Shocking Incident at B.C. Waterpark

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Cultus Lake ( Rajeev Sharma): What was meant to be a routine school field trip turned into a frightening emergency after 12 students were injured during an incident at Cultus Lake Waterpark on Monday. Emergency responders rushed to the scene after reports of an unexpected incident at the facility involving a group of middle school students. Several students required immediate medical attention, and multiple ambulances were deployed to transport the injured to nearby hospitals. Authorities confirmed that the injuries were serious but not considered life-threatening. Early assessments suggest the incident may be linked to an electrical issue within the waterpark…

12 Apr

Legal Turmoil Sparks Calls to Overhaul British Columbia’s Indigenous Reconciliation Framework

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Mounting legal and political challenges have prompted fresh calls for a major rethink of British Columbia’s reconciliation strategy, with critics arguing that the province’s landmark Indigenous rights legislation now risks creating more uncertainty than progress. At the centre of the debate is the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), introduced in 2019 to align provincial laws with the principles of the United Nations declaration on Indigenous rights. The law was initially hailed as a transformative step toward improving relations with First Nations communities and ensuring their voices are considered in decision-making. However, recent developments…

30 Mar

B.C. Court Dismisses Negligence Claim After $580K Condo Fraud Attempt Blocked

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Kelowna ( Rajeev Sharma): A sophisticated real estate fraud attempt involving a condominium at Big White Ski Resort was foiled in the final stages of closing, preventing a potential loss of $580,000, according to a recent British Columbia Supreme Court ruling. Unknown individuals, posing as the legitimate property owners, attempted to complete the sale through a fully remote transaction. The deal was halted when a conveyancing lawyer was unable to verify the identities of the purported sellers, stopping the transfer of funds before completion. In a civil lawsuit filed by the legitimate owners and prospective buyers, Realtor Gary Turner and…

18 Mar

B.C. Attracts Over 400 U.S. Health Workers in Major Recruitment Push

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): The western Canadian province of British Columbia has successfully drawn more than 400 healthcare professionals from the United States over the past year, as part of an aggressive recruitment initiative aimed at strengthening its medical workforce. According to figures released by the provincial health ministry, a total of 414 workers — including doctors, nurses and allied health staff — accepted positions between March 2025 and January 2026. The intake includes 89 physicians, 42 nurse practitioners, 260 nurses and 23 other healthcare specialists. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the influx is already helping improve access to care,…

12 Feb

British Columbia Community Devastated After Teen Gunwoman’s Rampage Leaves Nine Dead

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): A remote town in northern British Columbia is grappling with grief after an 18-year-old carried out a deadly attack that began inside her home and ended at a local school, claiming nine lives including her own. Authorities identified the shooter as Jesse Van Rootselaar, a transgender woman who had previously attended the school in Tumbler Ridge. Investigators revealed that before heading to the campus on Tuesday, she fatally shot her 39-year-old mother and her 11-year-old stepbrother at their residence. The violence then shifted to the school, where a teacher and several students were killed. Police said…