Canpotex $500M Terminal, Eby condo tax & Canucks goalie — Vancouver Friday

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🚑 Breaking & Incidents

Two Kelowna elementary students seriously injured after being struck after getting off a school bus. The collision occurred Thursday on Arbor View Drive in Kelowna’s Upper Mission after the bus had dropped off pupils; both students were taken to hospital with what police described as serious injuries. Kelowna RCMP say one person was briefly taken into custody and investigators are examining whether the bus had activated its flashing red lights.
Cyberattack on Burnaby School District disrupts systems and raises data-leak concerns. The attack struck the Burnaby School District this week and caused widespread disruption to district services and operations; district officials and police are investigating potential data exposure and the scope of system outages.

Nine Islamic schools across Canada sent an email threatening ‘slaughter’ of Muslims; schools on high alert. The Muslim Association of Canada says its nine schools in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec received the same anonymous threat signed by a “Citizen Vigilante,” prompting paid security and police notifications, including Peel Regional Police hate-crime unit involvement and increased patrols.
Convicted child killer Shane Ertmoed granted a 60-day unescorted temporary absence to take cooking classes. Ertmoed, serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of 10-year-old Heather Thomas, will live at a community residential facility under 24-hour supervision, work 4.5 hours per day with a Red Seal chef, and is barred from returning to the Lower Mainland under Parole Board conditions.

B.C. NDP leader David Eby proposes a 2% tax on finished condos left unsold for more than a year. Announced at a Burnaby campaign stop, Eby said the tax would start at 2% and rise by 1% each additional unsold year and could unlock about 5,000 condos he says are currently empty, citing a Real Property Data estimate of $4.4 billion in unsold units across Metro Vancouver.
New Angus Reid poll shows BC Conservatives leading at 43% vs. NDP 35% after snap election call. The poll found 65% of respondents say the election is “too soon,” and 33% express concerns about BC Conservative readiness to govern; 20% of respondents remain undecided, and 35% say they are “very certain” of their vote choice.

Canpotex investing $500 million to upgrade Neptune Bulk Terminals in North Vancouver. The Saskatchewan-based exporter announced the investment at a groundbreaking Friday to replace and refurbish terminal equipment; Canpotex ships more than 15 million tonnes of Canadian potash annually and says the upgrade will improve exports to South America and the Indo-Pacific.
Starbucks Canada to close 250 North American stores, including multiple B.C. locations with last days around Sept. 26. Starbucks said about 1% of its North American coffeehouses will close where it sees no viable path forward; the company plans at least 1,500 store “uplifts” by fiscal 2026 and will post closure notices at affected B.C. sites this weekend.
Hundreds of B.C. dump truck drivers convoy to Vancouver protesting record diesel prices near $2.84/L. Drivers from Surrey and Abbotsford began a convoy Friday citing Vancouver diesel at $2.839 per litre; protesters warn rising diesel costs force independent operators to absorb fuel expenses or pass them to customers, and BC Conservative candidate Bruce Banman attended the rally.

Vancouver Canucks claim goaltender Leevi Merilainen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old Finnish goaltender posted an 8-10-1 record with a 3.51 GAA and .860 save percentage in 20 games for Ottawa last season; Merilainen has 34 NHL games in his career and was a third-round pick, 71st overall, in 2020.

Elenore Sturko becomes leader and sole incumbent of CentreBC after other MLAs rejoined B.C. Conservatives.
1.2 million British Columbians lack a family doctor, according to reporting on primary-care access.
B.C. communities rebuild lives as wildfire season winds down, reporting on recovery efforts.
Vancouver Island youth sports seasons threatened by volunteer shortages, endangering leagues.
Northeast B.C. researchers warn of warmer future and more extreme weather threats, regional climate study.
B.C. attorney general reacts to report ChatGPT advised Tumbler Ridge shooter on safeguards, cabinet response.
RCMP watchdog delays report on resource-standoff policing because of snap election, timing cited.
Quick rundown published of events since B.C. snap election was called, timeline piece.
Analysis: historical outcomes of early elections applied to Eby’s gamble, feature analysis.
Outgoing Prince George council delays decision on new hockey rink and performing arts centre, council vote deferred.
Poll: two-thirds of British Columbians oppose going to the polls early, public sentiment piece.
Police investigating threatening email sent to Muslim schools across Canada, national security follow-up.
Vancouver Canucks confirm claiming goaltender Leevi Meriläinen from Ottawa, team announcement.
NHL season expands to 84 games and highlights key schedule dates, league calendar preview.