🏛️ Government & Politics
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Poll shows BC Conservatives leading by five points as election enters final week. Innovative Research Group found Conservatives ahead by five points among decided voters, with leads in every region and large advantages among Punjabi and Chinese speakers, and leader Lorne Doerkson gained 6–10 points on leadership attributes, including a 10-point rise in perceived competence.
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Both BC NDP and BC Conservatives back expanding SkyTrain to Newton; NDP has $250 million set aside. Premier David Eby said $250 million is in the NDP’s costed platform for Newton transit; Surrey mayor Doug McCallum said Conservatives committed to the expansion while the NDP offered a meeting.
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Families warn autism and disability funding changes loom ahead of the election. The BC NDP replaced the Autism Funding Program with the BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit effective April 1; parents say some families will lose supports, and the Conservatives are promising alternative measures for affected children like two-year-old Noah Kubiak-Gore.
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B.C. leads Canada with early, high flu test positivity above five per cent. Health Canada reported over 5% test positivity the week of Oct. 4 and Influenza A(H1N1) made up 98.4% of detections; Dr. Brian Conway and Dr. Bonnie Henry pointed to earlier vaccine program timing and urged high-risk groups to prioritise free vaccines for flu, COVID-19, RSV and pneumococcal disease.
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Accused Surrey killer Adam Mann testifies ‘It wasn’t me’ in New Westminster murder trial. Mann, 42 from Windsor, Ontario, denied killing Tori Dunn on June 16, 2024, told court he was homeless and using drugs, and described disposing of a knife, hoodie, toque and a found phone before his arrest; Dunn’s phone was later recovered in a greenspace near the arrest site.
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Hudson’s Hope voters approve borrowing for a new community hall, construction estimated over $34 million. Local voters authorised municipal borrowing to build a new community hall with an estimated construction cost exceeding $34 million.
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Artist Krystle Silverfox uses beading to respond to her mother’s ’60s Scoop experience. Krystle Silverfox’s beadwork addresses her mother’s experience with the 1960s Scoop and serves as cultural healing.
📰 Also Today
- Where B.C. parties stand on education ahead of election.
- Vancouver Canucks struggle for consistency after winless road trip.
- Kelowna candidate with viral signs wins elected office.
- Cowichan Nation appeal raises warnings of a ‘chaotic situation’.
- Man convicted of 2nd-degree murder in deadly 2023 Vancouver stabbing.
- Tsawwassen First Nation re-elects Chief Laura Cassidy.
- Controversial finish draws boos at Victoria Slam curling event.
- Quesnel’s new mayor to push mental health, homelessness supports across northern B.C.
- Outgoing Kamloops mayor hospitalised, described event as ‘I guess it was a heart attack’.
- B.C. Conservatives’ economic projections questioned after costed platform release.
- Judge rules Abbotsford killers’ Charter rights breached.
- Sparwood, 20 km from Alberta border, watches referendum results.
- (Duplicate listing removed from Quick Hits; see main story.)
