Downtown Loo Closed, Doerkson’s Promise & Dead Humpback — Vancouver Wednesday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Downtown Eastside Portland Loo at Main and Powell closed less than five months after opening. The freestanding Portland Loo the City opened June 8, 2026, is unexpectedly out of service only just shy of five months after installation; the city operates the Powell-Main unit while five other Portland Loos are managed by the Vancouver Park Board. Neighbours report someone had been living in the kiosk for about a week before a sign said it was closed for repairs.
2. Humpback whale believed to be ‘Notcho’ found dead after suspected BC Ferries strike. The dead humpback was sighted Oct. 26 near the Grace Islands in the same area where a ferry reported a strike; the whale was later recovered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and was likely matched to the long-term catalogue entry “Notcho” from sightings dating back to about 2016.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Premier-designate Lorne Doerkson says he will keep every campaign promise. Doerkson told Global News he is “committed to everything” in his platform and named tax relief and PST exemptions for businesses as immediate priorities; he also signalled work to prevent PST expansion and to appoint an independent financial review panel to assess the province’s books.
2. Doerkson and Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about economic and LNG investment priorities. Doerkson shared photos of a call with Carney on Tuesday and said both agreed on “supercharging our economy,” attracting investment and creating conditions for natural gas and LNG private-sector investment in B.C.
3. Economists warn cutting taxes while closing a $14-billion deficit is contradictory. Analysts quoted in coverage note B.C.’s projected $14-billion deficit and debate how simultaneous tax cuts and deficit reduction could be achieved, while public-sector employment growth since 2019 and private-sector trends were cited as central variables.
4. House of Commons votes to keep B.C. oil tanker ban in place; Conservatives defeated. MPs voted along party lines in second reading to maintain the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which bans tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude on B.C.’s northern coast; only Conservatives supported repeal.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul pleads guilty to one count of assault for a July 2, 2025 Abbotsford incident. Teboul faced charges Sept. 18, 2025, including assault and assault by choking related to that complainant; the court ordered a publication ban on victims’ identities.
2. Privacy commissioner opens probe into Navigate360 after Crime Stoppers data breach. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner launched an investigation after Navigate360 disclosed a breach that exposed data between Nov. 21, 2025, and March 5, 2026, and said it first became aware of the intrusion on March 18; the company acknowledged names, addresses, dates of birth and social-security numbers may have been affected.

📰 Also Today

• Toxic drug alerts issued across B.C. Interior, including counterfeit pills.
• Former senior B.C. RCMP officer David Teboul pleads guilty to one count of assault.
• Pte. Trevor Flegel, 26, remains in Edmonton ICU after CFB Wainwright fire.
• Vancouver Coastal Health warns darker morning commutes as B.C. scraps clock change.
• Six Portland Loos exist in Vancouver; five managed by Park Board.
• Vancouver teacher suspended after asking student about a crush.
• B.C. locations and local talent featured in Crave series Yaga.
• Family launches GoFundMe for B.C. soldier burned at CFB Wainwright.
• Warrant issued for Saskatchewan long-term offender who walked away from B.C. halfway house.
• B.C. man killed in Ukraine while rescuing animals remembered by friends.
• First Nations leaders say repealing DRIPA won’t fix industry problems in B.C.
• Jennifer Thoss named Lytton mayor after random draw broke an election tie.
• B.C. RCMP Major Crimes officer charged with accessing child sexual-abuse material.
• New 911 system rollout begins across B.C.; public guidance provided.
• B.C. Human Rights Tribunal awards fired Vancouver Island math teacher $115,000.
• Analysis: What a new Conservative premier means for B.C.–Alberta relations.