Daily Digest — British Columbia — March 3, 2026

Heads up on the clock change: B.C. is moving to permanent daylight saving time, Premier David Eby said the clocks will “spring forward” for the last time on Sunday. This means B.C. will match Alberta/Mountain Time for about four months (Nov–Mar) and be one hour ahead of Washington, Oregon and California in winter, which has businesses like the Point Roberts and Bellingham chambers worried about cross‑border confusion and impacts on flights, Canucks start times and store hours.

A terrifying robbery trial: a former Surrey Noor Design Studio employee testified she begged the robbers "please do not kill me" after the February 2024 attack and has been on long‑term disability since. Co‑owner was shot four times; defendants Michael Oneischuck and Jenna Internman face robbery and aggravated assault charges (Oneischuck has three extra firearms charges) and the trial is expected to run about eight weeks.

Political heat over Musqueam deals: fallout continues after three rights agreements signed on Feb. 20 between the federal government and the Musqueam First Nation — Premier David Eby says he attended the ceremony but wasn’t briefed on the contents, which upset opposition leader Trevor Halford. Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow says deals cover fisheries, stewardship and marine management (not private homes), and the federal Rights Recognition Agreement was released publicly late Monday; B.C. will also consider DRIPA amendments.

World Cup plans ramp up — 100 days to go: TransLink will add about 600 bus trips a day, run SkyTrain every 2–3 minutes with late service until 2:15 a.m. for 9 p.m. games, and operate SeaBus every 15 minutes (10 on match days); note that Main Street–Science World will be the access point to BC Place on match days and there will be seven matches in the city. HandyDART, special West Coast Express trains for two weekend games, and other crowd controls are planned — watch parties to be announced by Minister Anne Kang.

Mayor apologizes after false claim about a councillor: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he repeated an unverified photo that implied Councillor Sean Orr was distributing drugs and has apologized, saying he should have fact‑checked the image he saw. Orr says the apology isn’t enough and is considering options; the row also involved a WeChat video by Councillor Lenny Zhou and audio showing Sim first made the claim on Feb. 6.

Inquest ordered after Tumbler Ridge shooting: B.C. chief coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan announced an inquest into the Feb. 10 killings, which saw Jesse VanRootselaar kill her mother and 11‑year‑old half‑brother at home, then five pupils and a teacher’s aide at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School before taking her own life. A jury of five to seven people will hear the inquest (date TBA); MPs including Bob Zimmer want answers about mental health, gun access and the role of AI after reports OpenAI shut a flagged ChatGPT account last June without notifying police.

Kelowna rescue pauses intakes as costs bite: Paws It Forward (founded 2011) has paused taking new dogs because rising medical and care costs pushed it into its first deficit last year and it needs at least $30,000 to restart intakes. The charity usually cares for about 100 dogs, is appealing for donations and foster volunteers, and volunteers like Marc Lazarus say the surge in surrenders since the pandemic is overwhelming local rescues.