Daily Digest — British Columbia (2026-03-25)

Safety questions after LaGuardia crash — Pilots say NAV Canada protocols aren’t always followed and want stronger staffing after the LaGuardia crash that killed two Air Canada pilots; NAV Canada says it’s short about 200 air traffic controllers and is building capacity, and Capt. Tim Perry of ALPA called for more robust staffing while acknowledging formal protocols do exist. This is now part of broader safety conversations as U.S. investigators noted two people were working in the tower at the time of the collision.

Big U.S. verdict could help a B.C. suit — A U.S. jury awarded KGM $6 million, finding Meta and YouTube designed platforms that hooked young users (KGM started on YouTube at age six), and lawyers in B.C. say that ruling and a separate $375 million New Mexico verdict could influence a proposed class action here. Reidar Mogerman and others hope the U.S. findings will guide Canada’s case as Meta considers appeals; a B.C. class-action hearing is expected next year.

FIFA prep raises tough questions about people living outside — As Vancouver readies for the 2026 World Cup, worries are growing about unhoused people in the two-kilometre beautification zone around BC Place; some, like Brian Allard, say they won’t move while businesses such as Boston Pizza report repeated safety calls. Seattle is expanding shelters and moving encampments ahead of the tournament, and Vancouver councillor Peter Meiszner says the city may extend daytime drop-in hours but won’t forcibly relocate people.

Desperate for brain surgery — West Kelowna dad Shane Braniff, diagnosed last year with a rare frontal-lobe epilepsy and having 3–9 seizures daily since 2023, says delays in neurosurgery at Kelowna General could be life‑threatening; Interior Health confirms neurologist shortages but says two neurologists joined in 2025. Braniff is fundraising to seek care elsewhere as local politicians like MLA Gavin Dew highlight patients stuck in limbo.

Provincewide probe into sexualized conduct in police workplaces — The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner has launched a review of municipal police departments to examine inappropriate comments to sexual assault and how reports are handled; the probe will examine policies, training and culture and deliver a public report in April 2027. Independent MLA Elenore Sturko said the review could restore public trust and improve workplaces.

Nurse practitioners ready but can’t find work — Even though Doctors of BC says 700,000 people lack family doctors, many new nurse practitioners (NPs) in B.C. can’t find primary‑care jobs; Angela Wignall says funding decisions favour physician roles and processing delays leave recent grads stalled, while the province recruited 42 NPs from the U.S. on March 17. There are about 1,500 NPs in B.C. now and an expected 3,700 by 2030, so advocates say the government must create structured roles quickly.

Victoria police changing how they manage weekly rallies after 126 weeks — After dedicating more than 10,000 officer-hours across 126 weeks, Victoria Police will stop providing traffic control for the street portion of the pro‑Palestinian rally starting April 4 to protect officer wellness, Chief Fiona Wilson said. Insp. Conor King said police will keep patrols and work with community partners but urge protesters not to march on roadways.

Peace Arch maternity unit on diversion again — Fraser Health put Peace Arch Hospital’s maternity unit on diversion from March 25 at 8 a.m. to March 31 at 8 a.m. due to ob‑gyn shortages — the ninth diversion in four months — and advises people in labour to call ahead; one new physician starts in May and interviews are underway for two other vacancies. Fraser Health says it’s working to fill vacancies.

Federal agencies reviewing Vancouver firm tied to U.S. Hezbollah sanctions — Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the RCMP and CSIS are reviewing a Vancouver company, Seven Seas for International Trading and Logistics, after U.S. sanctions linked it to a reportedly $100‑million Hezbollah financial network led by Alaa Hamieh; the company was formed in B.C. in 2022 and its founder Raoof Fadel says he’s consulting lawyers. Canada has not sanctioned the company yet and federal agencies say they will have more to say as investigations proceed.