Daily Digest — British Columbia (2026-03-26)

Pipeline talk heats up: With global oil supply squeezed by the war in Iran, Trans Mountain (TMX) is running near capacity and TMX CEO Mark Maki says April could be full — that has people talking about another Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline. Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel says the investment climate isn’t ready yet but wouldn’t rule it out; B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix and Coastal First Nations (Marilyn Slett) oppose it, while Alberta’s Danielle Smith plans to submit a proposal to Ottawa in June.

A marmot with a mind of its own: Gob, a Vancouver Island marmot, returned to the Marmot Recovery Foundation two months after being released on Mount Washington and was re-trapped because he nested under the facility. Biologists (Adam Taylor, Dr. Jamie Gorrell) say the species rose from under 30 animals in 2003 to over 400 now, but remain vulnerable — Gob will be released again farther from the centre this summer.

Court keeps a West Vancouver wreck on a short leash: A Bellevue Avenue house damaged by fire in 2015 was declared derelict in 2021, and after years of legal fights a Supreme Court justice ordered the owner to stop unpermitted work, obey stop-work signs and not live there without final occupancy approval. Neighbours (Christopher Amer) say it’s been going on for years; the District says it will keep pushing for required repairs or demolition.

Big bust — pickles hid 115 kg of meth: In January RCMP and CBSA at Tsawwassen intercepted 115 kg of methamphetamine hidden in jars of pickles bound for Melbourne, Australia; on March 17 two men (ages 40 and 63) were arrested in Australia and charged, and a 46-year-old foreign national was arrested in Kelowna and later released pending investigation. RCMP seized phones and devices in searches in Abbotsford, Lower Nicola and Kelowna, calling it a result of international cooperation (Tim Arseneault).

A small win for a shooting victim: Maya Gebala, injured in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting on Feb. 10, got encouraging news — an abscess hasn’t grown and may be dead after removal, and doctors are now talking about moving her out of ICU. Her mother Cia Edmonds also revealed UFC president Dana White offered to pay for top-tier care in Los Angeles; travel hinges on Maya’s stability in the coming days.

Disturbing charge on a Vernon farm: A man, identified as Seth Christian, is charged with bestiality after surveillance footage allegedly showed him sexually assaulting a horse in January at a Vernon stable owned by Erica Van Meenen. Van Meenen says the footage and the breach shook the community; bestiality can carry up to 10 years in prison and she’s upgraded security on the farm.

MLA removed after criminal charges: BC Conservative MLA Hon Chan (Richmond Centre) was removed from caucus after he told Interim Leader Trevor Halford about "serious criminal charges"; the BC Prosecution Service says he was charged March 25 with assault, choking and uttering threats tied to an alleged Jan. 12, 2024 incident. A special prosecutor was appointed June 27, 2025; the party stresses he’s entitled to due process.

OPP ask public for ID help in cross‑country fraud: Ontario police say a victim’s personal info was used to make fake ID (reported Nov. 27, 2025), which allegedly opened a credit card and was then used on Dec. 1, 2025 to buy a luxury vehicle in Surrey, B.C. Investigators ask anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information to come forward as the probe crosses provincial lines.

Spring storm slams parts of SW B.C.: "Old Man Winter" dumped heavy snow and briefly shut the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt; the route reopened at 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Environment Canada warned of about 15 cm of snow and poor visibility in the mountains, and DriveBC reported multiple weather-related incidents late Wednesday.