Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Provincial records show the NDP government has spent nearly $100 million on the second phase of the Burnaby Hospital expansion and seven long-term care facilities — projects now all on indefinite hold. The province announced on April 30 that contracts had been cancelled for Phase 2 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment and those related to the construction of long-term care homes in Kelowna, Fort St. John, Delta, Abbotsford and Mission. The fate of long-term care developments paused in Squamish and Campbell River remains unclear ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong has been the centre of numerous controversies since she was elected a year ago, and now some of her constituents have announced they will be trying to kick her out of office. Advocacy Canada’s founder and president and one of Armstrong’s constituents, Wilbur Turner, said lots of people have asked him to lead the effort to recall the OneBC MLA. “I am considering it,” he said. “It’s really important that we get involved in democracy in a way that when a politician is really being harmful, that we all stand up and do something about it and don’t just talk about it" ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Small business confidence in the BC economy has collapsed to the lowest point in Canada, BC Conservative MLA for Kelowna Gavin Dew says. A record provincial deficit and runaway government spending have created calamitous conditions for business in BC, Dew says. “The warning signs are everywhere. Nearly one in five employers is preparing layoffs, while only a handful are looking to hire ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas says his city fully supports the federal government’s intention to introduce bail reform legislation this fall. In a letter sent to Sean Fraser, Canada's minister of justice and attorney general, Dyas wrote that businesses and visitors are “frustrated by repeated and escalating crime” that can be pinned on chronic offenders. It was highlighted recently in a damning survey by Business Improvement Areas of BC, which represents 55,000 businesses in 80 downtowns, main streets and commercial districts throughout the province ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Conservative   MLA Gavin Dew (Kelowna–Mission), Opposition Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation, says small businesses across British Columbia are being abandoned by the NDP government in the face of rising vandalism, violence, and street disorder. A new survey from the Business Improvement Areas of BC (BIABC) found: 67% of downtown businesses  report street disorder has worsened in the past year, fueled by drugs, mental health crises, and homelessness. 74% of business owners  say staff fear and anxiety have increased. 61% face rising operating costs  linked to crime and vandalism. Nearly  1 in 5 businesses  warn they may not survive another year if conditions do not improve. “ Small businesses have been left to fend for themselves ,” said Dew.  “ Every day brings another story of property crime, open drug use, violence, or even a body found outside a storefront. The NDP’s failed policies are making the situation worse .":...

The condition of an Okanagan forest service road has been thrust into the spotlight after the Drought Hill wildfire closed Hwy 97 and Hwy 97C earlier this week, cutting off the South Okanagan from Kelowna. “The Drought Hill wildfire and the closure of Highway 97 has once again exposed the vulnerability of our region’s transportation network. This isn’t a one-off – it’s a pattern,” said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield in a statement on Thursday. “We need a reliable, safe alternative route between Penticton and Kelowna, and the 201 Forest Service Road (FSR) is part of that solution" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

PHOTO CREDIT:  Interior Health   “News that gaps in physician coverage could lead to reduced access to maternity care in Kamloops has been met with shock and disbelief across the city and the broader region. “Just last week, we learned that pregnant women in Prince George would be diverted to Kamloops due to reduced obstetric services throughout August. Now, with a potential service interruption in Kamloops, expectant mothers are left with even fewer options for care and support across northern and Interior BC. “These dual crises come on the heels of weeks of turmoil at Kelowna General Hospital, where the pediatric unit was closed for six weeks. They also follow the Official Opposition’s revelation that 141,961 British Columbians left emergency rooms in 2024–2025 without ever being seen. “The ongoing and expanding collapse of our health-care system rests squarely on the shoulders of Premier David Eby and Health Minister Josie Osborne. Poor planning, a failu...

"The NDP Attorney General must direct the BC Prosecution Service to seek mandatory risk reassessments after every charge and conviction involving intimate partner violence. If this had happened, Bailey’s murder may have been prevented.” ~~  Steve Kooner, Critic for Attorney General & MLA for Richmond-Queensborough KELOWNA, BC:  Conservatives are demanding urgent administration of justice reform following the tragic murder of  Kelowna mother Bailey McCourt . Bailey was allegedly killed by her ex-husband just hours after he was released on bail — despite being convicted of four charges related to domestic violence.  The NDP soft-on-crime experiment has weakened British Columbia’s (BC’s) justice system, repeatedly failed to keep victims safe, and allows repeat offenders to walk free. Conservatives are calling for immediate action from Attorney General Niki Sharma to fix the justice system’s failures. “To prevent further suffering and deaths, the adminis...

Susan Brown is out as the President and CEO of Interior Health, a little over a week after the Board of Directors said it was standing by her following calls for her resignation. Sources told CFJC Today about the change in senior leadership at Interior Health Friday (June 27) morning, and it was confirmed by the health authority in an email at 9:30am ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Despite growing calls for an independent audit of Interior Health, the government is sticking with its Provincial Health Services review. In a brief phone interview with B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne, Castanet News asked if the ministry would conduct an independent audit of the health authority. “Right now, we are undertaking reviews of all of the regional health authorities, and we're really looking to administrative savings that can be applied to the front lines,” said Osborne ... ... Healthcare in the Interior has recently come under major scrutiny as the pediatrics ward in Kelowna General Hospital announced a six-week closure. In Vernon, nurses recently spoke to Castanet, calling the hospital a "disaster waiting to happen" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

Following Friday morning’s call from the BC Conservatives for Interior Health (IH) CEO Susan Brown to resign immediately, the IH boss has stated her commitment to completing her term. “I'm committed to finishing my term strong and dedicated to providing the frontline care teams the tools they need to support patients and their families," said Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health, in a statement ... CLICK HERE for the full story BC Conservatives news release regarding Susan Brown (June 13trh)

“Interior Health can’t be fixed without change at the top." “For weeks, families, healthcare workers, and community leaders across Kelowna and the Central Okanagan have been raising alarms about the state of healthcare in our region. Since the sudden closure of the pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital, there has been a growing drumbeat of letters and public comments from healthcare workers, pediatricians, gynecologists, specialists, and GPs expressing alarm about our crumbling healthcare system. Private discussions have been even more stark." "It has become painfully clear that the current leadership of Interior Health has lost the confidence of both the people who work there and the people it is meant to serve." "We are in a crisis right now, and we cannot wait six months for change.  A turnaround of Interior Health cannot happen without rebuilding trust and reopening communication with frontline healthcare workers."   “I am calling for Susan Brown ...

Pediatric care services will be curtailed at Kelowna General Hospital for an extended period, starting later this month. Interior Health officials on Wednesday said that an ongoing doctor shortage has resulted in a decision to close the hospital’s 10-bed inpatient general pediatrics unit as of May 26, continuing for at least six weeks. There are currently six children in the soon-to-be-closed unit and they will stay-put until they no longer need care. No new admissions will be allowed as the hospital contends with the staffing issues. “Unfortunately, we are more than 60 per cent short in the pediatric group at Kelowna General Hospital, and this has been a longstanding problem" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... about 1,300 of the 1,500 non-compliant cases stemmed from public complaints, Kahlon said. The ramped-up enforcement comes as the province is preparing to launch a registry of all short-term rentals in BC. The registry will require platforms such as Airbnb to remove listings that have not registered with the province ... (Gavin Dew) said the tourism sector has suffered as there are not enough hotel rooms in places such as Kelowna and many people cannot afford the high rates they charge. Short-term rentals had been used to help fill the gaps CLICK HERE for the full story

Former Kelowna–Mission MLA Renee Merrifield has launched a blistering attack against Justin Trudeau, warning that under his tenure “Canada is slowly fading into lawlessness” -- (former MLA) said “it feels like nobody is safe anymore,” blaming bail reform and problems with Canada’s justice system. Speaking to Jim Csek on Tuesday for the duo’s show, Beyond the Ballot, she described the situation in the country as “scary" ... CLICK HERE for the full story

A Kelowna city councillor hoping to represent the NDP in this year’s provincial election might not want to kick off his campaign at City Hall. But if he walks a few blocks east, north, or south of the building, Loyal Wooldridge will be heading into fertile ground for the party ... CLICK HERE for the full story

The new riding of Kelowna Centre promises to be interesting to watch as the provincial election approaches. And it's not just the riding that's new on the political scene, so are the candidates. For the newly re-invented BC Conservatives, it's realtor Kristina Loewen . . . . CLICK HERE for the full interview

Fiery exchanges roiled the legislature this week as politicians sought to assign or deflect blame for the shocking circumstances that led to a Kelowna girl allegedly being victimized by a sex offender at an equestrian centre. The governing NDP seemed to be moving toward an explanation that pinned responsibility on a single, careless private sub-contractor who is said to have sat in his car while Taylor Dueck was confronting the girl in a washroom . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

A man with a history of violent sexual assaults involving children has allegedly re-offended in Kelowna . . . . . . . . “This government neglected to notify the public that there was a dangerous pedophile like this in their presence,” said Falcon. Dueck had previously served multiple sentences for convictions of sexual assault. Dueck is now being accused of assaulting an 11-year-old girl in Kelowna, said Falcon . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story

Stephen Johnston is seeking the MLA job in the West Kelowna Peachland riding. https://youtu.be/Wd13EZ98B3A?si=1cIME7Fn7XsejfO_