Latest news with #B.C
Vancouver Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
NDP ask RCMP to probe John Rustad's blackmail allegations against former caucus members
The NDP have written to the B.C. RCMP requesting an investigation into Conservative Leader John Rustad's allegations of blackmail by three former members of his caucus who left to sit as independents in March. In the letter, NDP caucus chair Stephanie Higginson wrote that 'blackmail is a serious crime' and that the public deserves to know if any of their provincial representatives or their staff have committed a crime. 'If any MLA or their legislative staff are engaged in it, British Columbians deserve to know, and any perpetrators should be prosecuted,' Higginson said to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald. 'British Columbians also deserve to know if Mr. Rustad, the Leader of the Official Opposition, is not in possession of evidence to support his accusations.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The request from the NDP comes after a five-page letter Rustad sent to members of his caucus last week was leaked to the Canadian Press. In it, the Conservative leader alleged that Dallas Brodie, Tara Armstrong, Jordan Kealy and their staff are attempting to get MLAs and staff to leave the Conservatives or else private text messages and audio recordings containing sensitive information will be released. 'From what I have been told, the threat is framed as something like: we will pay you handsomely to join with us, and we will damage you if you refuse,' said Rustad in the letter. 'They are also threatening people with potential character assassination, and making other veiled threats — including about affecting people's personal lives and families.' On Tuesday, Premier David Eby warned Rustad that if he did not provide the information he possessed regarding the allegations to police, his party would request a formal investigation itself. The three independents have defended themselves against the charges levelled by Rustad, stating that the Conservatives are simply trying to forestall a 'caucus revolt' and that the allegations are 'wild, false and defamatory.' Instead they say Rustad's letter is meant to cover up alleged improprieties at the Conservative's AGM in February in which Tim Thielmann, Brodie's chief of staff, lost out on a bid for party president to incumbent Aisha Estey. 'All his letter was (is) just another attempt to lash out at others in order to deflect criticism of his own misconduct, just like he smeared Dallas Brodie with an out-of-context 3.5 second clip when she exposed the truth about the false claims of discovered remains in Kamloops,' reads a press release from the new OneBC party started by Brodie and Armstrong. They say they have not threatened any Conservative MLAs or party staff, nor have they offered them any benefits. None of the allegations, from Rustad, OneBC or the NDP, have been substantiated.
Global News
2 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Terminally-ill B.C. girl with extremely rare disease will no longer have drug funded
The B.C. Ministry of Health has determined that a terminally ill nine-year-old girl will no longer continue to get access to a life-changing drug. Charleigh Pollock has a neurological disorder called Batten disease that leaves her with recurring severe seizures and mobility loss, and will eventually cut her young life short. Her mother, Jori Fales, was informed on Wednesday that her daughter's final government-funded treatment will be on Thursday. Fales says a drug called Brineura has stabilized Charleigh's condition and radically improved her quality of life since her 2019 diagnosis. The drug is expensive, carrying an annual bill for the twice-monthly infusions of about $1 million. Choking back tears, B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said at a press conference on Wednesday that 'Charleigh has met the discontinuation criteria.' She said there is no cure for Charleigh's condition and Brineura is not an anti-seizure medication. Story continues below advertisement She added that clinical evidence has shown that the drug is no longer benefiting Charleigh. Earlier this year, the province's Expensive Drug For Rare Disease Committee determined the drug was no longer meeting the criteria for funding in this case. Health Minister Josie Osborne stepped in and asked for an additional review, extending the drug coverage for an additional four months. 2:18 Fight for B.C. girl's life-changing medication The Canada Drug Agency has now done the review for Brineura and based on that review, the province determined the drug was no longer eligible for funding. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Charleigh is one of fewer than 20 children in Canada with this rare condition. She is the only patient in B.C. and was diagnosed just a few weeks before her fourth birthday. The B.C. government has never overruled the independent rare drug committee on a drug funding decision. Story continues below advertisement The United Kingdom recently decided to stop publicly funding the drug in all cases. In British Columbia, there is still funding available in certain circumstances and is reviewed on an individual basis. 2:20 B.C. set to end child's crucial drug treatment funding In a previous interview, Fales told Global News losing access to the drug would be 'catastrophic' for her daughter. 'She will have seizures again, her organs will start shutting down, she will require suction to breathe… it basically means she is going to suffer horrifically and be put to an earlier death,' she said. 'This life is painful enough, having to raise a terminally ill child, and now having to fight to keep her in this world — like, just let us have our life back and let us have our child for the time we have left and let her be pain-free.' Story continues below advertisement A GoFundMe remains active for anyone who wants to donate to the family.
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Thousands of B.C. reservations at risk due to short-term rental regulations: Airbnb
Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb says 'thousands' of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of being cancelled due to the province's crackdown on the industry amid a housing crisis. Alex Howell, Airbnb's Canadian policy lead, says the rules that require short-term rental hosts to confirm their listings are legal under the changes have already led to some bookings being cancelled. The government says platforms such as Airbnb can't post B.C. listings without confirming their registration with the province, but Howell says many hosts whose properties qualify can't register due to glitches and other problems with the new system. Howell says instead of waiting until the June 23 deadline — where bookings on unregistered B.C. properties would be cancelled — Airbnb is proactively contacting affected hosts and guests to offer penalty-free cancellations. The province had said that short-term rentals are being restricted to principal residences, a secondary suite or a structure such as a laneway house on the property, and the policy is meant to open up more units in B.C.'s rental housing market. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. The B.C. Ministry of Housing did not immediately provide a response in reaction to Airbnb's claims. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of B.C. reservations at risk due to short-term rental regulations: Airbnb
Short-term vacation rental platform Airbnb says "thousands" of reservations in British Columbia are at risk of being cancelled due to the province's crackdown on the industry amid a housing crisis. Alex Howell, Airbnb's Canadian policy lead, says the rules that require short-term rental hosts to confirm their listings are legal under the changes have already led to some bookings being cancelled. The government says platforms such as Airbnb can't post B.C. listings without confirming their registration with the province, but Howell says many hosts whose properties qualify can't register due to glitches and other problems with the new system. Howell says instead of waiting until the June 23 deadline — where bookings on unregistered B.C. properties would be cancelled — Airbnb is proactively contacting affected hosts and guests to offer penalty-free cancellations. The province had said that short-term rentals are being restricted to principal residences, a secondary suite or a structure such as a laneway house on the property, and the policy is meant to open up more units in B.C.'s rental housing market. The B.C. Ministry of Housing did not immediately provide a response in reaction to Airbnb's claims. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Chuck Chiang, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Independent MLA Kealy doubts prospects of new B.C. party, but won't rule out joining
VICTORIA – Independent British Columbia legislator Jordan Kealy says he isn't ruling out joining a new political party formed by two fellow former B.C. Conservatives, but he also questions their electoral prospects. The new One BC party went public on Thursday, with Dallas Brodie announcing herself as interim leader and Tara Armstrong house leader as they unveiled plans to combat what Brodie called 'the globalist assault' on B.C.'s history, culture and families Kealy and Armstrong quit the B.C. Conservatives in March after Leader John Rustad kicked Brodie out of caucus over her comments about residential schools. Kealy says Brodie and Armstrong will find it very difficult getting re-elected under their new party, because it's appealing to a 'spectrum of voters' that he says is becoming 'disenfranchised with the system.' He says he wishes them both good luck, but also adds that 'talk is cheap' and that he will 'not be whipped by a party.' Brodie says in an Instagram post that One BC will defund what she calls 'the reconciliation industry' and build a 'prosperous tax-free B.C.' within a decade. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
