Emily Fagan

the investigator assigned to investigate the complaint was not sufficiently independent because the investigator was also the Gold Commander with overall operational responsibility for the decampment.

In its new report on the Hastings forced evictions, the BC Human Rights Commissioner just identified a, uh, pretty major gap in oversight:

I wrote a big piece that was, in part, about ICE arrests in Texas last summer. I ended up cutting a section on what it's like for kids in family detention. But if you're wondering what that five-year-old from Minnesota is now going through in Texas, this will give you some idea.

B.C. Ferries passengers face multi-sailing waits in wake of wind storm | CBC News The wind storm on Monday afternoon that caused B.C. Ferries to cancel almost all sailings between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island came at the peak of the holiday travel season – leaving the fa...

A wind storm that caused B.C. Ferries to cancel almost all sailings between Vancouver and the island came at the peak of the holiday travel season – leaving the fate of many passengers and their travel plans uncertain.

I spoke to several of those left stranded.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

2 ‘targeted’ shootings in B.C.'s Cowichan Valley in 3 days, RCMP say | CBC News Police are investigating after two early-morning shootings have taken place over the past three days on two residential streets in Vancouver Island's, Cowichan Valley. Cpl. Alex Bérubé, media relation...

RCMP are investigating after two early-morning shootings have taken place over the past three days on residential streets in the Cowichan Valley.

Latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

By mid-afternoon, the flurry of activity from the morning’s news had quietened. That’s when Rustad, taking a break from cleaning out his office, wandered into the press gallery and began regaling reporters with stories of animals he's encountered in northern B.C. For about 20 minutes, he told stories about otters, wolves, eagles and other animals. Once, he said, while snowshoeing through the bush, he realized he was downwind of a fully grown moose. He coughed, alerting the moose to his presence — and it began to charge, he said. With only an axe to defend himself, Rustad said, he held his ground. Just before it reached him, the moose stopped, snorted and turned away. "Politics is nothing compared to that," he said.

What a post-script, from @thatemfagan.bsky.social
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#bcpoli

B.C. has tried and failed to change its voting system. Could this time be different? | CBC News Recommendations from an all-party B.C. committee on democratic reform has reignited a longstanding conversation in the province about the possibility of proportional representation.

B.C. could be on the verge of flirting with another attempt at proportional representation. But after three failed attempts, what would make this time different?

My latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Canada’s Drug Laws Face Challenge from Founders of Vancouver Compassion Club 'You feel lost and powerless, because you are,' Drug User Liberation Front co-founder testifies on day one of weeks-long hearing

Canada’s drug laws are facing a constitutional challenge from the founders of a Vancouver compassion club.

In trying to beat back a wave of toxic street drugs, "You feel lost and powerless, because you are," Jeremy Kalicum testified.

pressprogress.ca/drug-laws-fa...

B.C. gov't says Mental Health Act changes intended to help nurses, but critics concerned | CBC News While Premier David Eby says these changes are necessary to make sure health-care workers are clearly protected from liability, some in the health-care industry have raised questions about why this ch...

While Premier Eby says changes to the Mental Health Act are necessary to make sure workers are protected from liability, some in the industry have raised questions about why this change is necessary — as they say the act already covers liability protection.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

We Finally Have Some Info on School Liaison Officer Training | The Tyee After two years of FOI requests and complaints, the Vancouver police finally let The Tyee review some training modules.

You wouldn’t believe the lengths @kehyslop.bsky.social had to go to to get basic info on the training for school liaison officers. This contoversial VPD program was briefly shuttered in 2021 before being reinstated in 2023. #vanpoli thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...

Experts, politicians are pushing for widespread free nasal naloxone. So why doesn’t B.C. have it? | CBC News While the province has explored wider distribution of the spray for free as a pilot program, Health Minister Josie Osborne says it has not completed an evaluation of the program initially set to be co...

Politicians and experts are calling for nasal naloxone to be free for everyone in B.C.—as it is in other provinces—as they say providing a more accessible option for the general public could make a difference in saving lives amid the toxic drug crisis.

Latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

My initial reaction to Minister Parmar's comments was raised eyebrows and rolled eyes

A few weeks later, standing on the edge of a freshly logged cutblock in the Walbran Valley, his words seemed even more jarring

In fact, "the clearcutting continues as we speak" #bcpoli

Provinces sign agreement to drop interprovincial trade barriers on goods except food, alcohol | CBC News An agreement, signed today, between all Canadian provinces, territories, and the federal government, will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods except food and alcohol. It's part of an eff...

A Canada-wide agreement signed today will drop interprovincial trade barriers on many goods, except food and alcohol, starting in December.

Latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Columbia Journalism Review recently interviewed Betsy Reed, editor of the Guardian's U.S. edition. www.cjr.org/the-intervie...

She says: "If we regard it, for good reason, as being extreme and out of line with basic humane values, we won’t treat it as part of the normal discourse in America."

Illegal housing essential to keep Salt Spring Island businesses open, employers say | CBC News Many services on Salt Spring Island are experiencing a labour shortage, driven by a lack of housing workers can afford. It’s pushed businesses around the island to offer housing for workers in order t...

Many services on Salt Spring Island are experiencing a labor shortage, driven by a lack of housing workers can afford.

It's pushed businesses around the island to offer housing for workers in order to improve recruitment — including illegal trailers.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C. Greens want to tie rent increases to units, not tenants – but face uphill battle | CBC News A B.C. Green MLA bill this week aims to create vacancy control – a policy that would limit rent increases by tying them to a unit, not an individual tenancy. It's generated support from poverty reduct...

B.C. Green Party MLA Rob Botterell says in a province where a third of residents are renters, it’s time to remove the ability for landlords to raise rent prices after evicting tenants.

He's pushing for vacancy control — but is facing an uphill battle.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Victoria police spent $22K on party for outgoing, incoming chiefs | CBC News The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration that honoured its outgoing and incoming police chiefs, according to a freedom of information request.

The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social

Latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department

It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets

Table showing VicPD’s proposed 2026 budget increase. VicPD has labeled $7.8 million as a “core increase” and $3.1 million as “optional resources,” totalling $10.8 million, a 13.73% increase, or $89,845,665. Next to text indicating VicPD is asking for 17 new officers as “optional resources,” red text is added that says “Doesn't mention they're actually asking for 25 new officers; they just decided to brand eight of them "non-optional." The entire budget is optional.” Red text added below the “Total budget” says “+ $925,425 still under appeal, rejected by Esquimalt last year $90,771,090 (if appeal succeeds).”

The #yyj police board is presenting its draft 2026 budget at 5:00 pm. They want $90 million+, including 25 new officers. It would be an $11 million increase, or 14% (a 52%, $31 million increase from 2021). Budget: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... 🧵 with highlights before the meeting starts. #vicpdboard

B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid BCGEU strike | CBC News Fertility clinics say they're seeing delays in patients being approved for IVF funding due to the B.C. General Employees Union Strike. For patients who have rested their last hopes of conception on B....

A B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid the eight-week BCGEU strike.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

'A human cost to the inaction': BCGEU workers speak out on toll of weeks-long strike | CBC News For some B.C. General Employees' Union members taking part in job action, the weeks-long pickets and lost wages are making it hard to make ends meet.

Public service workers told me they've faced a high toll for being on strike these last six weeks — more than anything, they want to return to their jobs helping people.

But with negotiations at a standstill for weeks, it's unclear when a deal will be reached.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting necessary treatment, report says British Columbia Review Board chair Brenda Edwards says chronic underfunding has brought the forensic health care system to a breaking point

B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting the psychiatric treatment they need, and are being kept in jail longer than required, because the province has only one 190-bed hospital for them, @mikehager.bsky.social reports:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

Freelancers based on Vancouver Island or the BC coast, please get in touch if you're available over the next few weeks!

Man sentenced for arson, shooting at B.C. home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon | CBC News A 26-year-old man will serve 4½ years in jail after being found guilty of his involvement in an arson and shooting at the Vancouver Island home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon. RCMP have an arrest warr...

A judge has sentenced a man who he says was involved in a shooting and arson at the B.C. home of musician AP Dhillon in 2024 on the direction of the Bishnoi crime group, which is now a terrorist entity in Canada.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

UVic behind in implementing most of 18 recommendations from student's death by new term | CBC News In the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus, UVic received 18 recommendations from an independent report. It committed to implementing most of them before the fall term, but only three have be...

UVic's president committed to implementing all 18 of an independent report's recommendations in the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus — most before September.

While progress has been made, few recommendations were finished by the start of term.

My latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

BC Is Failing on Its Plan to Shun US Businesses | The Tyee Five months after Eby called for action, the government can’t point to changes.

Five months after Premier David Eby directed the British Columbia government to cancel U.S. contracts wherever possible, the work has fallen short of what he had wanted, by Andrew MacLeod #bcpoli

thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...

Israel attack on Yemeni newspaper was second deadliest on journalists ever recorded Press freedom group says ‘brutal and unjustified attack’ is deadliest since 2009 Maguindanao massacre in Philippines

31 journalists and media staff killed by Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen in deadliest attack on journalists in the last 16 years.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

A First Nations man's remains were misplaced in B.C. It's not the 1st time it's happened | CBC News Two years after the death of her father, Amanda Large received news that brought added grief and unanswered questions: her father’s brain, which had been removed during an autopsy, had never been retu...

A First Nations family is seeking justice after a man’s remains were misplaced by Island Health and the B.C. Coroner’s Office.

They’re not the first island First Nation to experience this – but are pushing for changes to prevent it from happening to others.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

two scandals here: VPD fuelled panic over stranger attacks even as they fell dramatically in 2022, and then refused to release records about them for 14 months, which is against the law

Inside Richmond’s Precedent-Setting Cowichan Tribes v. Canada Case | The Tyee The BC Supreme Court decision affirms Aboriginal title on private lands. What’s next?

a really great and well-researched story from @zoeyunker.bsky.social about the context and implications of the Cowichan decision, including how the namesake of Port Moody, B.C., secretly bought a Cowichan village site that should have been a reserve: thetyee.ca/News/2025/08...