Andrea Woo

There has been a lot of news today but I’ve just been informed we’re at the “Katy and I” stage

Involuntary Care Already Exists in BC, But Is It Working? - CMHA British Columbia VANCOUVER, BC – (September 18, 2024): On September 15, 2024, Premier Eby announced that his government is expanding involuntary care for people with brain injury, mental illness, and severe addiction....

Premier Eby will have announcement tmrw about "strengthening access to involuntary care for young people."

CMHA: "lack of evidence to support effectiveness of involuntary treatment for substance use disorder... evidence suggests it leads to an increased risk of death..."
bc.cmha.ca/news/involun...

Chinese Photographer Known for Human Rights Reporting Faces Five Years in Jail He was arrested for 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble.'

Chinese photojournalist Du Bin, known for documenting state-led human rights abuses in China, detained in Beijing and facing up to five years in prison. Reporters Without Borders says Du, who prev worked for the NYT, has faced harassment for more than a decade
petapixel.com/2025/12/04/c...

“Today, I am announcing my decision to resign as Leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia and as Leader of the Official Opposition. When I began this journey, our party had not elected an MLA to the British Columbia Legislature since 1975. We started with very little, but we built a movement grounded in common sense, hard work, and love of this province. Together, we came within one seat of forming government. That progress belongs to every MLA, every volunteer, every donor, and every British Columbian who believed we could do better. I am proud of what we have built and proud of the team of Conservative MLAs who now represent communities across British Columbia. We have been a strong voice for safe streets, affordable living, private property, resource jobs, and respect for the people who build this province. That work matters more than ever, because the NDP is laying waste to B.C.’s economy and the livelihoods of working families. This was brought into sharp relief just this week with the loss of 350 jobs at the Crofton Pulp mill. People who work hard and play by the rules deserve a government that has their back, not a government that drives investment away and shrugs when paycheques disappear. I know many are concerned by what they saw yesterday, but I want to assure every member and supporter of the party that this was not a hostile takeover by BC Liberals of the party. We remain to a vision of elected a common-sense Conservative government in BC. I invite everyone who sees the NDP as a threat to their livelihood and to the dreams of a prosperous British Columbia to join us in the coming weeks and months as we chart a new path forward. British Columbia needs a strong and unified opposition that is ready to hold this government to account and defeat it. I have full confidence in our caucus, and I will continue to support our team as they fight for British Columbians every day. I am deeply grateful to my wife Kim for the sacrifices she has made. …

New: John Rustad steps down as leader of the BC Conservative Party, one day after saying he's "not going anywhere."

"I know many are concerned by what they saw yesterday, but I want to assure every member and supporter of the party that this was not a hostile takeover by BC Liberals of the party."

New York Times sues U.S. Department of Defense over new press policy that could brand journalists as security risks and have their press badges revoked if they ask department employees to disclose certain types of information

🙃

New: BC Conservative Party removes John Rustad as leader, saying he is "professionally incapacitated." Trevor Halford selected interim leader. Rustad has repeatedly said he will not step down, including earlier today.

BREAKING: Matt Jones, one of Alberta's health ministers, just said the private surgical facilities for Red Deer and Lethbridge have been cancelled. Those two projects are owned in part by Sam Mraiche.

The province has now released its latest guidance re: prescribed alternatives (safer supply): tinyurl.com/mtppzzc8

New policy document: tinyurl.com/cwajyuep

AFN chiefs pass resolution rejecting changes to oil tanker ban Assembly also calls for withdrawal of Alberta-Ottawa energy deal that could see the prohibition modified

First Nations chiefs from across Canada pass emergency resolution rejecting any proposed exemptions to the federal ban on oil tankers off the northern coast of B.C. after Ottawa-Alberta energy MOU
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

New: Amanda Burrows, executive director at First United, throws her hat in the ring to be Vancouver's next mayor, with OneCity Vancouver.

Comes two weeks after William Azaroff announced he is seeking the party's mayoral nomination.

B.C. to require prescribed alternatives (safer supply medications) be taken under supervision of a health care worker beginning Dec. 30.

As of July, 3,282 people were in B.C. accessing a prescribed alternative, down from peak of 5,189 in March 2023.
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Hong Kong fire death toll hits 128, with 79 injured, status of 200 unclear Some 80 bodies ‘cannot be identified’, authorities say, while confirming styrofoam on windows caused heated panes to shatter and spread blaze.

SCMP: Hong Kong fire death toll hits 128, with 79 injured, status of 200 unclear.
“Highly flammable styrofoam cloaking lift windows on every floor… mesh netting and sheeting used outside the buildings also did not meet fire safety standards.”
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Hong Kong police raid company linked to Wang Fuk Court fire At least 83 dead, hundreds missing in territory’s worst fire disaster since the Second World War

Hong Kong police raid construction company responsible for renos at public housing estate engulfed in flames yesterday, @jamestgriffiths.com reports. At least 83 dead, hundreds still unaccounted for, in territory's worst fire disaster since Second World War
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault resigns from cabinet after Carney, Smith sign energy deal Mr. Guilbeault is a career environmentalist who has been serving as the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture

Steven Guilbeault, career environmentalist, resigns from Carney cabinet after announcement of energy deal with Alberta
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Grand Chief Stewart Phllip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs president, on Alberta-Ottawa MOU: "No bilateral deal can extinguish our inherent title and rights and no federal legislation can erase the Crown’s obligation to obtain free, prior, and informed consent. The answer is still no and always will be.”

Premier David Eby, speaking now, cites PM Carney's comments from earlier this week that pipeline would have to have agreement from B.C. and First Nations.

"This project does not have the support of Coastal First Nations," he says. Adds no proponent, no route, no money.

Coastal First Nations pres Marilyn Slett now: "Coastal FNs along w/ prov of BC will do everything in our power to protect our coast from the real threat of an oil spill... We will never consent to allowing oil tankers in our coastal waters. We will never tolerate exemptions to an oil tanker ban."

Carney, Smith sign sweeping energy deal, pledge new pipeline to West Coast Federal government won’t implement its oil and gas emissions cap, and both sides will consult with B.C. on project, MOU says

Alberta and Ottawa have signed a new energy accord that includes a pledge for a new bitumen pipeline to the West Coast with Indigenous co-ownership and the suspension of clean energy regs for Alberta w/ the proviso that it increase its industrial carbon price.
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services responded to 54 overdoses last Friday - the most in a single day in the department's history. Averaged 16 per day in May.

There has been a surge in ODs reported all across the province in the past few weeks.

Three arrested in Hong Kong after fire engulfs multiple apartment blocks, killing 36 At least 279 people were still unaccounted for after a blaze quickly spread on bamboo scaffolding set up for tower renovations

Three arrested in Hong Kong after fire engulfs multiple apartment blocks, @jamestgriffiths.com reports
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

Legal safer supply programs inaccessible to most, B.C court hears Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx were convicted of trafficking earlier this month for having operated an illicit-drug compassion club

As DULF's compassion club was forced to close, its operators worked to get its 43 members legal Rx alternatives, successfully transitioning only 2 or 3 – a point that piqued the interest of the judge, who asked about the barriers to safer supply programs
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Photo by Tyrone Siu, @pictures.reuters.com

Photo by Chan Long Hei, AP

Breaking | 36 dead, 279 missing in Hong Kong housing estate blaze Another 29 people have been hospitalised, with seven in a critical condition as inferno ravages housing estate in Tai Po.

At least 36 dead, 279 missing in massive housing estate fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong
www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Oof. Vancouver’s annual Celebration of Light fireworks competition cancelled indefinitely due to funding.

Carney and Smith to unveil energy deal in Calgary Thursday, source says Deal has stoked environmental concerns in B.C. and objections from Premier David Eby

PM Carney and Alberta Premier Smith set to announce MOU on energy Thurs. The Globe reported last week that Ottawa and AB were close to concluding a framework that includes a limited exemption to BC’s north coast tanker ban, setting the stage for a new pipeline
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...

The destruction of one of the world’s great public health agencies is a travesty RFK Jr.’s latest attack on vaccines shows evidence-based science has been replaced by the ill-informed opinions of a quack

The destruction of one of the world’s great public health agencies is a travesty. RFK Jr. seems determined to replace evidence-based science with quackery and use the CDC as his mouthpiece, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/0fc7a92... via @theglobeandmail.com

B.C. man who bought dark web drugs for compassion club says he wanted to reduce overdoses Jeremy Kalicum and Eris Nyx are challenging the constitutionality of Canada’s drug laws, saying they increase the risk of harm or death

Jeremy Kalicum, convicted of trafficking for his role in operating an illicit-drug compassion club, provided a window into his motivations, telling a BC court about his brother’s addiction and the effects of seeing hundreds of ODs but no meaningful response
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...

Vancouver’s Drug User Liberation Front organizers challenging Canada’s drug laws Court challenge claims laws are unconstitutional for depriving users of safer options

The two organizers of an illicit-drug compassion club in Vancouver, convicted this month of trafficking for providing members w/ heroin, cocaine and meth, are back in court challenging Canada’s drug laws as unconstitutional for depriving users of safer options
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...