Politics

Anna Kindy on Kerry-Lynne Findlay and the BC Conservatives strength in recent polls

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Sixty percent of the respondents to a recent Angus Reid poll said the province is on the wrong track. If there were an election today, they gave the Conservatives an 11-point lead. This is similar to what 338Canada’s projections have been showing for the past month. Yet nearly 90% of the poll’s respondents also said they know little or nothing about the new BC Conservative leader, Kerry-Lynne Findlay. In this morning’s interview, we discuss these matters with Anna Kindy—MLA for North Island—and also play a clip from Kerry-Lynne Findlay’s Twitter feed.

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Housing, Politics

Empty condos may get second life as affordable housing in BC

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By Sonal Gupta, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Empty condos and a housing crisis coexist in Metro Vancouver, and the federal and provincial governments believe they have a fix.

Under a new 10-year agreement, the Carney government says it will spend more than $5 billion across the province for housing, transit and related infrastructure through the Build Communities Strong Fund. Part of the deal is a plan to turn more than 2,200 of BC’s vacant condo units into affordable housing. In its June 18 announcement, the Prime Minister’s Office called it “one of the fastest and most efficient ways to increase housing supply.” 

But the plan is igniting debate about whether governments can turn expensive private-market condos into affordable homes or if public money will simply help developers and lenders clear units they couldn’t otherwise sell. 

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Transportation

Island Nagalis Takes Over This Friday

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The ‘Island Nagalis’ is expected to begin service on the Quadra Island–Cortes Island route on Friday, June 26, 2026.

Kit Billings, a Communications Advisor with BC Ferries, emailed, “Based on the current transition plan, the Tachek is expected to complete its final sailing on Route 24 late morning from Whaletown, and the Island Nagalis is anticipated to enter service later that afternoon. BC Ferries is working to ensure a seamless transition with no anticipated disruptions to service; however, timing remains subject to operational requirements.”

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Rivers & Oceans

More Killer Whales and Humpback Whales in Our Waters

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There have been a lot more killer whales and Humpback whales in our waters lately. According to a new study from UBC, the inside waters off Vancouver Island are critical habitat for West Coast Transient, or Bigg’s killer whales. The return of Humpback whales has been heralded as a success story, and there are now also reports of gray whale sightings. Last week, Cortes Currents interviewed two of the scientists involved in this research.

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Health

Campbell River expands overdose response services with $1.14M investment from feds

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By Nora O’Malley, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Campbell River, B.C. – More overdose response services are coming to Campbell River and the surrounding area.

For 2026–27, Health Canada approved roughly $1.14 million in funding for a new Mobile Outreach Program, which partners the City of Campbell River (the City) and Lookout Housing and Health Society. 

“The City remains deeply concerned about the tragic loss of life due to toxic drugs. These losses profoundly affect families, friends and colleagues across the community. This is why, when we noted the call for proposals for the Emergency Treatment Fund from Health Canada in the fall of 2025, we decided to submit an application under very tight timelines,” said Jeff Ford, the City’s director of community safety.

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