Canada Once Called World’s Best Prepared For Pandemic, Declassified Records Show

by | Aug 16, 2026 21:37 | National

Newly declassified federal cabinet records show that Canadian officials were told more than two decades ago that Canada was the world’s best-prepared country for a pandemic.

The assessment was recorded in confidential cabinet minutes from February 10, 2005, following the 2003 SARS outbreak. According to the records, the minister responsible for public health told cabinet that the World Health Organization considered Canada the best prepared among countries for pandemic risk.

The claim came shortly after Ottawa created the Public Health Agency of Canada in 2004, in response to lessons from the SARS outbreak, which killed 44 Canadians.

The newly released records show that federal officials were working on a national pandemic strategy that included vaccine development and testing, antiviral stockpiles, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and public communications. Cabinet also discussed business-continuity plans in the event that a pandemic left large numbers of workers unable to report for duty.

By September 2005, cabinet was discussing how the government could reassure Canadians that emergency protocols were in place. Officials also emphasized training and exercises intended to identify weaknesses in the country’s pandemic response.

The records have drawn renewed attention because of what happened when COVID-19 arrived in 2020.

A 2024 report from the Public Health Agency of Canada acknowledged that the agency was “not as prepared as it could have been” to meet provincial and territorial demand for routine medical countermeasures. The report pointed to unresolved problems with existing systems and practices.

Other federal reviews and assessments have also identified significant weaknesses within the agency’s pandemic preparedness. According to reporting based on federal records, a 2023 Health Department briefing identified more than 21 audits, evaluations and reports containing critical weaknesses and gaps.

The contrast between the 2005 assessment and the federal government’s later experience with COVID-19 raises questions about how effectively the preparedness measures developed after SARS were maintained, tested and updated over the following 15 years.

The declassified records provide a snapshot of Ottawa’s confidence in Canada’s pandemic preparations before the country faced a major pandemic in practice.

In 2005, federal officials were telling cabinet that Canada was among the world’s most prepared nations.

By the time COVID-19 arrived, federal officials were acknowledging that significant preparedness gaps remained.

Sources: Blacklock’s Reporter and Rebel News, based on newly declassified federal cabinet records.

Peter Milobar Leaves BC Conservative Caucus, Says Party’s Direction No Longer Aligns With His Values

by | Aug 16, 2026 18:23 | Provincial

B.C. MLA Peter Milobar has left the B.C. Conservative caucus and will now sit as an Independent, saying his personal values no longer align with the direction being taken by the party under new leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

Milobar, who represents Kamloops Centre, announced the decision Friday, August 14, saying it takes effect immediately. He did not provide specific details about the disagreements that led to his departure but indicated he plans to speak publicly about the decision in the coming days.

“Since 2017, I have been entrusted by the residents of Kamloops and the area to be their voice in Victoria,” Milobar said in a statement.

He said he respects the decision by Conservative Party members to select Findlay as leader and recognizes her right to determine the party’s direction.

“It has, however, become clear to me over the last few months that my values don’t align with this new direction,” Milobar said.

Milobar added that his priority remains representing the people of Kamloops Centre.

“This isn’t the end of the conversation, it’s the start of one,” he said in announcing his move to the Independent benches.

Leadership Race Preceded Departure

Milobar’s departure comes less than three months after he challenged Findlay for the leadership of the B.C. Conservatives.

The leadership contest exposed significant differences between the two candidates, including disagreements over Indigenous issues and the future direction of the party. Findlay ultimately won the leadership contest on the fourth ballot.

Despite the contentious leadership campaign, Findlay appointed Milobar as the party’s finance critic after taking over as leader.

Milobar had been a prominent member of the Opposition and had served as finance critic. He first entered the B.C. legislature in 2017 and moved from the former BC United caucus to the B.C. Conservatives in 2024.

Other MLAs Say They Were Surprised

The decision reportedly caught other B.C. Conservative MLAs off guard.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer said he was shocked by the announcement and had spoken with Milobar shortly before the departure without receiving any indication that he planned to leave the caucus.

Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck also said he had not expected the move and described Milobar as an important member of the Conservative caucus. Both MLAs said they intend to remain with the party.

Milobar has not indicated whether he intends to remain an Independent for the remainder of his term or whether he has other political plans.

For now, the move leaves the B.C. Conservatives without one of their more experienced MLAs and adds another chapter to the political instability that has affected the provincial conservative movement in recent years.

Milobar has promised to provide more details about his decision and his political future in the days ahead.

Canadian Families Now Spend More On Taxes Than Basic Necessities, New Study Finds

by | Aug 16, 2026 06:19 | National

Canadian families are spending a larger share of their income on taxes than on some of the most basic household necessities, according to a new Fraser Institute study examining the tax burden over more than six decades.

The 2026 edition of the Canadian Consumer Tax Index estimates that the average Canadian family earned $121,111 in 2025 and paid $50,721 in total taxes. That represents 41.9 per cent of household income.

By comparison, the study estimates that housing, food and clothing together accounted for 36 per cent of the average family’s income.

The Fraser Institute’s calculation includes considerably more than personal income tax. Its measure incorporates federal, provincial and municipal taxes, including payroll, sales, property, fuel, vehicle, import and other taxes.

The report says the shift is particularly striking when compared with 1961.

At that time, the average Canadian family earned $5,000 and paid $1,675 in taxes, equivalent to 33.5 per cent of income. Basic necessities, meanwhile, consumed 56.5 per cent of family income.

Since then, the institute calculates that the average family’s total tax bill has increased by 2,928 per cent. Shelter costs increased 2,349 per cent over the same period, while food costs rose 952 per cent and clothing costs increased 526 per cent. The Consumer Price Index increased 946 per cent.

The findings come as affordability remains a major concern for Canadian households. Statistics Canada reported that the median after-tax income for Canadian families reached $108,900 in 2024, while 24 per cent of Canadians lived in households that experienced some form of food insecurity that year.

Questions About Ottawa’s Investment Plans

The tax findings also come amid debate over the federal government’s plans to invest billions of dollars in the economy through the new Canada Strong Fund.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the fund in April as Canada’s first national sovereign wealth fund. Ottawa plans to provide an initial $25 billion and have the fund invest alongside private-sector investors in areas including energy, critical minerals, agriculture, infrastructure and other strategic industries.

The government says the fund will operate at arm’s length from Ottawa and be managed by a professional board and chief executive. It also intends to create a retail investment product allowing Canadians to invest directly in the fund.

Critics, however, have raised concerns about the fund’s structure and the use of borrowed money.

A report from the Montreal Economic Institute argues that the Canada Strong Fund bears similarities to the United Kingdom’s National Wealth Fund, an initiative with which Carney was involved before becoming Canada’s prime minister.

According to the report, the British fund has recorded a cumulative return of minus 24.9 per cent over its first two years of operation and reported losses of £152.2 million in the most recent year cited. The report also says it has fallen short of its target for attracting private investment.

The analysis argues that government-backed investment funds can face risks when political priorities influence investment decisions rather than conventional profit-and-loss considerations.

The federal government maintains that the Canada Strong Fund is designed to operate on a commercial basis and generate market-rate returns for Canadians.

For Canadian households, the combination of rising tax obligations, housing costs and other living expenses leaves a broader question about how much of each additional dollar earned is available for everyday spending.

The Fraser Institute study’s central finding is that the balance between taxation and basic household necessities has changed dramatically since the 1960s, with taxes now representing the largest of the two categories for the average Canadian family.

New Lightning-Started Wildfires Raise Concern Near Sayward And North Island

by | Aug 16, 2026 06:00 | Local

A cluster of new wildfires has been reported across northern Vancouver Island, including several fires in the region north of Gold River and additional lightning-caused fires near Sayward.

Three new wildfires were discovered Friday evening in the Sayward area, contributing to a total of nine active wildfires reported across Vancouver Island at the time. The fires were believed to have been sparked by lightning during recent thunderstorms.

The new activity came just a day after four other small wildfires were discovered north of Gold River.

According to reports, the four fires north of Gold River were discovered Thursday, Aug. 13. Three were clustered in the area north of Gold Muchalat Park, while another was located between Gold Muchalat Park and Strathcona Provincial Park. Each was estimated at approximately 0.009 hectares.

All four Gold River-area fires were listed as out of control by the BC Wildfire Service. The fires were in relatively remote terrain, and wildfire crews and aircraft were being used to assess and respond to the new starts. Reports identified lightning as the suspected cause of the three fires in the Gold River area, while the cause of the fourth remained under investigation.

The concentration of new fires follows a period of thunderstorms and dry lightning across parts of Vancouver Island. While many of the newly reported fires remain very small, their locations in forested areas are being closely monitored because conditions remain favourable for fire growth.

The latest activity also adds to a growing number of fires being tracked across the Island. At the time of the reports, two other Vancouver Island wildfires were listed as being held, while the new starts near Gold River and elsewhere remained under active monitoring.

For residents in Sayward and surrounding communities, the developments are a reminder that lightning can create new wildfire starts well after a storm has passed. Smoke or a wildfire spotted in the backcountry should be reported promptly to the BC Wildfire Service.

The situation remains fluid, with wildfire conditions and fire status subject to change as crews assess the new incidents.

Three Arrested in Port McNeill Drug Trafficking Investigation After Drugs, Guns and More Than $100,000 Seized

by | Aug 13, 2026 18:32 | Local

Three people have been arrested following a drug-trafficking investigation in Port McNeill that resulted in the seizure of suspected illicit drugs, firearms, cash, contraband tobacco and vehicles.

The investigation was conducted by the Port McNeill RCMP in partnership with the Island District General Investigation Section (GIS). Police executed multiple search warrants at residences and vehicles in the North Island area as investigators gathered evidence related to suspected drug trafficking.

Among the items seized were more than $100,000 in cash, approximately one kilogram of suspected cocaine and significant quantities of suspected ketamine. Police also seized three firearms and more than 100 cartons of contraband tobacco, along with vehicles believed to be connected to the investigation.

Port McNeill RCMP Detachment Commander Sgt. Erin Stevenson described the seizures as a significant disruption to suspected drug-trafficking activity in the region. The combination of drugs, cash and firearms, police said, demonstrates the serious nature of the criminal activity under investigation.

Investigation Spanned the North Island

The investigation involved coordinated work between local RCMP officers and the Island District GIS, with search warrants carried out at multiple locations and involving vehicles connected to the investigation.

The arrests and seizures are part of ongoing efforts by police to identify and disrupt drug-trafficking networks operating in smaller communities across Vancouver Island.

Police have not indicated that charges have been finalized against the three people arrested. As the investigation continues, the circumstances surrounding the suspects and the seized property remain subject to the criminal justice process.

A Broader Pattern of Drug-Trafficking Investigations

The Port McNeill seizure follows other significant drug-trafficking investigations on Vancouver Island.

In February 2025, Port Alberni RCMP executed search warrants at two residences with assistance from the Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services, BC Highway Patrol and the Integrated Impaired Driving Unit. Three Port Alberni residents—two men and one woman—were arrested, and police seized a large quantity of suspected illicit drugs, cash and contraband cigarettes. That investigation was separate from the current Port McNeill case.

More recently, a four-day police deployment on southern Vancouver Island in early 2026 involved the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia working alongside West Shore RCMP, Saanich police and Victoria police. The operation generated more than 27 investigative files, resulted in seven arrests and led to the seizure of approximately $14,500 in cash and about one kilogram of suspected illicit drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.

The latest Port McNeill investigation adds another significant seizure to that broader picture, with more than $100,000 in cash and multiple firearms recovered alongside suspected drugs.

For North Island communities, the investigation is another reminder that organized drug trafficking is not limited to major urban centres. Police continue to rely on investigations, search warrants and cooperation between specialized units to identify those believed to be involved in the distribution of illicit drugs.

The Port McNeill investigation remains ongoing.

Small Business Group Urges BC Government To Scrap Planned PST Expansion

by | Aug 12, 2026 06:28 | Provincial

A multi-party legislative committee is recommending that the B.C. government cancel a planned expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax to a range of professional services, a move welcomed by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).

The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services made the recommendation as part of its consultations for the provincial government’s 2027 budget. The recommendation comes less than two months before the tax expansion is scheduled to take effect on October 1.

The CFIB says extending the seven per cent PST to professional services could add more than $500 million in annual costs for businesses and consumers across B.C.

“We’re hopeful that the government will adopt the committee’s recommendation and cancel the tax hike scheduled for October 1,” said Ryan Mitton, CFIB’s B.C. director of legislative affairs.

Services that are set to be subject to the expanded PST include accounting and bookkeeping, architectural, engineering and geoscience services, non-residential rental and strata management, commissions on non-residential real estate transactions, and security and private investigation services.

The CFIB says the change could have a particular impact on small businesses, many of which either purchase these professional services or provide them to other businesses.

According to a CFIB survey submitted as part of the Budget 2027 consultation, 80 per cent of businesses surveyed oppose the expansion, while 72 per cent said they are likely to pass the additional cost on to customers.

The organization argues that could result in higher costs for a wide range of businesses and consumers at a time when many are already facing increased operating expenses.

“Growing the economy will help bolster the budget and pay for the services we all rely on,” Mitton said.

The CFIB also pointed to what it describes as an “entrepreneurial drought” in B.C., saying more businesses have closed than opened for five consecutive quarters.

The organization is continuing to collect signatures for a petition calling on the provincial government to cancel the PST expansion. As of August 11, more than 3,500 small businesses had signed.

The committee’s recommendation does not itself cancel the planned tax change. The provincial government would need to adopt the recommendation and change the legislation or regulations governing the expansion.

For small businesses in communities such as Sayward, the issue could affect both the cost of professional services they rely on and the prices charged by businesses that provide those services.

The B.C. government is expected to consider the committee’s recommendations as it develops Budget 2027.