Six Years in the Making: Four Points by Sheraton Finally Breaks Ground in Campbell River

by | Sep 2, 2026 23:33 | Local

We Wai Kai Nation’s 102-room hotel at Quinsam Crossing is now moving into construction, with an opening targeted for spring 2028

After years of planning, delays and a changing economic landscape, a long-awaited hotel project at Quinsam Crossing has finally reached a major milestone.

The Four Points by Sheraton Campbell River has officially broken ground, clearing the way for construction of a 102-room hotel that is expected to open in spring 2028.

The project is being developed and owned by We Wai Kai Nation at 200 Brant Drive, with Hotel Equities providing development services and expected to operate the property once it opens under Marriott International’s Four Points by Sheraton brand.

For Campbell River, the groundbreaking represents more than the arrival of another hotel.

It marks the latest step in the continuing development of Quinsam Crossing, an ambitious commercial area on We Wai Kai Nation lands that is increasingly becoming a gateway to Campbell River and a significant economic-development hub for the North Island.

A project six years in the making

The hotel has been a long time coming.

Hotel Equities first announced plans for the Four Points by Sheraton in March 2020. At the time, construction was expected to begin in the third quarter of that year.

The original announcement described the project as a new-build hotel owned and developed by We Wai Kai Nation, with Hotel Equities providing development services and taking responsibility for hotel operations once the property opened.

Then the world changed.

The announcement came just as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to disrupt travel, tourism, construction and investment across Canada.

The planned 2020 construction start did not happen.

Instead, the Four Points project remained in development for years before finally reaching the groundbreaking stage in July 2026.

The delay means the project has taken approximately six years to progress from its original public announcement to construction.

Now, however, the project has moved from planning to reality.

A 102-room hotel at Quinsam Crossing

The new hotel will be located at 200 Brant Drive, within the larger Quinsam Crossing development.

The 102-room property will carry the Four Points by Sheraton name, one of Marriott International’s hotel brands.

Hotel Equities will operate the hotel after completion, while We Wai Kai Nation will remain the owner and developer.

The development team includes Hotel Equities, Marriott International, Urban Design Group Architects and Ketza Pacific Contracting.

The construction involvement of local and regional companies could also mean that the economic impact begins well before the first guest checks into the hotel.

The project is expected to generate construction employment before creating ongoing positions once the hotel opens.

For We Wai Kai Nation, however, the longer-term objective goes beyond employment.

The Nation describes the hotel as an investment in its future and another component of its broader economic-development strategy.

Building economic independence

We Wai Kai Nation has been developing its economic interests on and around its Campbell River-area lands for years.

The Nation’s Quinsam Reserve is home to the Quinsam Crossing Economic Development Area, which includes existing commercial businesses and additional development planned for the future.

We Wai Kai describes Quinsam Crossing as a 60-acre gateway location adjacent to the Inland Island Highway and only minutes from downtown Campbell River and the Campbell River Airport.

The broader development is envisioned as a destination containing commercial and retail services, restaurants, community and recreational amenities and a hotel.

That makes the Four Points project particularly important.

It isn’t being built on an isolated parcel of land.

It is part of a larger strategy to turn Quinsam Crossing into a commercial destination serving Campbell River and the wider North Island.

The Nation says the development is intended to create opportunities for retail while becoming a highway gateway to the community.

The hotel fits directly into that vision.

A different kind of hotel project

There is also a significant Indigenous economic-development component to the project.

We Wai Kai Nation is not simply providing land for an outside hotel company.

The Nation owns and is developing the hotel, while bringing in experienced partners to handle the hospitality side of the business.

That distinction is important.

Once operating, the hotel is intended to provide an ongoing commercial revenue stream for the Nation while creating employment opportunities for its members.

Jason Wilson, We Wai Kai Nation’s director of economic development, described the groundbreaking as a milestone for everyone who had worked on the project.

He said the hotel represents an investment in the Nation’s future, with opportunities for economic growth, employment and long-term prosperity for members.

Chief Ronnie Chickite similarly described the development as an economic-development initiative intended to benefit both the Nation and the broader Campbell River and North Island communities.

The groundbreaking included a traditional ceremony

The official groundbreaking also reflected the cultural importance of the project.

The ceremony included a traditional Kwakwaka’wakw eagle down blessing ceremony, known as K’amk’amxwaliła.

Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl attended the event, along with Hereditary We Wai Kai Chief Yakawidi, also known as Shawn Decaire.

The cultural ceremony placed the construction milestone within the broader history and identity of We Wai Kai Nation.

For a project intended to generate economic benefits for generations to come, the ceremony also provided an opportunity to connect the new development with the Nation’s cultural traditions.

Campbell River’s hotel supply

The developers are also betting on continued demand for accommodation in Campbell River.

Hotel Equities senior vice-president Ryan McRae said Vancouver Island tourism demand has outpaced hotel supply for years, describing Campbell River as a clear example of the gap.

Marriott likewise identified the area’s outdoor recreation and marine tourism as important sources of visitor demand.

Campbell River occupies a strategic position on the east coast of Vancouver Island.

The city serves as a base for visitors travelling for fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities, while also serving business and industrial traffic moving through the region.

Its position on Discovery Passage gives the community a particularly strong connection to marine tourism.

Adding 102 branded hotel rooms could therefore provide additional capacity during periods when accommodation demand is high.

It may also make Campbell River more attractive to visitors who prefer nationally recognized hotel brands when planning trips.

A changing Campbell River

The Four Points project is arriving at a time when Campbell River itself is changing.

New residential, commercial and infrastructure projects are reshaping portions of the community, while development continues both within the city and on neighbouring First Nations lands.

Quinsam Crossing is an important part of that growth.

The City of Campbell River recently approved a major sewer project intended in part to increase capacity and support future growth on We Wai Kai Nation lands, along Quinsam Road and throughout Campbellton. The project has a total budget of approximately $5.1 million.

That infrastructure investment illustrates the interconnected nature of development in the area.

As commercial and residential activity expands, supporting infrastructure becomes increasingly important.

The hotel is therefore arriving alongside a broader pattern of growth rather than as a standalone investment.

What’s next for the site?

With groundbreaking complete, attention now turns to construction.

The current target is an opening in spring 2028.

The project is expected to provide construction employment during the building phase and hospitality jobs after opening.

Hotel Equities will bring its hotel-management infrastructure to the project, including expertise in operations, revenue management, sales, food and beverage and talent development. The company currently operates hotels across several Canadian provinces.

For Marriott, the Campbell River property will add another Four Points location to its Canadian portfolio.

For We Wai Kai Nation, the implications are potentially much larger.

The hotel becomes another operating business within a broader portfolio of economic-development initiatives.

Part of a much bigger picture

The most important thing to understand about the Four Points project may be that the hotel isn’t the whole story.

Quinsam Crossing is being developed as a larger commercial destination.

We Wai Kai Nation’s plans call for a mix of commercial and retail services, restaurants and other amenities, with the development positioned to serve residents, travellers and businesses throughout the region.

Federal records have also described ongoing and planned development on the Quinsam Reserve, while the Nation has continued investing in infrastructure and amenities that support the area’s growth.

As additional pieces are completed, the character of the area around the Inland Island Highway could change significantly.

A hotel brings visitors.

Visitors create demand for restaurants, retail, transportation, recreation and other services.

And those businesses, in turn, can help make the commercial development more viable.

That is the economic-development model behind much of the investment taking place at Quinsam Crossing.

From a plan on paper to a construction site

Perhaps the most notable part of the Four Points announcement is simply that the project has finally reached this point.

When the hotel was first announced in 2020, construction was supposed to begin within months.

Six years later, the ceremonial groundbreaking has taken place.

There is still considerable work ahead before the first guests arrive, but the project has crossed the line that matters most in any major development: construction has begun.

If the current schedule holds, Campbell River will welcome the Four Points by Sheraton in spring 2028.

By then, the hotel will be joining a community that has continued to evolve during the six years since the project was first announced.

And for We Wai Kai Nation, the new building will represent more than 102 guest rooms.

It will be another piece of a long-term strategy to build economic capacity, create employment and establish lasting sources of revenue for future generations.

For Campbell River and the North Island, it will mean something more immediate: 102 additional hotel rooms, a new internationally recognized hotel brand and another major piece of the growing Quinsam Crossing commercial district.

After six years of waiting, the project is finally moving. Construction is underway.

Ottawa’s ‘Axe the Fax’ Program Shut Down After Nearly $300 Million in Federal Spending

by | Sep 2, 2026 23:21 | National

PrescribeIT was intended to modernize prescription delivery across Canada. After years of development and limited adoption, the national e-prescribing service has been discontinued, prompting new questions about how the money was spent.

A federal effort to replace fax machines in Canada’s health-care system has come to an end after nearly a decade, with the program having received close to $300 million in federal funding and accounting for less than five per cent of prescriptions nationwide.

The program, known as PrescribeIT, was created to provide doctors and other prescribers with a secure electronic method of sending prescriptions directly to pharmacies. Instead of printing, faxing or manually entering prescriptions, the system was intended to allow information to move electronically from a health-care provider’s electronic medical record into pharmacy software.

The goal was straightforward: modernize a system that had become increasingly out of step with the rest of the digital economy.

Instead, PrescribeIT was shut down on May 29, 2026, after failing to achieve widespread adoption.

From a $40-million plan to nearly $300 million

PrescribeIT was announced in 2016 with an initial federal commitment of approximately $40 million. Canada Health Infoway, a federally funded not-for-profit organization, subsequently developed and operated the service.

Over the following decade, federal spending grew dramatically.

Health Canada has acknowledged federal spending of more than $290 million on the program, while some parliamentary discussions have referred to the figure as approximately $300 million.

The investment was intended to create a national digital infrastructure for prescriptions, with the long-term expectation that the system would eventually become financially self-sustaining.

That did not happen.

By the time PrescribeIT was discontinued, fewer than five per cent of prescriptions were being processed through the platform.

According to testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, approximately 11 million prescriptions were fulfilled using PrescribeIT in the previous year — but that represented only about five per cent of prescriptions across Canada.

The vast majority continued to move through traditional systems, including fax and paper.

Why did adoption remain so low?

The problems surrounding PrescribeIT appear to have been more complicated than simply convincing doctors to stop using fax machines.

Canada Health Infoway’s leadership told parliamentary committees that adoption among physicians and other prescribers was lower than expected. The Canadian Pharmacists Association also raised concerns about the financial model surrounding the service.

In 2025, pharmacies began being charged 20 cents per prescription processed through PrescribeIT after federal funding was reduced.

Rather than encouraging greater participation, the fee became another source of concern for pharmacies already operating under financial pressure.

The program also faced the challenge of convincing provinces and health-care organizations to take responsibility for its continuing operating costs.

Ultimately, provinces did not take on those costs, and Canada Health Infoway announced that PrescribeIT would be discontinued.

The organization said it would instead move toward an open-standards approach, rather than continuing to operate a centralized national network.

Telus Health and the question of intellectual property

Another issue attracting parliamentary attention is the relationship between Canada Health Infoway and TELUS Health, which served as the program’s primary technology vendor.

Approximately $98 million reportedly went to Telus Health in connection with the program. Parliamentary and other reporting has also raised questions about ownership of the intellectual property developed through the project.

One report cited by parliamentary watchdogs says Telus retained approximately 85 per cent of the underlying intellectual property, while the federal government did not retain ownership of the platform itself.

That arrangement has prompted MPs to ask a basic question: after hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding, what assets ultimately remained under public control?

Those questions remain part of the broader examination of PrescribeIT.

Parliamentary scrutiny increases

The program’s failure has attracted increasing attention on Parliament Hill.

Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health have sought access to documents relating to the program, including contribution agreements, information about intellectual property, annual adoption figures and revenue generated by the prescription fees.

During committee proceedings, MPs questioned Canada Health Infoway executives about the program’s cost, performance and governance.

Conservative MPs have also called for an investigation by the Auditor General, arguing that Canadians deserve a clearer accounting of how the money was spent and why the program failed to achieve its central objective.

The political debate has become particularly contentious because the program was ultimately unable to deliver the nationwide transition away from fax-based prescriptions that it was created to achieve.

An audit is now being pursued

The federal government announced in June that it would conduct an audit and broader review of Canada Health Infoway.

The review is expected to examine not only the PrescribeIT program but also issues involving governance, operations and executive compensation.

On August 26, the federal government posted a request for proposals seeking an outside contractor to audit contribution funding provided to Canada Health Infoway.

The proposed audit is expected to continue through the end of 2026.

That means Canadians may have to wait considerably longer for a complete accounting of the program’s finances and the reasons behind its failure.

The bigger issue: modernizing health care

The failure of PrescribeIT raises questions that extend beyond fax machines.

Electronic prescriptions are hardly a new concept. Digital prescribing systems are used in health-care systems around the world, making Canada’s continued reliance on paper and fax particularly notable.

For patients, the technology behind a prescription may seem like a minor detail. But outdated communication systems can contribute to delays, transcription problems and additional administrative work for health-care professionals.

That makes the objective behind PrescribeIT difficult to dispute.

The question is whether the federal government chose the right approach — and whether the project was adequately managed once problems with adoption became apparent.

After nearly a decade and hundreds of millions of dollars in public spending, the country has effectively returned to the starting point in many parts of the health-care system.

The federal program intended to “axe the fax” is gone, while faxing remains.

For Canadians watching the cost of government programs, the next important question is no longer whether the technology can replace the fax.

It is why nearly $300 million was spent attempting to do so without achieving widespread adoption — and what can be learned before another national health-care technology project is launched.

The forthcoming audit should provide at least some of those answers.

GoSayward.com has summarized and independently contextualized reporting and publicly available parliamentary records concerning the PrescribeIT program. Claims regarding political responsibility and alleged misconduct remain matters of debate and should not be treated as established findings unless supported by evidence.

Sources: Parliamentary records and reporting on Canada Health Infoway and PrescribeIT, including House of Commons committee proceedings and recent reporting on the federal audit.

Northern Lights Could Join a Nearly-Blood-Red Lunar Eclipse Across Canada Tonight

by | Aug 27, 2026 09:37 | National

Skywatchers across Canada could be in for an unusually dramatic night as two very different celestial events potentially unfold at the same time: a deep partial lunar eclipse and an outburst of the northern lights.

On the night of Thursday, August 27, into the early hours of Friday, August 28, the full Sturgeon Moon will move through Earth’s shadow. At the eclipse’s maximum, roughly 96 per cent of the Moon will be immersed in Earth’s darkest shadow, leaving only a small portion of the lunar surface directly illuminated.

At the same time, increased activity from the Sun is creating the possibility of auroras across much of Canada.

If skies are clear and geomagnetic activity develops as forecast, observers could potentially see a reddish, eclipsed Moon in one part of the sky while green, red or purple auroral light shimmers elsewhere.

A nearly total “blood moon”

Although this week’s event is technically a partial lunar eclipse, it will be an unusually deep one.

At maximum eclipse, about 96 per cent of the Moon will be inside Earth’s umbra — the darkest central portion of the planet’s shadow. That leaves only a thin section of the lunar disk directly illuminated by sunlight.

As the Moon moves deeper into the umbra, much of its surface can take on a copper, orange or reddish appearance. The effect happens because some sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere before reaching the Moon. Earth’s atmosphere scatters more of the shorter blue wavelengths, while allowing more red and orange light to continue through.

That’s the same basic phenomenon responsible for the reddish appearance of a total lunar eclipse.

This event doesn’t quite reach totality, but the difference will be difficult to appreciate at a glance. With almost the entire lunar disk immersed in Earth’s shadow, the Moon should have a distinctly different appearance from an ordinary full Moon.

The event is also significant because it will be the deepest partial lunar eclipse visible from North America for several years. A total lunar eclipse on New Year’s Eve in 2028 will provide the next major opportunity for a fully eclipsed Moon.

The Sun is adding another ingredient

The lunar eclipse isn’t the only reason to look up.

Solar activity has increased in recent days, with a powerful solar flare from sunspot region 4513 accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A CME is a massive cloud of magnetized plasma expelled from the Sun that can travel through interplanetary space and interact with Earth’s magnetic field.

A separate high-speed stream of solar wind is also expected to increase geomagnetic activity.

Those disturbances are important for aurora watchers because they can energize particles trapped around Earth and drive them into the upper atmosphere. When those particles collide with atmospheric gases, they produce the glowing curtains and arcs known as the aurora borealis.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has forecast the possibility of minor geomagnetic storm conditions around Thursday, with stronger G2-level conditions possible Friday as additional solar activity reaches Earth.

Forecasts are never a guarantee of an aurora display, however. The strength and timing of the incoming solar material — particularly the orientation of its magnetic field — can determine whether a storm produces a spectacular show or a much more subdued display.

Why the eclipse could actually help aurora watchers

There is an interesting twist to having the northern lights appear during a full Moon.

Normally, a bright full Moon can make an aurora harder to see. The Moon illuminates the surrounding sky, reducing the contrast between relatively faint auroral light and the darkness around it.

Tonight, however, the Moon will spend much of the most interesting part of the evening moving through Earth’s shadow.

As the lunar disk darkens, the surrounding sky becomes noticeably darker. That could improve the contrast between the aurora and the night sky, particularly for observers under otherwise dark conditions.

It doesn’t make an aurora more likely to occur. Instead, it may make an existing aurora easier to notice.

That distinction is important because an aurora forecast and an eclipse forecast are describing two completely independent phenomena.

Where could Canadians see the northern lights?

The aurora’s visibility will depend heavily on how far south geomagnetic activity reaches.

Northern and central Canada generally have the best odds, while a stronger-than-expected geomagnetic response could push the auroral oval farther south.

Recent forecasts have indicated the possibility of aurora visibility extending into portions of the northern United States, which means many Canadians farther south could also have an opportunity if the storm strengthens.

For Canadian observers, the best strategy is to get away from city lights and find a location with a broad, unobstructed view toward the northern horizon.

And don’t rely exclusively on what the aurora looks like to the naked eye.

A camera or modern smartphone can sometimes record colours and structure that are difficult to see directly, particularly when the aurora is faint. Night or astrophotography modes can make a substantial difference.

The eclipse won’t look identical across Canada

Where you live will make a significant difference.

Eastern Canada has an advantage because the Moon will already be above the horizon as the eclipse progresses through its most dramatic stages.

In much of western Canada, however, the Moon rises while the eclipse is already underway.

For example, in British Columbia the Moon rises shortly before the eclipse’s darker stages, meaning observers there won’t see the entire event from beginning to end. The same issue affects parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The maximum eclipse occurs at different local times across the country:

– British Columbia: about 9:12 p.m. PDT

– Alberta: about 10:12 p.m. MDT

– Saskatchewan: about 10:12 p.m. CST

– Manitoba: about 11:12 p.m. CDT

– Ontario and Quebec: about 12:12 a.m. EDT

– Atlantic Canada: about 1:12 a.m. ADT

– Newfoundland: about 1:42 a.m. NDT

The exact visibility also depends on the Moon’s position above the local horizon and, of course, the weather.

How to watch both events

You don’t need specialized astronomical equipment.

For the lunar eclipse, simply find a location with a clear view of the Moon. Lunar eclipses are safe to observe directly with the naked eye. Binoculars or a telescope can reveal additional detail in the Moon’s changing surface and shadow.

For the aurora, darkness is much more important.

Move away from bright urban areas if possible and give your eyes time to adjust. Look toward the northern sky, although a strong aurora can spread much farther across the sky.

Ideally, choose a location where you can see both a large portion of the sky and the horizon rather than standing beneath trees or beside tall buildings.

And keep checking the forecast throughout the evening.

Auroral activity can change rapidly, so a forecast several hours earlier doesn’t necessarily tell you what will happen when you actually step outside.

A rare combination — but don’t expect a guaranteed spectacle

The most important word for tonight is potential.

The lunar eclipse is predictable: Earth’s shadow will cross the Moon on schedule.

The aurora is different.

Solar-wind conditions can change quickly, and even when a geomagnetic storm is forecast, the resulting aurora may be faint, localized or occur at a different time than expected.

That makes the possibility of seeing both phenomena together especially intriguing.

At maximum eclipse, the Moon could appear as a dark copper-red disk, while an auroral glow develops along the northern horizon. In a particularly favourable location, a camera could potentially capture both phenomena in the same wide-angle image.

Even if the northern lights don’t cooperate, the eclipse itself is worth watching.

And if the geomagnetic storm arrives at the right time, Thursday night could offer something considerably more unusual: a darkened, reddish Moon sharing the sky with the northern lights.

For anyone with clear skies across Canada, it may be worth stepping outside and looking up.

BC Government Closes Public Access To Employee Directory Amid Growing Transparency Debate

by | Aug 22, 2026 01:55 | Provincial

British Columbians have lost public access to a longstanding government directory that allowed anyone to see who worked for the provincial government, what ministry they worked for and how to contact them.

The change took effect this week, with the provincial government citing cybersecurity and employee-privacy concerns.

The B.C. Government Directory now displays a notice saying public access has been restricted to strengthen cybersecurity and protect employee privacy. Access to employee and organizational information requires a B.C. government credential.

The directory had provided public access to employee names, positions, departments, work email addresses and telephone numbers. Reports indicate the resource has roots stretching back decades, with printed government directories dating to the 1930s.

The province’s decision has triggered criticism from opposition politicians and transparency advocates, who argue that protecting employees from harassment and cyber threats does not necessarily require eliminating public visibility into the structure of government.

Government Cites Cybersecurity And Privacy

The provincial government’s stated rationale is security.

The notice posted on the directory says the government has taken steps to strengthen cybersecurity and protect employee privacy by restricting access to the site. Employees continue to have access through the government’s internal system.

The government has also directed members of the public toward general government services and Service BC rather than individual employees.

The issue is particularly relevant for journalists, researchers, businesses and members of the public attempting to determine which ministry or official is responsible for a particular program or decision.

Critics argue that there may have been alternatives to completely removing public access, including limiting the information displayed publicly while retaining organizational and departmental contact information.

The B.C. Conservatives have questioned whether privacy and cybersecurity concerns justify eliminating the public directory altogether.

“Privacy and transparency must go hand in hand,” said Conservative MLA Jody Toor, according to reporting by Rebel News. She argued that protecting public employees should not mean government becomes less accountable to the people it serves.

Conservative MLA Steve Kooner also criticized the decision, arguing that the public has historically been able to use the directory to understand the size and structure of the provincial bureaucracy.

The Directory Decision Comes After A Broader FOI Fight

The directory shutdown comes only months after the B.C. government faced criticism over changes to the province’s freedom-of-information system.

Bill 9, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2026, received Royal Assent on May 28, 2026. The legislation changes several aspects of the province’s information-access system.

Among the changes, the legislation replaces the previous requirement that public bodies respond to requests “without delay” with a requirement to respond “without unreasonable delay.”

It also changes the rules governing how much detail an applicant must provide when making a request and gives the head of a public body a role in determining whether enough information has been provided to identify records within a reasonable amount of time.

The legislation also expands the circumstances in which an information request can be disregarded, including requests considered abusive or malicious and requests that would unreasonably interfere with government operations.

The government has described the changes as modernization intended to make the system more efficient and improve digital service delivery.

Critics have taken a different view.

The B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association warned when Bill 9 was introduced that the amendments could narrow access rights and give public bodies greater discretion over information requests. The organization also argued that government should address recordkeeping and information-management problems rather than reducing access rights.

The organization specifically criticized the absence of a statutory duty requiring public bodies to create and maintain detailed records of government decisions and actions.

A Debate Over What “Transparency” Means

The two issues are separate: shutting down the employee directory does not change the legal right to make a freedom-of-information request.

Under B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, members of the public retain a right to request records in the custody or control of public bodies, subject to exemptions in the legislation.

However, transparency advocates argue that formal freedom-of-information requests are only one part of an open government system.

A publicly available directory can answer basic questions without requiring a formal request: Which ministry is responsible? Which branch handles a particular issue? Who occupies a particular position? How is a ministry organized?

Removing that information means some questions that could previously be answered immediately may now require contacting a general government office or filing an information request.

That distinction is important because freedom-of-information requests can take time and resources on both sides.

According to The Narwhal, B.C. received 8,347 general FOI requests in 2020, compared with 4,691 in 2025 — a decline of roughly 44 per cent. At the same time, the number of pages processed increased from approximately 1.64 million to 2.18 million.

The numbers suggest that although fewer requests are being submitted, the requests that are processed can involve substantial amounts of information.

Government Says Access To Services Remains

The closure of the directory does not mean British Columbians have lost access to provincial government services.

The province continues to provide information through its main government website and Service BC, while ministries maintain their own public-facing contact information.

The government has also established general communications and public-engagement contact information for media inquiries.

The disagreement is therefore less about whether British Columbians can contact government at all and more about how much information the public should be able to obtain directly about the people and organizational structure behind government programs.

Transparency Under Increasing Scrutiny

The timing has added significance to the debate.

B.C.’s 2026 budget projects a $13.3-billion deficit for 2026-27, followed by projected deficits of $12.2 billion and $11.4 billion in the following two fiscal years.

Taxpayer-supported debt is projected to rise from $116.5 billion at the end of 2025-26 to approximately $189 billion by 2028-29. Total provincial debt, including debt carried by self-supported commercial Crown corporations, is forecast to reach about $234.6 billion.

Those figures make questions about government spending, staffing and organizational structure particularly relevant to taxpayers.

The closure of the directory does not, by itself, demonstrate that government spending or staffing is being concealed. Nor does it eliminate the province’s legal obligations under freedom-of-information legislation.

But it does remove one longstanding, readily accessible source of information about the provincial public service.

For critics, that represents an unnecessary reduction in transparency.

For government, the decision is being presented as a security and privacy measure in an increasingly difficult cybersecurity environment.

The broader question now facing British Columbia is how to balance those competing interests: how much information about government employees and operations should be publicly accessible, and how much protection can be provided without making government harder for taxpayers to understand and scrutinize?

That debate is likely to continue as the province implements the changes to its freedom-of-information system and adjusts to the loss of a public directory that had been available in one form or another for generations.

Canadian Consumer Insolvencies Reach Highest Level Since 2009

by | Aug 22, 2026 01:41 | National

Canadian households are continuing to face mounting financial pressure, with new federal data showing consumer insolvencies have reached their highest quarterly level since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

More than 37,500 Canadian consumers filed for insolvency during the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest figures from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB).

The 37,523 consumer insolvencies recorded between April and June represented a 6.9% increase from the same period in 2025 and a 1.1% increase from the first quarter of this year. It was the highest quarterly total since 2009.

That works out to approximately 412 consumer insolvency filings every day, or roughly 17 every hour.

The figures provide fresh evidence that a growing number of Canadians are struggling to keep up with household debt, even as some broader economic indicators have shown signs of improvement.

Bankruptcy Is Only Part Of The Picture

The term “bankruptcy” is frequently used to describe the current increase, but the federal data distinguishes between bankruptcies and other forms of insolvency.

Of the 37,523 consumer insolvencies recorded in the second quarter, approximately 8,600 were actual bankruptcies. The majority involved consumer proposals, which allow individuals to negotiate a formal settlement with creditors while avoiding bankruptcy.

The distinction is significant. The current pace of roughly 412 consumer insolvencies per day should not be interpreted as 412 people declaring bankruptcy every day.

Nevertheless, the increase in both categories points to growing financial stress.

Federal statistics show that consumer bankruptcies were up 10.3% year-over-year in the second quarter, while consumer insolvencies overall increased 6.9%.

British Columbia Among The Harder-Hit Provinces

British Columbia is experiencing an especially sharp increase.

OSB data shows 1,506 consumer insolvencies were recorded in B.C. in June 2026, up 17.2% from June 2025.

Over the 12 months ending June 30, B.C. recorded 16,609 consumer insolvencies, an increase of 14.3% compared with the previous 12-month period.

That total included 2,712 consumer bankruptcies, up 8.5%, and 13,897 consumer proposals, up 15.5%.

B.C.’s increase was considerably larger than the national 12-month increase of 5.9%.

For residents of communities throughout the province, including smaller communities on Vancouver Island, the numbers offer a broader indication of the financial pressures being experienced by households.

Debt And The Cost Of Living

The rise in insolvencies comes against a backdrop of elevated household debt.

The household debt burden has remained substantial, while Canadians continue to contend with housing, food, transportation, insurance and other everyday expenses.

A report published earlier this year citing TransUnion data put Canadian household debt across credit products at approximately $2.6 trillion at the end of 2025. The same report noted that mortgage delinquency rates had risen to 0.24%, their highest level since 2021.

The Bank of Canada has also acknowledged that financial stress among households has increased, although it says the overall Canadian financial system remains resilient.

In its 2025 Financial Stability Report, the central bank said household debt relative to disposable income had declined over the previous year, but warned that some heavily indebted households remained vulnerable to economic shocks.

Mortgage Payments Are Still A Concern

Mortgage renewals remain another potential source of pressure for Canadian households.

Many borrowers who obtained mortgages at exceptionally low interest rates during the pandemic have been required to renew at higher rates. While interest rates have subsequently fallen from their peak, some homeowners are still facing substantially higher borrowing costs than they were accustomed to.

The Bank of Canada has said mortgage holders have generally shown resilience, but some households have had to reduce spending, extend amortizations or make other financial adjustments to accommodate higher payments.

The pressure is not limited to mortgage holders. Canadians carrying credit-card balances, lines of credit, vehicle loans and other forms of consumer debt can also be affected when household budgets become increasingly constrained.

The Trend Was Already Visible Earlier In 2026

The second-quarter figures build on an increase that was already evident during the first three months of the year.

In the first quarter, 37,121 Canadian consumers filed for insolvency, an 8.5% increase from the same quarter of 2025 and the highest quarterly total since 2009 at the time.

The Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals described the result as equivalent to approximately 17 consumer insolvency filings every hour.

By the end of June, the number had climbed again.

The federal data shows that consumer insolvencies during the 12 months ending June 30 increased 5.9% from the previous year. Consumer bankruptcies rose 8.4%, while consumer proposals increased 5.2%.

Businesses Face Pressure Too

Households are not the only borrowers experiencing financial strain.

During the first quarter of 2026, 1,232 Canadian businesses filed for insolvency, according to figures cited by Rebel News. Business insolvencies were lower than a year earlier but increased nearly 10% from the preceding quarter.

The picture is mixed in the latest annual data.

OSB figures show business insolvencies declined 9.7% during the 12 months ending June 30 compared with the previous year. However, some sectors continued to experience increases, including accommodation and food services, mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction, and management of companies and enterprises.

Separate analysis of May data found 405 business insolvency filings that month, the second-highest May total in more than a decade.

Not Everyone In Financial Trouble Is Filing

The official insolvency numbers also don’t capture every financially distressed household or business.

An individual can be struggling with debt without filing for bankruptcy or a consumer proposal. Similarly, businesses can close, liquidate assets or simply wind down without entering formal insolvency proceedings.

That means insolvency statistics provide an important measure of financial distress, but they are not a complete accounting of every Canadian household experiencing financial hardship.

The Bank of Canada has likewise emphasized that financial stress remains concentrated among certain households rather than representing a systemic failure of Canada’s banking system.

A Warning Sign For Canadian Households

The latest numbers do not mean Canada is experiencing another 2008-style financial crisis.

Canada’s banking system remains substantially more resilient than it was during previous periods of severe financial stress, and the vast majority of Canadians are continuing to meet their debt obligations.

But the insolvency figures are nevertheless significant.

With 37,523 consumer insolvencies in just three months, the country is seeing its highest quarterly level since 2009. B.C. is recording an even faster increase than the national average, while consumer bankruptcies are rising at a faster rate than overall consumer insolvencies.

For households already operating with little financial room, continued pressure from debt payments and the cost of everyday necessities could make the next several months increasingly difficult.

The numbers suggest that while Canada’s broader financial system may remain stable, a growing number of individual Canadians are finding that their own household finances are anything but comfortable.

Half Naked Arson Suspect Arrested at Knox Mountain Fire

by | Aug 22, 2026 01:33 | Provincial

A man has been arrested after a fire broke out on Kelowna’s Knox Mountain, adding to concerns about a series of suspected arson incidents reported across parts of British Columbia this summer.

The incident occurred Thursday on Knox Mountain, where witnesses captured photos and video of a shirtless man wearing a construction hard hat near the flames. RCMP later arrested a suspect following a brief pursuit.

Emergency crews responded to the scene and worked to contain the fire before it could spread further. The blaze occurred during a period of elevated wildfire risk in many parts of the province.

Investigation Underway

Police have not released extensive details about the suspect or potential charges, but investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the fire.

The Kelowna incident is the latest in a series of suspected arson-related cases reported in British Columbia in recent weeks, prompting renewed concern about intentionally set fires during wildfire season.

Wildfires sparked by human activity can place communities, firefighters and nearby properties at risk, particularly during periods of hot, dry weather.

Fire Safety Remains A Priority

Authorities continue to remind residents to report suspicious activity near parks, forests and grasslands, especially during times of elevated fire danger.

The BC Wildfire Service and local fire departments encourage the public to immediately report unattended fires or suspicious behaviour that could pose a wildfire risk.

While the Kelowna fire was contained before becoming a major wildfire, the incident serves as another reminder of the potential consequences of human-caused fires in British Columbia.

Anyone with information related to suspicious fire activity is encouraged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers.