The BC Conservative race tightens up with candidates dropping out and MLA endorsements racking up. The NDP are under fire for policy changes. The federal government might be fine with some light foreign interference. And the Conservatives get an amendment to the budget.

Links

• Steve Kooner out
• Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare ends bid for BC Conservative leadership
• BC Conservative leadership race: Peter Milobar gets caucus endorsements | Vancouver Sun
• Federal Tories move to limit use of party data in B.C. Conservative leadership race – The Globe and Mail
• Kelowna MLA’s bill to repeal BC Human Rights Code quickly voted down – Castanet.net
• Streamlining government’s response to organized crime
• Improving digital service delivery with FOIPPA amendments
• Vaughn Palmer: NDP set to weaken B.C.’s FOI law and keep public in the dark
• B.C. policy change on billing could limit health-care access – Business in Vancouver
• $10-a-day daycare program paused in order to stabilize, B.C. government says | Globalnews.ca
• B.C.’s $10-a-day child-care program pauses controversial funding model, but service remains out of reach for many
• B.C. premier says Senate committee wants to gut bill that could close loopholes for extortion suspects | CBC News
• Where is Canada’s immigration minister? Community groups are asking | CBC News
• Canadian police warn Sikh activist of threat to life as Carney announces India visit | Globalnews.ca
• Minister says there’s ‘a lot more work to do’ with India after Canadian official says it’s no longer a threat | CBC News
• PM urged to clarify whether he believes India still carrying out interference in Canada – The Globe and Mail
• Poilievre targets Trump, urges Canada to focus on what it can control in major speech | CBC News
• Liberals accept Conservative budget amendments on ‘regulatory sandboxes’
• Liberals’ omnibus budget bill passes final hurdle in the House of Commons | CBC News

A new provincial budget, an NDP debate, and a few more seats change hands federally.

Links

• BC Budget
• Vaughn Palmer: NDP quietly abolishes watchdog on civil service appointments
• Reinforcing B.C.’s leadership in interprovincial trade
• New legislation will allow people to renew, replace driver’s licence online
• New legislation will strengthen oversight of international education
• John Rustad bows out
• Harman Bhangu is in
• Pallas Data poll
• Supreme Court invalidates result from spring federal election in Terrebonne riding
• MP Matt Jeneroux leaves Conservatives to join Liberals, citing ‘national unity crisis’ | CBC News
• Prime Minister Carney launches Canada’s first Defence Industrial Strategy to strengthen security, create prosperity, and reinforce strategic autonomy
• Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy

A sombre reflection takes the place of the throne speech as BC prepares for budget 2026 and Carney may or may not be gearing up for an election.

Links

• Tumbler Ridge PAC GoFundMe for victims’ family
• Throne speech pays tribute to the people of Tumbler Ridge
• Eby says 2,000 public service jobs cut and counting as B.C. faces $11.2B deficit | CBC News
• Supporting children, youth with disabilities with new programs, more funding
• Leader’s Statement: BC Greens Will Not Renew CARGA
• Carney, Ford discussed idea of an early federal election to secure majority, sources say – The Globe and Mail
• Conservatives, Liberals in behind-the-scenes negotiations as PM downplays election talk | CBC News
• Conservatives propose helping Liberals pass BIA if they remove sections allowing ministers to ‘ignore certain laws and regulations’ – iPolitics
• Canada discreetly puts money down on 14 additional F-35s | CBC News

More and more and more names for the BC Con leadership, while Poilievre survives his vote. And an AI consultation summary delivered to us by AI.

Links

• Steve Kooner for BC Conservative Leader
• Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman to run for Conservative leadership
• Bruce Banman
• John Rustad considering a run for leadership
• 2025 Fourth Quarter Interim Financial Reports Available | Elections BC
• BC Conservative leader candidate eyes 10-lane George Massey bridge project revival | Urbanized
• BC Greens Announce the Resignation of Deputy Leader Dr. Lisa Gunderson
• Conservative leadership vote 2026 results: Poilievre easily passes leadership test, receives 87.4 per cent support
• The Conservative Party is overhauling its policy playbook. Here’s what’s changing | CBC News
• Bail-reform bill moves to Senate after co-operation deal with Conservatives – The Globe and Mail
• At portrait unveiling, Harper says Canadians must make sacrifices to preserve independence – The Globe and Mail
• Stephen Harper nude painting sold to Vancouver man for $20K | CBC News
• Weekly Writ 2/5: Conservatives and Liberals set fundraising records in 2025
• Avi Lewis has wide lead in NDP leadership fundraising
• New federal grocery rebate will cost $12.4 billion, PBO estimates | CBC News
• Government tables bill giving Build Canada Homes power to acquisition land | CBC News
• How one defection to Mark Carney’s Liberals set off a political earthquake at Queen’s Park
• When it comes to Ontario, I’m all in. – Nate Erskine-Smith
• Eric Lombardi, More Neighbours Toronto founder considering a run
• An Illusion of Consensus: What the Government Isn’t Saying About the Results of its AI Consultation – Michael Geist

The BC Conservative leadership race heats up as the federal NDP membership deadline passes (and one more candidate is rejected). David Eby tries some firey rhetoric, while Carney upsets Quebec with his. And camping is getting more expensive.

Links

• Darrell Jones is in
• Jones on grocery prices
• Kerry-Lynne Findlay is in
• Yuri Fulmer goes after Caroline Elliott’s Liberal donations
• Post by @davidebybc.bsky.social – “Treason”
• B.C. premier says Alberta separatists seeking assistance from U.S. is ‘treason’ | CBC News
• B.C. attorney general warns against doing deals with ICE, amid pending Pattison sale
• B.C. extortion wave is ‘terror attack in slow motion’: Eby
• Western provinces and territories sign pact to develop critical minerals strategy | CBC News
• B.C. Premier basks in mining expansions as sector proves to be important ally for NDP government – The Globe and Mail
• Camping fees updated to further invest in parks and recreation
• Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to make groceries and other essentials more affordable for Canadians
• Carney stands by Plains of Abraham speech that rankled Quebec’s political class
• Carney cancels news conference appearance last minute after Quebec City cabinet retreat | CBC
• Former B.C. chief electoral officer tapped to head Foreign Influence Transparency Registry – The Globe and Mail
• Poilievre courts delegates as he faces a must-win leadership review vote | CBC News
• NDP blocks Yves Engler’s wife, Bianca Mugyenyi, from leadership race – The Globe and Mail

British Columbia is delaying changes to the Heritage Conservation Act pending further consultations. Extortion may or may not be a crisis in Surrey. The BC Conservatives will pick their leader by May 30. Mark Carney gets praise for his Davos speech as he inks a new deal with China.

Image credit: World Economic Forum

Links

• B.C. postponing changes to heritage act to increase consultation, says minister – Richmond News
• Heritage Conservation Act changes further delayed over concerns it could halt development
• Eby says head of extortion task force needs to demonstrate urgency or step aside – BC | Globalnews.ca
• B.C. anti-extortion chief sorry for disputing blackmail ‘crisis’ after criticism from Premier – The Globe and Mail
• https://globalnews.ca/news/11572311/extortion-suspects-claim-refugee-status-cbsa/
• Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act to clear convoy protests unjustified, appeal court rules – The Globe and Mail
• LEADERSHIP Rules 2026 | Conservative Party of British Columbia
• Darrell Jones announces
• Mark Carney earned a rare standing ovation in Davos. Read the full text of his speech here
• ‘The old order is not coming back,’ Carney says in provocative speech at Davos | CBC News
• Poilievre calls Carney’s Davos speech ‘well-crafted,’ but says action must follow | CBC News
• Response From The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Official Opposition, to the Prime Minister’s Speech in Davos – Conservative Party of Canada
• Trump says he’s withdrawing invitation for Carney to join his Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ | CBC News
• Prime Minister Carney forges new strategic partnership with the People’s Republic of China focused on energy, agri-food, and trade
• Federal government asked court to set aside Ottawa’s shutdown order for TikTok Canada