Carney government’s new immigration policy for foreign workers a tough sell to Canadians

Health care is usually a top election issue. But this year, old discussions are taking on new urgency. Many British Columbians do not have a family doctor, and some people spend more than five years on wait-lists to get one. Emergency rooms often require patients to wait six hours or more for help. Once patients are admitted to hospital, they can linger for days in an emergency department while waiting for a bed to open up in an acute-care ward. Meanwhile, B. C. hospitals house many elderly residents who are waiting for rooms to open up in a nearby assisted-living or long-term care home.

A close look at the platforms shows the NDP is opting for a more cautious approach. Jim Stanford 21 Oct 2026The TyeeJim Stanford is economist and director of the Centre for Future Work in Vancouver.

The Toronto-based organization is looking for volunteers available on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to drive meals around. Vroom vroom, put those driving skills to use by volunteering with the West Neighbourhood House.

British Columbia’s forestry industry is struggling. Logging and mill companies have grappled with climate change, new U. S. tariffs, invasive pests and forest management practices.

The British Columbia political scene has seen some improbable developments of late. And Lorne Doerkson may be on track to provide one of the most improbable outcomes of all. Doerkson — former rodeo rider, newspaper publisher and largely unknown MLA — could become B. C.’s accidental premier.

With the results in, and three-in-four Albertans voting to remain in Canada, the conversation naturally turns to what comes next. And with nearly all of the other referendum questions passing (at least as I write this), many of the grievances that fuelled the vote might continue. Per the unofficial results, the only question that did not receive a majority (48.6 percent Yes to 51.4 percent No) was question 8: “Do you support the Government of Alberta working with the governments of other willing provinces to amend the Canadian Constitution to allow provinces to opt out of federal programs that intrude on provincial jurisdiction such as health care, education, and social services, without a province losing any of the associated federal funding for use in its social programs?” Indeed, for some, a vote to leave Canada wasn’t that at all. According to the latest survey from Abacus Data, only about 60 percent of them say they would vote to separate in that future referendum. About one in five say it depends. And nearly one quarter of Option 2 voters chose it because they see it as the best way for Alberta to get a better deal within Canada.