Vantics

Today, Vancouver City Council passed a motion to direct city staff to prepare a set of operating budget scenarios for 2026 based on three different property tax increases: 2.5%, 1.5%, and 0%. In these uncertain economic times, it's crucial that we are doing everything we can to ease the burden on taxpayers while protecting the services people rely on. Today's motion is about beginning the work to understand what savings could be found in the operating budget without making cuts to frontline staff or city service levels. Read the full release here: vancouver.ca/files/cov/vanco…

Two Vancouver nightclub owners want compensation from the province after repeated damage linked to adjacent social housing properties. globalnews.ca/news/11211786/…

#VPDNews: Vancouver Police released new data today, showing violence and street crime dropping in the Downtown Eastside since a dedicated police task force was launched three months ago. “We created Task Force Barrage to target criminals and predators who have made the Downtown Eastside dangerous for people who live there,” says Inspector Gary Hiar, commanding officer of Task Force Barrage. “While we’re making life harder for violent offenders and organized criminals, we’re also working with the community to improve safety and build relationships. This work will require a sustained effort and there’s still a long road ahead.” Task Force Barrage Key Metrics: · 745 weapons seized · 79 guns seized (14 real/65 replica) · 414 warrant arrests (5/day) · 258 reports to Crown counsel (3/day) * February 13 to May 13 Under Task Force Barrage, VPD has deployed additional teams of officers to Gastown, Chinatown, and Hastings Street to maintain high visibility and suppress street violence. The extra officers allow police to deter crime and respond quickly when incidents do occur. In addition to more front-line officers, VPD is also conducting coordinated investigations to target violent offenders and organized criminals, working with staff from housing providers, and helping the City of Vancouver address street disorder and sanitation issues. Data from the past three months shows violence and most property crime trending lower in the Downtown Eastside and surrounding neighbourhoods – Gastown, Chintatown, and Strathcona – compared to 2024. Violent Crime · Downtown Eastside ↓ 13 per cent · Gastown ↓ 13 per cent · Chinatown ↓ 26 per cent · Strathcona ↓ 14 per cent Serious Assaults · Downtown Eastside ↓13 per cent · Gastown ↓ 17 per cent · Chinatown ↓ 17 per cent · Strathcona ↓ 20 per cent Robberies · Downtown Eastside ↓ 35 per cent · Gastown no change · Chinatown ↓ 57 per cent · Strathcona ↓ 9 per cent Commercial Break and Enters · Downtown Eastside ↓ 42 per cent · Gastown ↓ 47 per cent · Chinatown ↓86 per cent · Strathcona ↓67 per cent Residential Break and Enters · Downtown Eastside ↓38 per cent · Gastown no change · Chinatown ↓ 25 per cent · Strathcona ↑43 per cent (increase from 7-10) * Strathcona is Waterfront Road (north) to Prior Street (south) and from Main Street (west) to Jackson Avenue (east). #TaskForceBarrage

1/ BREAKING: Elections Canada admits to mishandling 822 special ballots from 74 ridings across the country. The ballots were never counted. Why? They were left sitting in a returning office in Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam.

Fentanyl trafficker operating out of DTES building housing low-income seniors, police say ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article…

You may want to watch this one... We dug deep to reveal the identities of the "concerned Canadians" behind the attack ads of Protecting Canada. They are not your average Canadians. And we deserve answers to the questions that are raised. Video Below In Comments

It’s long overdue for Canada to publicly acknowledge that our justice system is broken. Victims are not getting the justice they deserve. I am angered & disturbed that a pedophile & child pornographer would serve fewer than 5 years for sexually abusing a child in BC. Just wrong.

The Liberals are funding drug dealers. Conservatives will lock them up.

I am greatly heartened to see that U.S. President @realDonaldTrump and the Canadian Government have agreed to a plan to crack down on Fentanyl trafficking and other illegal activities at our shared border. The appointment of a Canadian fentanyl czar with authority to coordinate a massive joint effort with the United Stated to target Fentanyl traffickers is something Alberta has been calling for since it became clear in our discussions with U.S. elected representatives and administration officials that this would be a critical part of reaching a deal to avoid tariffs. Diplomacy has won the day. Let us ensure that continues as we know there is much more work ahead of us. I once again call on our federal government officials and fellow Premiers to de-escalate rhetoric, abandon any non-tariff measures for the time being, and turn our efforts entirely to advocacy and good faith negotiation. There are so many win-win solutions on trade and security between our two nations. Let us turn this crisis into an opportunity to find them for the benefit of Canadians and Americans. To this end, I am preparing to return to Washington D.C. next week with my fellow Premiers to continue our diplomatic efforts and will again return to D.C. later in the month to attend the National Governors Association.

NEW: Vancouver's mayor says a crackdown on organized crime is coming city-wide He's also planning to reject new *supportive housing projects, saying other cities need to "do their part" *My error in a previous post, he’s good with social housing More: ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article…

Took time between meetings with U.S. Senators and House members today to speak with my Premier colleagues and the Prime Minister about the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs. In my view, the direction of the discussion was more positive this week, as there appears to be a growing consensus (though not entirely unanimous) on the following points: 1.The need to visibly demonstrate our nation’s commitment to tighter border security and to accelerating our 2% GDP NATO commitment. 2.The importance of building more oil and gas pipelines east and west within our country to diversify our customer base, removing interprovincial trade barriers, and increasing Canada’s competitiveness. 3.The necessity of consulting with and securing consent from individual provinces before cutting off or placing export tariffs on key exports from those provinces. Alberta will continue to oppose any such extreme measures on our energy exports. 4.A general agreement on the need to focus more on constructive, proactive diplomacy with U.S. lawmakers rather than escalating rhetoric. While more discussion is needed, the group is moving closer to a consensus on how to handle the U.S. tariff challenge.

The suspect in this random attack at a bus stop was out on bail when he sucker punched a stranger unprovoked. David Eby’s public safety failures are a punch to the face of British Columbians. #bcpoli bc.ctvnews.ca/suspect-arrest…

Unprecedented Four of Jagmeet Singh’s NDP had to be removed from the House of Commons by the Seargeant-at-Arms for disorderly conduct. Since then - they’ve told all manner of lies to try to excuse their inexcusable behaviour. The video doesn’t lie ⬇️

Our council wants downtown PoCo’s current businesses to be successful & new biz to move in too. Part of that is ensuring adequate public parking, so we’re adding more spots & Council has resolved that public parking in PoCo will be free - one of the few places you’ll find that. Come visit soon!

Amy Hamm: Blame 'progressives' for Canada's hellish homeless encampments nationalpost.com/opinion/bla…