Victoria Viewpoints: Tuesday/Wednesday, May 3 & 4, 2022

Our compilation of some of the stories of note from the day, reviewing the political developments from the Provincial scene for  Tuesday/Wednesday, May 3-4, 2022

Coronavirus response in BC

Globe and Mail

BC says pandemic surgery backlog has been almost cleared. But many are still waiting

BC adopts Canada's emergency alerts system for wildfires and floods - but not heat waves

Vancouver mayor wants new renter-protection policy

BC coroner says overdose deaths decrease in March, but drug users face risks 

Greater Vancouver home sales return to more historically typical levels as they fall in April

BC highway blockades over old-growth logging aimed at forcing a dialogue, activists say 

CBC

ICBC changes policy after outcry over repair bill sent to injured cyclist

Real Estate slowdown could bring more certainty to BC market, experts say

Parking reservations to be required for popular recreation site Buntzen Lake

Military dealing with gap in Search and Rescue services due to procurement delay

BC has almost caught up on surgeries postponed by pandemic, province says but thousands still waiting

Conserving water in Metro Vancouver still vital - even with cooler, wetter summer ahead, experts say

Leaked Roe vs. Wade draft puts BC abortion access in the spotlight 

Reconciliation through sport inspires Indigenous-led bid to bring the 2030 Olympics, Paralympics to BC

BC Finance minister says abortion access will change 'over my dead body'

Corrections officer was shot dead in case of mistaken identity, police say

160 homes evacuated as crews battle large apartment fire in Abbotsford 

BC sees decrease in overdose deaths in March, but drug users still face risks, coroner says 

Vancouver Sun 

Questions raised over inspection of Vancouver tree that crushed car, killing driver

BC health agencies target workers who report under-staffing, burnout: nurses union

ICBC back-pedals on billing cyclists for damage to other vehicles

BC RCMP investigating two savage stabbing at Kent Institution maximum security prison 

Early Vancouver 2022 election poll shows Stewart Sim, Hardwick as most popular picks 

Heat Wave that hit BC last summer among most extreme since 1960s

Feds. Horgan dodging transparency over use of Emergencies Act

Stephanie Cadieux bids BC Legislature farewell for a new challenge

Vancouver Mayor proposes to protect Broadway renters 

Costly switch to BC Provincial Police won't be an NDP priority

Victoria Times-Colonist 

95% of BC MLAs own a home, nearly half have a second property 

Majority of non-urgent surgeries postponed during pandemic now completed: Dix

A magnet for vandalism, cross on Mount Tzouhalem to be removed

Judicial hearing starts for suspended Greater Victoria school trustees

ICBC won't bill injured cyclists or pedestrians for damage done to vehicles in crashes

Province plans to ask citizens probing questions to identify systemic racism

With housing, we are kinder than we night think

BC braces for huge influx of refugees from Ukraine 

Victoria News

Civil suit over Greater Victoria school trustees' suspensions gets underway

Saanich taxpayers face 6.67 per cent hike, will pay about $199/year more on average 

Rainy, cool spring could be saving grace to start of BC's wildfire season, but risks remain

Hercules bound for Comox as procurement issues leave Vancouver island short on planes

BC Ferries offers free travel to Ukrainians

Sooke Council approves $83,440 in community grants for local non profits

Inflation, higher interest rates deflate home sales in Greater Victoria 

BC's Surgical wait list lower than 2020, still 88,000 people

BC provides $15 million to support Ukrainians fleeing war

BC expanding TV, radio alerts to cover flood and fire evacuations 

Global

'Sick to my stomach': Surrey Six victim's mom sees son's death echoed in BC jail guard slaying

ICBC stops seeking costs from pedestrians and cyclists in certain crashes

Smashed glass repaired on Gaston steam clock

2021 heat wave over BC, Alberta was among most extreme since 1950s: study

Stanley Park trail closures in effect to head off conflict with denning coyotes

Sections of BC LNG line complete, partnership on disputed portion: Coastal GasLink

Vernon HandyDART passengers say newer buses are less accessible

BC Opposition leader aims at NDP's problem issues of crime, health affordability

BC ramps up surgeries as catchup continues on operations cancelled due to COVID

Suspected human-caused wildfire burning northwest of Merritt 

'Mistaken identity' to blame for 2021 death of BC corrections officer, say police

Over my dead body: BC government strongly condemns info in Roe v. Wade draft leak

Georgia Straight

Vancouver posts Canada's biggest increase in new condo pries as 'investors jump into hot rental market'

BCREA suggests 'doubling' new home construction will make prices 'flat' for a decade

Greater Vancouver Fraser Valley home prices post double-digit price increases amid falling sales  

The Tyee

Four Things to know about BC's proposed Police Reforms

If you want to live on Salt Spring, You need to be rich

Sometimes tackling injustice means laughing at it

BCGEU pans BC decision to expand private long-term care

What Haunts Canada's Banks? A Green Pivot from Oilsands 

Another 165 British Columbians killed by Toxic Drugs

Anti-Safe Supply Report panned by critics 

Sweet, Sweet Fantasy Babies

'Exhausting and Heartbreaking'. The Other side of Eased COVID measures

Miscellaneous

BC Opposition leader Kevin Falcon to target NDP on crime, health, affordability 

BC hiring more health-care staff as it wipes out surgery backlog: minister

Minster flags 'creative' plan for repeat offenders after being called soft on crime

RCMP investigate after two suspicious wildfires sparked in BC's north Okanagan