Author | Lightnews

Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · 3d

B.C. Green Party MLA Rob Botterell says in a province where a third of residents are renters, it’s time to remove the ability for landlords to raise rent prices after evicting tenants.

He's pushing for vacancy control — but is facing an uphill battle.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C. Greens want to tie rent increases to units, not tenants – but face uphill battle | CBC News

A B.C. Green MLA bill this week aims to create vacancy control – a policy that would limit rent increases by tying them to a unit, not an individual tenancy. It's generated support from poverty reduct...

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · 3d

The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration for its outgoing and incoming police chiefs this summer, according to documents obtained through FOI by @stephenharrison.bsky.social

Latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Victoria police spent $22K on party for outgoing, incoming chiefs | CBC News

The Victoria Police Department spent more than $22,000 in public funds on a celebration that honoured its outgoing and incoming police chiefs, according to a freedom of information request.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Shannon Waters @sobittersosweet.bsky.social · 5d

I'm really glad Stephen keeps such a close eye on the goings on related to our local police department

It's such essential, public service reporting that I don't see from other local outlets

Stephen Harrison @stephenharrison.bsky.social · 5d

VicPD held a party for their outgoing and incoming chiefs this summer at Government House. They talked repeatedly about how much work it was, and the event seemed strange, so I FOI'd the costs. They spent $22,015 in public money on this event. 🧵 www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-p... #yyj #cdnfoi

VicPD parties at Government House for $22,000 — Needs More Spikes

This summer, VicPD used its bottomless budget to throw a party for their outgoing and incoming chiefs. Via FOI, we now know that event cost $22,015.

www.needsmorespikes.com

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Stephen Harrison @stephenharrison.bsky.social · 11d

The #yyj police board is presenting its draft 2026 budget at 5:00 pm. They want $90 million+, including 25 new officers. It would be an $11 million increase, or 14% (a 52%, $31 million increase from 2021). Budget: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... 🧵 with highlights before the meeting starts. #vicpdboard

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · 11d

A B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid the eight-week BCGEU strike.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C woman seeking IVF funding says she faces delays, uncertainty amid BCGEU strike | CBC News

Fertility clinics say they're seeing delays in patients being approved for IVF funding due to the B.C. General Employees Union Strike. For patients who have rested their last hopes of conception on B....

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · 18d

Public service workers told me they've faced a high toll for being on strike these last six weeks — more than anything, they want to return to their jobs helping people.

But with negotiations at a standstill for weeks, it's unclear when a deal will be reached.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

'A human cost to the inaction': BCGEU workers speak out on toll of weeks-long strike | CBC News

For some B.C. General Employees' Union members taking part in job action, the weeks-long pickets and lost wages are making it hard to make ends meet.

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Andrea Woo @andreawoo.bsky.social · 19d

B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting the psychiatric treatment they need, and are being kept in jail longer than required, because the province has only one 190-bed hospital for them, @mikehager.bsky.social reports:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/briti...

B.C. prisoners with complex mental illnesses aren’t getting necessary treatment, report says

British Columbia Review Board chair Brenda Edwards says chronic underfunding has brought the forensic health care system to a breaking point

www.theglobeandmail.com

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · Oct 3

Freelancers based on Vancouver Island or the BC coast, please get in touch if you're available over the next few weeks!

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Oct 1

A judge has sentenced a man who he says was involved in a shooting and arson at the B.C. home of musician AP Dhillon in 2024 on the direction of the Bishnoi crime group, which is now a terrorist entity in Canada.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Man sentenced for arson, shooting at B.C. home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon | CBC News

A 26-year-old man will serve 4½ years in jail after being found guilty of his involvement in an arson and shooting at the Vancouver Island home of Punjabi musician AP Dhillon. RCMP have an arrest warr...

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Sep 25

UVic's president committed to implementing all 18 of an independent report's recommendations in the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus — most before September.

While progress has been made, few recommendations were finished by the start of term.

My latest:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

UVic behind in implementing most of 18 recommendations from student's death by new term | CBC News

In the wake of a student's fatal overdose on campus, UVic received 18 recommendations from an independent report. It committed to implementing most of them before the fall term, but only three have be...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Jen St. Denis @jenstden.bsky.social · Sep 22

Five months after Premier David Eby directed the British Columbia government to cancel U.S. contracts wherever possible, the work has fallen short of what he had wanted, by Andrew MacLeod #bcpoli

thetyee.ca/News/2025/09...

BC Is Failing on Its Plan to Shun US Businesses | The Tyee

Five months after Eby called for action, the government can’t point to changes.

thetyee.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Amanda Follett Hosgood @amandafollett.bsky.social · Sep 21

31 journalists and media staff killed by Israeli strikes on newspaper offices in Yemen in deadliest attack on journalists in the last 16 years.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Israel attack on Yemeni newspaper was second deadliest on journalists ever recorded

Press freedom group says ‘brutal and unjustified attack’ is deadliest since 2009 Maguindanao massacre in Philippines

www.theguardian.com

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Sep 15

A First Nations family is seeking justice after a man’s remains were misplaced by Island Health and the B.C. Coroner’s Office.

They’re not the first island First Nation to experience this – but are pushing for changes to prevent it from happening to others.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

A First Nations man's remains were misplaced in B.C. It's not the 1st time it's happened | CBC News

Two years after the death of her father, Amanda Large received news that brought added grief and unanswered questions: her father’s brain, which had been removed during an autopsy, had never been retu...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Michelle Cyca @michellecyca.com · Aug 21

two scandals here: VPD fuelled panic over stranger attacks even as they fell dramatically in 2022, and then refused to release records about them for 14 months, which is against the law

CTV News Vancouver @ctvnewsvancouver.bsky.social · Aug 21

‘Fear and anxiety’: What our police FOI requests uncovered about Vancouver’s stranger assaults scare

Internal emails obtained through Freedom of Information requests shed light on the Vancouver Police Department's media strategy related to stranger assaults ahead of the city's 2022 election.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Michelle Cyca @michellecyca.com · Aug 19

a really great and well-researched story from @zoeyunker.bsky.social about the context and implications of the Cowichan decision, including how the namesake of Port Moody, B.C., secretly bought a Cowichan village site that should have been a reserve: thetyee.ca/News/2025/08...

Inside Richmond’s Precedent-Setting Cowichan Tribes v. Canada Case | The Tyee

The BC Supreme Court decision affirms Aboriginal title on private lands. What’s next?

thetyee.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Aug 18

The longest transit strike in BC's history appears to be at a standstill. After weeks of calls for the province to step in, BC's minister of labor says they may appoint a second mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

My latest, with help from @katiederosa.bsky.social:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

B.C.'s labour minister says 2nd mediator may be tasked to try to end Cowichan transit strike | CBC News

The province may appoint another special mediator to end the nearly seven-month transit strike in the Cowichan Valley, according to B.C.’s labour minister, Jennifer Whiteside.

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Aug 13

Fantastic news for healthcare in Canada, at a time when more in-depth and consistent coverage into issues around health is so needed! Can't wait to see the impact @brishti.bsky.social is sure to make in this role.

Brishti Basu @brishti.bsky.social · Aug 13

I'm so excited to announce that as of last week, I've joined the power-packed team at @pressprogress.ca as their health reporter.

It's a topic that touches everyone's lives, and a healthy healthcare system is often a litmus test for a healthy community.

In this new role, I'd like to... (1/n)

PressProgress @pressprogress.ca · Aug 13

Meet Brishti Basu, PressProgress’ new health reporter:

The promise of universal public healthcare has always been central to the ‘Canadian Dream’. Our new health reporter Brishti wants to help keep the dream alive.

Say hi to @brishti.bsky.social 👋

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Aug 13

First, a fatal house fire. Then, a fiery car containing human remains. And most recently, a fatal assault.

Three people have died in Port Alberni, B.C., within a 9-day period in early August, each of them under circumstances RCMP are investigating as suspicious.

Latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Port Alberni RCMP investigating 3 suspicious deaths in city in 9 days | CBC News

Three people have died in Port Alberni, B.C., within a nine-day period in early August, under circumstances RCMP are investigating as suspicious.

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Aug 12

Congrats Paloma!!

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Aug 7

While Vancouver Island wildfire evacuees from about 100 properties were able to return to their homes on Wednesday evening, the majority remain displaced as efforts continue to try to rein in the fire's continued growth.

My latest on what this looks like on the ground:

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

'Fighting for our community': Vancouver Island evacuees, fire crews see groundswell of support | CBC News

While evacuees from about 100 properties were able to return to their homes on Wednesday evening, the majority remain displaced. In the midst of it, a groundswell of community support is helping fire ...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · Jul 22

They receive a salary, but there's no food to buy. Their vehicles are useless without gas, so they walk or use donkey carts.

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Jul 21

🚨BREAKING: The last journalists working for AFP in Gaza have said they can no longer work for the news agency.

They are out of energy and they are starving to death.

I have never seen a statement from a news organisation like it.

🧵

Sans intervention immédiate, les derniers reporters de Gaza vont mourir
21 juillet 2025
L'AFP travaille avec une pigiste texte, trois photographes et six pigistes vidéo dans la Bande de Gaza depuis le départ de ses journalistes staff courant 2024.
Avec quelques autres, ils sont aujourd'hui les seuls à rapporter ce qu'il se passe dans la Bande de Gaza. La presse internationale est interdite d'entrer dans ce territoire depuis près de deux ans.
Nous refusons de les voir mourir.
L'un deux, Bashar, collabore pour l'AFP depuis 2010, d'abord comme fixeur, ensuite comme photographe pigiste, et depuis 2024 comme principal photographe.
Samedi 19 juillet, il est parvenu à poster un message sur Facebook: « Je n'ai plus la force de travailler pour les médias.
Mon corps est maigre et je ne peux plus travailler ».
Bashar, 30 ans, travaille et vit dans des conditions égales à celles de tous les Gazaouis, allant d'un camp de réfugiés à un autre camp au gré des bombardements israéliens. Depuis plus d'un an il vit dans le dénuement le plus total et travaille en prenant d'énormes risques pour sa vie. L'hygiène est pour lui un problème majeur, avec des périodes de maladies intestinales sévères.
Bashar vit depuis février dans les ruines de sa maison de Gaza City avec sa mère, ses quatre frères et sœurs et la famille d'un de ses frères. Leur maison est vide de tout aménagement et confort, à part quelques coussins. Dimanche matin, il a rapporté que son frère aîné était « tombé, à cause de la faim ».
Même si ces journalistes reçoivent un salaire mensuel de l'AFP, il n'y a rien à acheter ou alors à des prix totalement exorbitants. Le système bancaire a disparu, et ceux qui pratiquent le change entre les comptes bancaires en ligne et l'argent liquide prennent une commission de près de 40%.
L'AFP n'a plus la possibilité d'avoir un véhicule et encore moins de l'essence pour permettre à ses journalistes de se déplacer pour leurs reportages. Circuler en voiture équivaut de toutes les façons à pre…

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Gord Johns @gordjohns.bsky.social · Jun 27

@thatemfagan.bsky.social Proud to introduce C-211 to make it easier for people with disabilities to obtain the benefits they are entitled to and to reduce the paperwork load on health care workers. Each Disability Tax Credit form takes up to 1 hr to complete.

MP Johns introduces Bill C-211, cutting red tape for Canadians applying for disability benefits

House of Commons, Private Members' Business June 17, 2025 MP Johns introduces Bill C-211, cutting red tape for Canadians applying for disability benefits

bit.ly

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · Jun 26

#Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands. Experts raise alarm that DTC companies are bilking applicants, by @thatemfagan.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca

Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands | CBC News

As Canada launches its new disability benefit payments in July, medical and disability experts are raising alarms over barriers to obtaining the main eligibility requirement, the disability tax credit...

www.cbc.ca

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Emily Fagan @thatemfagan.bsky.social · Jun 26

The disability tax credit can be critical for people with disabilities—especially now that it's required to access the new Canada Disability Benefit.

But some people, including low-income families, are being charged thousands by companies for help applying.

My latest:
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands | CBC News

As Canada launches its new disability benefit payments in July, medical and disability experts are raising alarms over barriers to obtaining the main eligibility requirement, the disability tax credit...

www.cbc.ca

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Reposted by Emily Fagan

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · Jun 24

Note to freelancers: I'm open to pitches for @nationalobserver.com! We pay pretty well, and we're flexible with timelines for assigned stories. I don't need a long pitch — think 2 paragraphs — but please give an idea of what your story is.

Some recently published freelance pieces:

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