British Columbia Minute: Issue 85

British Columbia Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of British Columbia politics.

📅 This Week In British Columbia: 📅

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed that a cull of roughly 300 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms near Edgewood has been carried out. The decision followed a lengthy legal battle that ended when the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the farm’s final appeal to save the birds. The CFIA stated that the cull, carried out under veterinary supervision, was the most humane and effective way to prevent the virus from mutating and spreading. The farm’s owners argued that the flock had developed herd immunity and could contribute to scientific research, accusing the CFIA of excessive power and government overreach. The cull has sparked widespread public debate, drawing sympathy from supporters and frustration from local residents.
  
  
• West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. will permanently close its lumber mill in 100 Mile House by the end of 2025, eliminating about 165 jobs and dealing another major blow to the small community’s economy. The company cited a dwindling timber supply, weak global lumber markets, and steep US tariffs as the reasons behind the decision. Local officials warn the closure will affect hundreds of indirect jobs and shrink the town’s tax base, threatening essential infrastructure and prompting more families to leave. The announcement follows previous mill shutdowns in 2019, which the community has yet to fully recover from. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar called the move “heartbreaking” and blamed US trade actions, urging Ottawa to provide more forestry support. Opposition critics, however, argued that provincial policies and poor forest management also contributed to the crisis.
  
  
• Speaking of the forestry industry, Premier David Eby met with federal ministers in Vancouver this week to address BC’s worsening forestry crisis, urging Ottawa to improve Employment Insurance for displaced workers and accelerate the rollout of a $1.2-billion federal aid package. While the meeting resulted in the creation of a new working group to fast-track funding, no firm commitments were made on EI reform. Eby criticized Ottawa for prioritizing industries like steel and auto manufacturing over softwood lumber, arguing that forestry is equally vital to BC’s economy. Federal ministers said $700 million in liquidity support is now available, with another $500 million earmarked to help producers retool and expand into new markets. Industry representatives welcomed the discussions but stressed that thousands of jobs have already been lost due to tariffs, wildfires, and regulatory delays. Experts warned that more mill closures are likely without swift action to improve timber access and reduce costs.
  
  
• Midwives across British Columbia are raising alarms over upcoming regulatory changes that could limit their ability to provide or refer patients for mental health support. Under the new Health Professions and Occupations Act, taking effect in April 2026, wording related to “counselling” and “mental health support” will be removed from midwives’ scope of practice - a shift already reflected in Island Health’s policy, which bars midwives from referring patients to perinatal mental health specialists. Midwives and advocates argue this contradicts BC’s new perinatal mental health law and could lead to longer wait times in an overburdened primary care system. Health Minister Josie Osborne insists the change is meant to expand midwives’ scope, not restrict it, but critics like UBC midwifery professor Adrienne Carruthers and Conservative MLA Jody Toor warn it risks fragmenting care and leaving new mothers without essential mental health support. The Midwives Association of BC is urging the province to explicitly restore mental health care to midwives’ official role, noting many patients have no family doctor or OB-GYN to fill the gap.
  
  
• Premier David Eby met with Indigenous leaders in Vancouver this week for the 10th BC Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering, with discussions dominated by the Province’s appeal of the Cowichan Tribes land title ruling. The BC Supreme Court recently recognized the Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Nation’s Aboriginal title to more than 300 hectares of land in Richmond, prompting uncertainty among local homeowners and businesses. Eby defended the Province’s decision to seek a stay on the ruling, saying the government needs time to balance Indigenous rights with private property concerns. Indigenous leaders, including Grand Chief Stewart Phillip and Chief Shana Thomas, said the case underscores the urgency of advancing reconciliation and revitalizing the BC treaty process. Phillip described the meetings as tense but emphasized the need for respectful dialogue, while Regional Chief Terry Teegee noted that more than 200 First Nations communities attended, seeking continued action on the Province’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

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