Vancouver rundown for Friday, July 26, 2024. A small group of wildfire evacuees from Jasper
continue to share their heartache after homes were destroyed in their community on the Alberta
side of the Rockies. Those gathered in Valemont on the BC side got word late Wednesday that fire
crews retreated and almost half of the buildings have been lost. That wildfire is still considered
out of control. On their news, Kevin Falcon is promising a government under his party would
bring Skytrain to the North Shore. The BC United leader has also vowed to build a new 10-lane
Second Arrows Bridge. Falcon and his party continue to trail both the BC Conservatives
and the provincial NDP in all poles. Meanwhile, the West Coast Express, along with half of all
Metro Vancouver transit, could be cut if the taxpayers don't come up with more funding for
TransLink. That is the warning from TransLink's mayor's council, which wants a permanent $3.4
billion in funding each and every year. Right now, TransLink currently gets funding through
property taxes, provincial and federal income taxes, gas levies, BC hydro bills, and parking
lot surcharges. That's in addition to several other revenue streams, including transit fares.
Justin Trudeau is being confronted by a self-proclaimed independent reporter
while vacationing near Tofino on Vancouver Island. Right-wing social media poster Kian Bexty
has posted a video attempting to ask the Prime Minister questions during a walk on the beach.
Trudeau answered many of the questions, but also suggested his kids deserved to spend time with
their father. Bexty's faced a backlash on social media from those suggesting the PM should be
left alone during his vacation. Friday and Saturday will be mostly sunny with seasonal
norm temperatures. Sunday turns cloudy, Monday turns rainy. For all the details on these Vancouver
area stories along with the links, go to vancouverrundown.substack.com.