Vancouver run down for Wednesday, September 11, 2024. A record budget deficit and a quickly rising
debt. Those are two of the realities confirmed by the BC NDP government just over a month before
voters go to the polls. Finance Minister Katrina Conroy has announced the province's predicted
deficit now stands at $8.9 billion. That's up over $1.1 billion from last year's deficit.
In part, Conroy is blaming the expected increase on the cost of fighting BC wildfires.
Conroy will not be seeking re-election October 19. Other news, a Vancouver police officer will
likely be charged in connection with a deadly shooting on the downtown Eastside two years ago.
BC's independent investigations office is recommending charges in a police-involved
shooting at the Patricia Hotel on East Hastings in May of 2022. A man died at the scene following
an interaction with officers. At the time, the VPD claimed the man was armed with a weapon,
but the IIO's report makes no reference to any such weapon. There is no end in sight to job action
by Metro Vancouver's HandiDart drivers. The unionized workers staged a large rally outside
the TransLink head office demanding it get involved in the labor dispute. Members of the
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1724, continue to demand equal pay with other public transit drivers.
Mediated talks between the union and its employer, Transdev, have failed to make progress on the issue.
Workers at the Vancouver-Tinanimo Passenger Ferry Service have voted to unionize. They voted 80%
in favor of joining the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union. Hello, employees, about 80 workers.
Isolated showers for Wednesday morning. Thursday will have a mix of sun and clouds. Friday will
be mostly cloudy. For all the details on these Vancouver area stories, along with those links,
go to vancaferundown.substack.com.