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Vancouver rundown for Wednesday, December 18, 2024.

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BC's deficit has jumped to $9.3 billion.

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That revelation comes in the provincial government's fiscal update.

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The debt is expected to rise to $130 billion

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by the end of the government fiscal year.

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Provincial Finance Minister Brenda Bailey says

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she expects modest economic growth of 0.9 percent,

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but also warns there's looming uncertainty,

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including Donald Trump's threatened 25 percent tariff on Canadian imports.

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Other news.

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Two central Saanich police officers have been charged with sexual assault.

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43-year-old Matthew Ball and 40-year-old Ryan Johnson's charges

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relate to an investigation into a complaint

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that two cops had sexual contact with a woman they met while on duty.

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Vancouver police arrested the two on Tuesday.

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Ball and Ryan were not with each other

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when the alleged assaults occurred.

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Vancouver police, who are investigating the case,

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say this involves a vulnerable woman in her 20s.

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A kayaker has been rescued by crew aboard a BC ferry.

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The person was clinging to the hall near the Tawason terminal

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when the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria was notified on Tuesday.

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Paramedics rushed the kayaker to hospital in stable condition.

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The 115-year-old Dunsmear Hotel could be ripped down.

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The city of Vancouver believes the building is now unsafe

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and is asking council to declare it a danger to the public.

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It's believed the building cannot be stabilized in a safe and timely manner.

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Showers on Wednesday morning, windy at times.

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Clouds and showers for Thursday, cloudy again on Friday.

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For all the details on these local Vancouver area stories,

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along with those links, go to vancouverrundown.substack.com