Vancouver rundown for Friday, July 18, 2025.
David Eby's NDP government has finally backed
down and will reinstate funding to cover the
extremely expensive drug for a little girl who
is dying of a rare disease. Ten -year -old Charlie
Pollack's Brunura infusions cost about $33 ,000
a dose, and the province will reverse its decision
to end coverage. following outrage from politicians,
medical professionals, and the general public.
The Langford girl suffers from Batten disease,
a very rare condition that is likely fatal. Other
news, two veteran MLAs have been turfed from
David Eby's cabinet. Public Safety Minister Gary
Begg and Citizen Services Minister George Chow
have been stripped of their portfolios. The cabinet
shuffle sees Ravi Kailon moving to jobs minister.
while Christine Boyle takes over housing. Eby
has linked the continuing U .S. trade war to
his decision to shake up the roles. Two people
have been rescued after a small float plane flipped
off Liskety Island Thursday morning. Neither
are seriously hurt. A local boater helped in
the rescue effort. Five metro Vancouver beaches
are closed to swimming due to high levels of
E. coli. Warning signs have gone up at West Vancouver's
Dunderave Beach, in Vancouver's Trout Lake, Sunset
Beach and Third Beach. Lions Bay is also closed
to swimming. High levels of E. coli are linked
to both human and bird shit. Increasing cloudiness
on Friday. A slight chance of showers. Inland
highs near 25 degrees. A mix of sun and cloud
for Saturday with the chance of showers. For
all the details on these local Vancouver area
stories, along with those links, go to VancouverRundown
.substack .com.