Vancouver rundown for Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Premier David Eby is pushing back against the
federal government's planned expansion of the
temporary foreign worker program. That plan would
allow employers outside of urban areas to increase
a number of lower -paid TFLs until at least next
year. Eby says it ties vulnerable workers to
employers who often exploit them. He says there
should be a path to permanent residency instead.
Other news. The driver of a Dodge Ram is dead
after trying to avoid a police traffic stop in
Abbotsford. Police say the driver lost control
of the pickup and smashed into a tree near McClure
and Townland Roads late Monday night. The driver
died at the scene. The circumstances are under
investigation by BC's police watchdog, the IIO.
A 49 -year -old man is dead and another person
is under arrest. following a fight at a home
in Maple Ridge. First responders were called
in after police got reports of a woman screaming
near 238th Street and 110th Avenue early Monday
evening. A man could not be revived at the scene.
RCMP say it is an isolated incident. Cope City
Councilor Sean Orr has now raised more than $44
,000 to help fund his legal fees as he sues Mayor
Ken Simm for defamation. The online fundraiser
was launched last week as Orr pursues legal action
over Simm's false claim that the councilor handed
out illegal drugs on Christmas Day to people
on the street. Orr says he was out of town at
the time. Simm plans to pay for his own legal
defense. Periods of rain in the forecast for
Wednesday, windy at times. Rain on Thursday,
showers for Friday. For all the details on these
local Vancouver area stories, along with those
links, go to VancouverRundown .substack .com.