Vancouver Rundown Friday January 31, 2025

Jan 31, 2025

Summary

Donald Trump has confirmed Canada and Mexico will be hit by 25 per cent tariffs on U.S. bound exports on Saturday. The U.S. President also warns those tariffs could go up if both countries fail to meet American demands over fentanyl and migrants crossing the border into the States. Trump does say oil might be excluded from the tariffs.

Other news…

The entire Victoria School Board has been fired by B.C.’s education minister over its ban on police liaison officers. The move comes two years after the school board cut the liaison program saying police in schools could be uncomfortable for some Black and Indigenous students. Education Minister Lisa Beare had asked the board to come up with a safety plan in consultation with police partners. Subsequent efforts failed to impress the minister who now says the board has lost the trust of many to govern in the public interest. The firing has been praised by Victoria Police. A trustee has now been appointed.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has quit attending Metro Vancouver board meetings. Sim says he will take a step back as the regional district continues to deal with turmoil and a lack of transparency. Mayors and other civic politicians are paid extra for participating in most board meetings.

Reena Virk’s killer has been arrested in Surrey. Kerry Sim - better known as Kelly Ellard - was picked up on Tuesday but other details are not clear. She had been living at a halfway house while on parole. Ellard is serving a life sentence for drowing 14-year-old Reena Virk under Victoria’s Craigflower Bridge in 1997.

Rain, heavy at times on Friday, with gusty wind near the water. A chance of showers mixed with flurries on Saturday. Snow on Sunday. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.