Vancouver Rundown Wednesday February 28, 2024

Feb 28, 2024

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Summary

“It’s a slap in the face” - that’s how survivor Betty Kabatoff, 78, describes B.C.’s compensation offer for the provincial government’s forcible removal of children from a Doukhobor sect nearly 70 years ago. Kabatoff tells the CBC the $10 million reconciliation package falls short of expectations. As part of an apology, the government will provide the money for cultural, historical and health programs. Some in the Sons of Freedom community were expecting a one-time direct payment to survivors or their families.

Other news…

Vancouver’s homeless population could increase by another 2,000 people by the end of this decade, according to a report by the Carnegie Housing Project CHP’s This Isn’t Working report says governments have failed the Downtown Eastside, noting the province is ‘more words than action’ and the federal government excludes low income people through its cutbacks. The CHP also wants the city to speed up its renovations of several housing hotels.

Red Scorpion gang leader Jamie Bacon won’t be getting statutory release after serving two thirds of his sentence for his role in the Surrey Six murder plot. Some members of the Parole Board noted Bacon engaged in intimidation and organizing assaults on other inmates. In 2020, Bacon pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his role in the 2007 killings of six people, including two bystanders, in a Whalley apartment tower.

B.C. Ferries plans to replace six of its older Queen-class ships by 2029 with newer and more environmentally friendly boats. The newer ships are expected to carry up to 2,100 passengers and run on either alternative bio fuels or electric hybrid technology. The bidding process is open to local, national and international ship building companies.

While many parts of the Lower Mainland got a taste of wet snow late Tuesday, heavy rain will dominate the forecast through Friday. Here are the latest conditions from our private weather station in Surrey.