Dec 16 - Mail resumes tomorrow

Good morning !

Yesterday was the public memorial for John Horgan, and today is the last day to sign the online book of condolences. We’ll have more on that ceremony tomorrow in Capital Daily and The Westshore, and you can watch it for yourself here.

For today we have major updates on the mail strike and the final flight of the Island’s last Mars bomber. Spoiler: They’re both on hold.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️  8 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 9 / 10

Wednesday: 🌦️ 11 / 5

7-day forecast

NEWS

Mail resumes tomorrow as federal labour board sends Canada Post employees back to work

The Industrial Relations Board ruled last night that talks between Canada Post and its 55,000 workers are at an impasse.

Canada's labour minister sent the month-long strike to hearings this past weekend after which, if the board felt a deal could not be reached by year's end, workers would be made to return for the holiday season and the previous contract would extend to May 22, 2025.

This “time out” for the holiday season will restart mail tomorrow, but Canada Post has warned that it may take time to ramp operations back up. During the strike many Victoria-area locals—particularly small businesses—have turned to other mail carriers, but have often dealt with the "absolute mayhem" of long lineups out the door and the higher prices of courier companies.

Crown corp and union remain at odds

In recent weeks both accused the other of making inadequate offers, and last week Canada Post had to withdraw temporary layoffs of striking workers after Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ (CUPW) filed a formal illegal-practices complaint.

At issue in the strike is not only money—workers argue they need more due to inflation, and management argues it is losing too much—but also the conditions of the work. That includes internal sorting processes, the physical demands of routes, temporary disability pay, weekend work, and use of temporary vs. full-time employees.

3rd major sector to see federal intervention in labour dispute this year

CUPW argues that this practice allows employers to bargain in bad faith, and port and rail unions are arguing in court cases that it undercuts Canadians’ right to bargain and strike. Business groups have encouraged these interventions as a way to restore predictability and supply chains.

Keep reading the full story at Capital Daily.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Expect rain for most of the rest of this week.

Sunset times are now finally inching later in the day, and in a week total daylight will begin increasing.

EnviroCan cautions that high tide & winds “may raise the water levels along the coast” and cause moving debris.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Philippine Mars waits in Pat Bay after aborting flight to US (again)

The retired water bomber is, like its sibling this summer, headed to its final home at a museum. In August the Hawaii Mars’ landing in Patricia Bay went as planned and put it nearly on the doorstep of its new home at the peninsula's BC Aviation Museum. But yesterday's Pat Bay landing by the Philippine Mars was quite different. 

The aircraft has been donated by Coulson Aviation to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson and was on its way stateside from Port Alberni after last week's first flight south was stopped due to a concern with an oil pressure regulator in an engine.

After swapping in an engine from the Hawaii, it got the go-ahead to fly from Sproat Lake to San Francisco yesterday. It took off above a crowd of 6,000 including a retired pilot who had flown it for 40 years.

But within two hours it had turned around. 

Coulson cited an unspecified problem with a different engine, and so for now the US-bound bomber remains in the same waters that its sibling spent the late summer in. 

Headed back to site of its original role 

Both JRM-3 planes started out in WWII flying cargo over the Pacific for the US. But in BC they are known for their lives after 1958, when they were converted into the iconic red firefighting planes able to drop 25,000+ litres of water.

The bomber was slated to go on from SF to Alameda Lagoon, where it had been a navy plane in its past career, then on to San Diego Bay near the USS Midway Museum. Then, finally, it would go to Arizona and be partly disassembled to be moved into the museum. 

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⭐️ Capital Picks

🍰 The Cozy Christmas food tour is back with seasonal treats from around town. [Tasting Victoria]

🛁 Dive into The Drowning Girls! Hapax Theatre's haunting, gripping tale of love, betrayal, and justice runs Dec. 12–21 at the Belfry Theatre. Tickets available now!*

🎉 A western firefly sits on a sweet honey mushroom near Port Alberni. [Facebook photos]

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🗞️ In Other News

Port Alberni elects drag-racing Christmas tree salesman
Former mayoral candidate Tom Verbrugge won a seasonally fitting victory in the council byelection, by 44 votes. He wants to bring back drag racing at the airport for the first time in a decade. [Times Colonist]

Saanich family claims neighbours are recruiting their cat away from them 
This family and another on the block told Black Press that these neighbours have gradually “taken over” as many as 6 pets over the years by increasingly feeding and housing them even when told not to. The Slamets say they’ve already lost Percy to this feline infidelity and now Pumpkin Spice is gone for weeks at a time. They’re now making a “Jolene”-style plea to the neighbours: please don’t take him just because you can.

United Way charity merger will now happen 2 months early
South Vancouver Island United Way will now merge into United Way BC on Feb. 1, in a previously announced move that intends to streamline services, guarantee access to more provincial funding, and deliver more services directly. [VicNews]

BC government administrative branches are under a hiring freeze, Eby says
The premier says he is also reviewing government admin costs in an effort to mitigate a large deficit. BCGEU says it had not been consulted, and that certain key positions have high turnover and could go unfilled. [CHEK]

SPONSORED BY EARLY MUSIC VANCOUVER AND THE EARLY MUSIC SOCIETY OF THE ISLANDS

Celebrate the holidays with Festive Cantatas: Bach & Zelenka

Celebrate the festive season with music by Bach and more! Featuring the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver Chamber Choir, and five globally-acclaimed soloists on December 21 at 3pm at Christ Church Cathedral Victoria.

Presented by Early Music Vancouver and the Early Music Society of the Islands.

🗓️ Things to do

🎄 Daniel Lapp’s Home for Christmas: This holiday show returns to the Royal Theatre, with Lapp leading a group of talented young fiddle players. Dec. 18-19, 7:30pm

🎤 Mobb Deep at Upstairs: Almost 20 years later, the rap group still has “what it takes to make this club go outta control” as Havoc tours with longtime collaborator Big Noyd and veteran Nas producer DJ LES helping to fill the void left by the late Prodigy. Tomorrow 5pm.

🕯️ There are still some local holiday concerts yet to come this month. [Capital Daily roundup]

✨ Free & public holiday season events this month. [Capital Daily roundup]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Victoria massage worker guilty on 5 counts; not guilty on 4. [Sunday newsletter]

Orca in Inner Harbour (video): Noah swam under the bridge and near the Empress. [CHEK]

Raccoon rehab results: New local study looks at fates of young critters after release. [The Westshore]

Crystal Pool referendum: What to know about the Feb. 8 vote. [Capital Daily]

NDP-Green deal: Read about the new governance accord and the policies it will bring to BC. [Capital Daily]

Federal GST is now temporarily suspended on items including kids’ books and toys.

Trees adorned in James Bay with Christmas ornaments and the classic teacups. [Instagram]

A strangely beautiful (but dead) little shark in Qualicum area. [Facebook] 

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