June 4 - Murray Rankin won't seek re-election

Good morning !

Another busy week is in store for Ocean Week Victoria, with educational and ocean-themed events running through Sunday around the CRD.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 17 / 8

Tomorrow: ☀️ 18 / 9

Day after: ☀️ 21 / 10

7-day forecast

NEWS

BC Trial Lawyers Association challenge new Legal Professions Act

The non-profit society representing legal professionals in BC is challenging newly enacted legislation it says will hinder their ability to represent clients.

The Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia (TLABC) calls Bill 21, the Legal Professions Act “an egregious assault on the principle of lawyer independence, which is fundamental to the legal professions’ integrity and the justice system at large.”

The association, which speaks for 1,500 legal professionals, says lawyer independence ensures clients are served without government interference. Bill 21, it says, “is about one thing—government control over the legal system and the professions working in it.”

Bill 21 also effectively ends the elected-lawyer majority that currently exists on the Law Society of BC’s board. Under the new system, five of 17 board seats will go to elected lawyers and the remaining dozen seats will be filled by government appointments, the association said. 

TLABC president Michael Elliott said in addition to the threat of lawyer autonomy, there wasn’t enough public consultation and debate over the legislation.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

New minimum passing distance in effect for passing vulnerable road users. [Details]

Poison Prevention. [Safe Kids Week] 

Missing person: Lia, 18, also goes by Taylor or Tay. She was reported missing on May 25 and was spotted May 28. VicPD believe she’s currently in Victoria or on the Lower Mainland.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Murray Rankin won’t seek re-election in Oak Bay-Gordon Head

The current minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation has been an MLA since 2020. Rankin, now 74, moved over from federal politics where he had been Victoria’s MP since 2012.

In a release, Murray said he was proud of his work to help legalize medical-assisted dying in Canada; his Orange Shirt private member’s bill which led to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; his efforts to help compensate Canadians born with birth defects because of the drug thalidomide; and for serving as Canada’s first Chair of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency. 

“Yet the highlight of my life in politics has been to oversee the government’s implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act as the minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation,” he said. 

“I believe that our government’s efforts to achieve reconciliation will be regarded as among its greatest achievements.”

The provincial election is slated for Oct. 19. There will now be at least three South Island ridings without incumbent MLAs: A new Westshore riding is being added, and BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau is leaving her Cowichan seat to run in Victoria-Beacon Hill.

Randall Garrison, also 74, elected as an NDP MP a year before Rankin, announced last year that he would not run again in the federal Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding.

SPONSORED BY PACIFIC OPERA VICTORIA

Pacific Opera Fundraiser: Bid and Enjoy

Pacific Opera Victoria cordially invites you to For All to Hear: Signature Concert and Auction, an unforgettable evening featuring Camila Montefusco, Nicole Ross, and Kimberley-Ann Bartczak.

Held at the exquisite Baumann Centre, this special fundraiser showcases deeply personal and stunningly beautiful recital performances. Your $100 ticket includes a $50 tax receipt, access to the exceptional concert, a signature cocktail, complimentary wine, and hors d’oeuvres. Guests can meet the artists, win door prizes, and bid on stunning artwork and curated auction items. Even if you can't attend, you can still participate in the silent auction remotely.

Your support enables Pacific Opera to produce exciting opera, enhance community programming, and advance education initiatives. Join the celebration and reserve your ticket today.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🏆 First Nations art nominations open. [Poygon Award]

🗣️ Indigenous language lesson: Learn the Hul’q’umi’num word for June from Cowichan Tribes member Jared Qwustenuxun Williams. [Video]

📈 Join over 2000 subscribers getting the latest insights on our region's pressing economic issues like housing, healthcare and more from South Island Prosperity Partnership’s weekly newsletter.*

🏃 Victoria Track Classic at UVic next week. [Info]

🚍 Free BC Transit tomorrow. [For Clean Air Day]

🤝 Now hiring: Impact Investment Associate at Thrive Impact Fund.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Buses to Ten Mile discontinued; Parklands Drive stops closed
Route 13 has lower ridership and will end as of Sept. 4. Four bus stops in Ten Mile Point along Arbutus (at Arbutus Place; at Juan de Fuca in both directions and at 2800 Block) will be closed. BC Transit said 85% of the route overlapped with Route 11 Tillicum Centre/UVic and that on average, only three passengers used the remaining 15% of the route. [BC Transit]

Oak Bay mayor beats Olympians in tea cup race
Choppy waters and high winds cut the race short and also sent competitors into the water. Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch defeated two-time Olympic rowers Adam Kreek and Dominic Seiterle—given mismatched oars—who ended up in the drink. So did the mayor, who jumped in when his teacup started to drift off course. The weather forced some Tea Party cancellations and also kept the crowd down. [Times Colonist]

Impaired driver arrested after road rage incident on VMP
West Shore RCMP said the driver of a 1990 Suzuki Carry pickup had sideswiped a 2010 Toyota Yaris on Fri. at dinner time. While the vehicles were stopped at Veterans Memorial at Kelly, the Suzuki driver tried to yank the other driver from the Yaris. Police arrived, the Suzuki driver failed a breath test and was given a 90-day roadside prohibition. The other driver is OK and decided against pursuing assault charges. [RCMP]

Salvation Army to open largest Island store Thu. in Langford
The Sally Ann’s eighth location—with its 11K+ square feet—is at 875 Langford Pkwy. Three months ago, the Salvation Army closed its downtown Vic thrift store on Johnson, blaming rising operation costs. [CHEK]

Jonas Brothers to headline Grey Cup halftime show
The week-long 2024 Grey Cup Festival in Vancouver starts on Sunday, Nov. 10, leading up to the final game on Nov. 17 when the popular boy band will take the stage. Tickets for the big game will go on sale today at 2pm. [CFL]

🗓️ Things to do

🎵 Soul Source: The 20-piece band will play R&B music at Hermann’s Jazz Club today. Doors 5:30pm, show 7pm.

🌊 Ocean Week: Your guide. [Capital Daily] 

🎥 Purple Noon at Cinecenta: The classic French film starring Alain Delon will be shown at the UVic theatre today, 5pm and 7:15pm. 

🎤 Kennel Club Karaoke: Henrietta Dubét hosts a night of karaoke at The Vicious Poodle today, 8-11pm.  

📽️ Wildcat: The biographical drama about Flannery O’Connor directed by Ethan Hawke and starring Maya Hawke will be shown at The Vic Theatre today, 5pm.  

Looking for something to do this weekend? Subscribe to This Week In Vic to get the full list of what’s on this week.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday headlines: Safety recall leaves fewer buses on Vic roads; GoByBike Week station map; 22-storey condo proposed for Blanshard and Fisgard; And more. [June 3]

See inside an RCAF Airbus in Comox. [Video]

Walls wanted: Esquimalt Art Gallery seeks spaces (in Esquimalt and Vic West) for murals.

Here’s who’s playing at the Wonderment Festival, for ambient & electronic music.

Ladysmith’s first Pride celebration. [CHEK]

That’s it!

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