March 10 - A new PM—and an election coming?

Good morning !

We hope you enjoyed the year's first day of light lasting an hour longer into the evening. We open today's newsletter with the biggest news in the country—and how it intersects with local politics.

Plus: The return of the ever-popular cherry blossoms.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: X minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤 9 / 3

Tomorrow: 🌧 7 / 3

Day after: : 🌦️ 10 / 2

NEWS

Carney takes over as PM, Island could soon be in federal election

In the final Liberal Party leadership race tallies on Sunday, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney was elected easily with nearly 86% of votes. The transition of office from Justin Trudeau to Carney will likely happen this week. In a victory speech, Carney focused on the threats from US President Donald Trump. He said Canada didn't ask for a fight but is ready when another country “drops the gloves.”

The standoff with the US has resurrected the party's polling numbers, which last year went into a tailspin that augured a dominant election win by Piere Poilievre's Conservatives.

The NDP and Bloc Quebecois were poised to bring down the government at the first opportunity this spring and may still do so—though NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has said he would at least allow parliament to return long enough to pass relief measures for workers amid the tariff battle. Carney may call an early election himself at this point, given that he has no MP seat and is riding strong polling.

An early federal election would have local implications beyond just the races for South Island MP seats.

Sooke is looking to time its byelection so that it can potentially replace Mayor Maja Tait, who is running federally for the NDP, at the same time as it fills the seat vacated by now-MLA Dana Lajeunesse. Saanich councillor Colin Plant is also running for the NDP, looking to unseat longtime incumbent Elizabeth May, the federal Green leader.

Former View Royal Mayor David Screech was acclaimed as a Liberal candidate, but earlier this year, the party revoked his candidacy.

NEWS

The deep roots of Victoria’s beloved spring blossoms

It's March, the clock just changed, and the weather is warmer. Well, a little warmer. But the most iconic sign of spring in Victoria is probably the famous pink and white blossoms. They've been blooming lately, and if you've walked down View Street downtown, you may have seen some fellow pedestrians stopping to take photos. You may have even been that person!

These cherry blossoms also have a greater significance—a part of Victoria's history that has persevered for nearly a century. The local Japanese community created beautiful gardens during Victoria's first 75 years as a city. And at the 1937 commemorative parade, they replicated those trees with paper mache bows and blossoms for a float [pictured below].

They then used the first-place prize money from the parade float to buy 1,013 more Japanese cherry trees to donate to the city, literally sowing the seeds of the pink cityscapes we see today.

It was just a few years later that xenophobic wartime policies would force many of these Japanese-Canadian locals out of the region. Many of them were interned far inland while their homes and property were left behind and misappropriated.

But the trees still stood to mark those families' legacy of generosity—and to welcome some of them back, decades later.

Read the full story of the local cherry & plum trees here.

You can also look up the locations of local trees with this City-run interactive map. 

NEWS

Regional tariff-threat task force begins its meetings mid-March

In the face of the tariff flip-flopping and economic uncertainty with the southern neighbours, the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), Greater Victoria’s economic alliance, has announced a new task force.

The Rising Economy Taskforce 2.0 will bring leaders across the region together in response to threats from the U.S. administration and to address Greater Victoria’s economic vulnerabilities. SIPP’s first Rising Economy Taskforce was established in April 2020 in response to the financial repercussions of COVID-19.

SIPP lists the task force priority areas as:

• Understanding vulnerabilities in our economy

• Building resident confidence in business and community leaders’ response

• Identifying actionable interventions in response to US administration actions

• Seizing opportunities that align with federal, provincial, and municipal goals

• Reducing duplication of efforts between government and business

• Championing a diverse economy by encouraging investment

• Keeping a finger on the pulse of the economy

Read more on this and other local business news at Victoria Tech Journal.

SPONSORED BY VICTORIA HOCKEY LEGACY SOCIETY

Everyone’s invited to Century Celebration

From March 29 - 30 Oak Bay Recreation Centre will buzz with the vibrancy of a community festival celebrating a historic hockey milestone - one that happened just feet away.

In 1925 the Victoria Cougars captured hockey’s most coveted championship chalice. The Cougars were the last non-NHL team to do so and no other team from B.C. has won it since.

Century Celebration highlights their achievements and Victoria's enduring connection to hockey's finest moments.

Enjoy fun activities for all ages at this free, community event - and look for a special appearance by that championship chalice, always a source of pride for Canadians.

The festival is produced in partnership with the District of Oak Bay, and its presenting sponsor is hockey historian Helen Edwards.

⭐️ Capital Picks

📚 Book recs for Int'l Women's Day are at the top of the page in GVPL's online catalogue.

🌅 Layers in the sky in this Nanaimo Harbour photo. [James MacDonald]

💰 Only 1 day left to apply for a community grant! Grants of up to $30,000 are available to support your non-profit or charity. Apply today.*

🥘 Savour Sidney food fest continues; here are some of its best offerings. [Tasting Victoria]

Join our supporter drive! Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Saanich students get 3rd straight world robotics competition spot
The Reynolds Reybots are headed to the FIRST organization's Houston championships next month, and one team member in Grade 11 also received a provincial-level individual accolade. [Saanich News]

K’ómoks First Nation votes 81% to ratify modern treaty
The treaty has been in the works for 30+ years and would grant the nation a status similar to a municipal government and allow it to take on some typically provincial-level duties, and comes with BC & federal funding commitments. Nation members also voted 83% in favour to ratify its constitution. [Times Colonist]

10-time world log rolling champ dies at 90 
Shawnigan Lake's Jubiel Wickheim was a champion at birling (a competition involving running on logs in the water) in the 1950s-60s and went on to be a prolific organizer and announcer of logger sports. [CHEK]

BC Conservatives lose 3 MLAs in Dallas Brodie ouster
Party leader John Rustad removed Quilchena-area MLA Brodie from caucus on Friday, after her public skepticism of residential school deaths began to include comments that Rustad said “publicly mock and belittle” child sexual abuse survivors. Kelowna and Peace River MLAs then quit in support of Brodie, with the latter riding’s Jordan Kealy saying he would start a new party. [Global]

SPONSORED BY CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

50/50 for Island kids

Support children’s health and take a chance at winning big! The Pot of Gold 50/50 raffle jackpot is above $11,000 and growing! Half goes to the jackpot winner, and half helps Island families. Tickets on sale until March 17—grab yours now!

🗓️ Things to do

💎 Victoria Rock & Gem show is this weekend at Da Vinci Centre. [Info]

🤠 Tuesday Night Honky Tonk with two-step lesson at 7pm and music by Petunia & the Vipers. [Tickets]

🧱 Sidney Museum 19th Annual LEGO Exhibit runs until the end of the month. [By donation]

👁 Oaklands Outdoor Art Tour: Experience the self-guided outdoor walking tour of art displays daily at any time. [Free]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Sunday news: BC springs ahead again. BC-US trade war updates. [March 9]

Saturday news: UVic reaches national tourney again. Deaths rise among unhoused. [March 8]

Esquimalt against additional officer funding, again arguing it doesn't get enough value for cost. [Capital Daily]

Person in medical distress dies on Johnson; identity not yet disclosed. [CHEK]

Spring magic in the Garry Oak meadow at Summit Hill. [Doug Clement]

3 travel-related measles cases confirmed in Lower Mainland by Fraser Health.

Businesses owned / run by women in the Bay Centre. [DowntownVictoriaBC video]