Canada must take clear and public action now to prevent a war on Cuba, avoid a full-blown humanitarian crisis and ensure respect for Cuban sovereignty and Cubans’ self-determination. Your letter is needed to tell Prime Minister Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Anand and the Canadian government to: Vote “YES” at the annual UN resolution to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba Publicly oppose and work to stop a U.S. military intervention in Cuba Speak out forcefully against unlawful U.S. coercive measures to withhold fuel and starve the Cuban people Work more determinedly with the United Nations and other countries to get fuel and other life-sustaining supplies to Cuba Increase Canadian government aid to Cuba (Just $13.5 million to date) Background: A group of independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council “urged the international community and civil society to act swiftly to prevent a “silent Gaza” from unfolding on the island.” They condemned the US government’s July 23 sanctions against Cuba, which target energy companies, “further block[ing] fuel procurements, even for humanitarian reasons, at a time when Cuba is facing acute fuel shortages” “Measures that knowingly deprive a population of the means to survive strike at the most basic guarantees of the rights to life and diminish the core of human dignity.” The situation has already hit a full-blown crisis. According to the UN experts, women, children, older people and rural farmers are being hit the hardest as energy, transport, irrigation, waste management and other basic services are all breaking down. The country has experienced multiple blackouts leaving the 100% of the population without power for extended periods of time. This is echoed by first-hand testimonies from Canadian organizational partners in Cuba. Given this context, Canada must maintain its independent foreign policy toward Cuba and continue to vote YES at the annual UN vote to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba Between 1993 and 2025, Canada has consistently voted in favour of Cuba’s annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo, including at the most recent October 2025 session. (165 countries supported Cuba at that session). On July 7 of this year, however, Canada chose to abstain from a vote on Cuba. The debate was urgently requested by the island nation given the heightened humanitarian crisis. Canada’s abstention raises serious concerns about the influence that the U.S. government may be having on Canada’s vote. Furthermore, the Trump administration continues to threaten a military attack, causing increased stress and harm to the well-being of Cubans. While other courageous leaders across Latin America (including our CUSMA partner Mexico) condemn these threats to Cuban sovereignty and to the peace and security of the Cuban people, Canada has remained silent.

Stewart Phillip, spouse of the late NDP MLA Joan Philip, endorsed the Greens' Emily Lowan

Three Island communities now have another option to get to Vancouver with a local company offering bus services to connect to Hullo sailings. IslandLink is now offering two daily one-way bus routes between Campbell River, Courtenay, Parksville and the Hullo terminal. The first will have the bus leaving the Hullo terminal at 11 a.m., to accept passengers from the 9 a.m. sailing from Vancouver. The bus will then head toward Parksville, Courtenay and Campbell River. Heading in the other direction, IslandLink’s service will leave Campbell River, stopping in Courtenay and Parksville to arrive in time for Hullo’s 11 a.m. sailing. “We have been asking for this for a while, so it is an exciting day to officially join forces with Hullo to give Vancouver Island residents and visitors an integrated transportation option,” says Phillip Morgan, CEO of IslandLink. “Connecting our bus routes directly to Hullo’s terminal creates a smooth, hassle-free link between central Island communities and downtown Vancouver, providing convenience for our riders.” Fares for the bus service start at $44 one way. “From day one, our mission at Hullo has been to bring people together and make coastal travel fast, friendly, and accessible,” says Xander France, director of external affairs & partnerships at Hullo. “Partnering with IslandLink is a natural next step for us. By pairing fast ferry service with convenient land connections, we’re building better regional connectivity and making it easier than ever for folks in Campbell River, Courtenay, and Parksville to pop over to the Lower Mainland without needing a car.” Hullo and IslandLink are continuing to explore future expansion opportunities as well, to connect to Victoria, the Cowichan Valley, Port Alberni and Tofino. > **READ ALSO:IslandLinkBus launches new pilot route between Campbell River, Gold River** Editorial Policies Report an Error Share an Opinion

The British Columbia Conservatives have dumped a candidate in the provincial election after he was accused of posting “offensive” online remarks about Hitler and the Holocaust. The party said Thursday that Vancouver-Strathcona candidate Jordan McIntosh was no longer a Conservative candidate and if elected he would not sit in the caucus. The Conservatives announced his removal from the slate less than an hour after NDP candidate Callista Ryan, who is running in Vancouver-Quilchena, posted screenshots on social media platform X showing what she said were McIntosh’s posts. One post under the name “DeathNight” says Hitler “may not have intended death” during the Holocaust, and that “lots of Jews died” not because Hitler “hated them specifically” but because there were so many of them. Ryan said in her post that it appeared McIntosh thought he could use a “nameless Twitter account to say many awful, offensive things.” McIntosh declined to comment when reached by phone, saying only that he would call back. An Apple Music artist profile for a musician called “DeathNight” lists Jordan Zheng McIntosh as their lyricist, composer and producer. Jordan Zheng McIntosh is the full name of the Conservatives’ former candidate, according to Elections BC. McIntosh’s removal comes after interim Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson said in Wednesday’s leaders’ debate that he would “stand against hate” and raised concerns about what he called “antisemitic behaviour” within the NDP caucus. Doerkson had come under fire from NDP Leader David Eby in the debate over whether he tolerated “hateful” views. Eby said online posts about Islam by Conservative campaign director Katy Merrifield were “like the worst corners of the dark web.” Doerkson countered by asking Eby if “antisemitic behaviour in your caucus qualify as hate or not,” a reference to former NDP MLA Selina Robinson who left the party in 2024 citing antisemitism in the party caucus and indifference towards the problem. The ejection of McIntosh comes a week after the Conservatives kicked out another candidate, Joachim Agou, for online comments that said the driver of a car that rammed a pro-Palestinian protest group in Switzerland should have “reversed too.” The party said if Agou won his seat in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding that he would not sit in the Conservative caucus either. Agou issued a statement the next day saying that he was “truly sorry” for his comments and while he took responsibility for his words, he rejected the NDP claims that his posts were racist. He said in a social media post on Oct. 9 that he should have expressed himself “more clearly and calmly,” saying that demonstrations “should not bring a city to a standstill or put lives at risk.” > **RELATED:‘No excuse’: BC Conservatives fire Victoria-Beacon Hill candidate over social media posts** _This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026_ Editorial Policies Report an Error Share an Opinion

Joy Wilson, now teaching in Nunavut, taught Grade 7 at Chemainus Secondary School last year

A series of interviews with protesters explaining concerns with AI and data centres in their own words.

Eby's snap election is a clear power grab from an unpopular premier. Yet his challengers from the right are somehow less competent.

While the premier sailed through her leadership review at the Red Deer AGM, the UCP's policy resolutions revealed a deep grassroots alignment with the radical right.

An oil painting entitled "Swans Aglow" by artist, Abby Rebekkah

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With today’s candidate deadline, Interim B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson had an opportunity to set a higher standard for what views are welcome in the party. He declined.