Court to hear appeal arguments over challenge to Saskatchewan’s pronoun law

The NDP has shared a video of B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad saying he regrets getting the “so-called vaccine” against COVID-19.

The video shows Rustad directly addressing a camera and saying vaccine mandates were “not so much” about achieving herd immunity or stopping the spread of the disease as they were about “shaping opinion and control of the population.”

The video, shared by the NDP on Day 3 of British Columbia’s provincial election, is an edited version of longer footage posted online by the BC Public Service Employees for Freedom, a group of former workers who believe they were discriminated against for not getting vaccinated.

The group says the conversation with Rustad took place on June 14 in an online meeting with its members.

Rustad wouldn’t comment directly on the video at a campaign event in Surrey, but said the previous inability of unvaccinated doctors and nurses to get their jobs back in B.C. was a “horrendous problem.”

The governing NDP lifted the vaccine mandate for health workers in July.

NDP Leader David Eby said of the video that Rustad was “promoting the idea that vaccines don’t work when in fact, the COVID vaccines saved so many lives in this province.”

Eby said on the campaign trail in Burnaby on Monday that voters should be considering if they can support and trust a leader who bases his thoughts and decision-making on “internet conspiracies.”

“These are not minor considerations,” said Eby. “These are really important for British Columbians to know. He says one thing that he thinks is secret that won’t get out and he says another thing in public. You can’t trust John Rustad on health policy on what he says because he’s always saying something different to different groups.”

Rustad, who was in Surrey on Monday making an announcement about affordability, said he had not seen the video.

“I understand why the NDP have decided to talk about things like vaccines, because they cannot defend their policies,” he said.

“For me, the most important thing that we have going on in B.C. today is the fact that people are leaving this province because they can’t afford to live here, and we need to be taking every step that we can to reduce those costs.”

He announced his party would introduce a tax deduction of up to $3,000 per month in housing costs — either rent or a mortgage — dubbing it the “Rustad rebate.”

Voters in B.C. go to the polls on Oct. 19.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

VANCOUVER – Cosmetics brand Lush says it is laying off staff as it scales down operations at its Vancouver facilities.

Amanda Caruso, a spokesperson for the U.K.-based brand, cited privacy concerns while refusing to say how many workers will lose their jobs as part of cuts to the company’s Canadian footprint.

However, she confirmed the scale-down will mean closing a B.C. woodshop the brand ran, and manufacturing operations in Vancouver will be shifted to Toronto.

Caruso says the moves are meant to deliver operational efficiency and ensure the long-term success of the brand.

She says the changes won’t cause any immediate impacts to Lush shops, its online store or its app services and says some staff will be relocated or transitioned to new roles.

She adds the changes are expected to be complete by Feb. 26.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.