Premier David Eby says British Columbians should reconsider travelling to the U.S. if Donald Trump makes good on his tariff threat.

There’s no shortage of political tension ahead of the municipal byelection in Vancouver.

Four of the city’s opposition parties are demanding answers from Elections BC over its probe into ABC Vancouver’s alleged financial mishandling during the 2022 election.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the parties state this follows the January 2024 disclosure that ABC Vancouver refunded $116,000 in prohibited contributions from its 2022 municipal campaign.

Vancouver Green Party Coun. Pete Fry voiced concerns about the delay in the investigation, adding that the prolonged process is undermining public trust in the electoral process.

“We know that there’s in excess of $120,000 in prohibited donations that ABC had collected, that we know about, and they repaid it, but there’s been no penalty. They have filed six amended financial reports detailing who donated and how much, and they’re still under investigation,” Fry told 1130 NewsRadio.

“In any other context, other parties have been deregistered, they’ve been disqualified from running, and it’s now two years after the election. For us, we really need some kind of closure on the investigation and need to ascertain how we’re ensuring that democracy, fairness, and transparency remain paramount in local elections.”

1130 NewsRadio has reached out to both Elections BC and ABC Vancouver for comment.

The byelection is scheduled for April 5, with voters going to the polls to fill two vacant seats on Vancouver City Council.

This is a developing story. More to come.

COUTTS, AB – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has arrived on foot at the Coutts-Sweet Grass border crossing station, petitioning for refugee status in the US on the grounds of being persecuted in her home country. “In my home land, I am singled out for my beliefs,” pleaded a bedraggled Smith to a US customs officer. […]

The post Danielle Smith applies for refugee status in USA appeared first on The Beaverton.

You’ve probably found yourself rifling through your junk drawer, desperately looking for AAA batteries or a tape measure. Then, when it’s not there, you check every other cabinet and drawer in your home, hoping what you need will magically appear, only to be disappointed when it doesn’t.

This is probably a sign that your junk drawer is understocked—and yes, full of junk. Instead of continuing to make do without these once-in-a-while essentials, it’s best to buy them when you need them least. That way, in a moment of frantic searching, you’ll have exactly what you need.

Below, we’ve rounded up the tools, supplies, and other surprisingly useful goodies you’ll be glad to have on hand in a pinch. Though they may live in your junk drawer, we promise you they’re anything but junk.

Clearspace. I used to check my Gmail app multiple times a day on my phone. I did it so often my kids noticed and gave me a hard time about it. I tried iPhone’s screentime feature, but I always just ignored its “you’ve reached your limit” notifications. The thing that finally got me to quit the habit was the Clearspace app. It adds a brief delay between when you tap an app icon and when it opens. That little pause has been transformative in curbing my phone use. My iPhone screentime has plummeted. It’s amazing what adding just a bit of friction to our digital habits can do. The delay gives you just enough space to ask yourself, “Do I really need to check my email right now?” Usually, the answer is no. Clearspace recently added a “Push-Up Mode” where you have to do push-ups before the app opens — it uses your phone’s camera and AI to verify you’ve actually done them. Pretty cool!  

In the Quarter-Zip Era, These Coaches Still Wear Suits. While most basketball coaches have gone casual and don athleisure for games, a few college-level holdouts are sticking with the old-school practice of wearing suits. Scott Cacciola at the NYT talked to these throwback dressers to find out what’s behind their sartorial decision. Some of them did it as a homage to the game’s coaching greats like John Wooden and found that wearing a suit gave them greater confidence, authority, and gravitas. It was a way to signal the stakes of the game to themselves and their players. Colorado’s Tad Boyle put it this way, “If you’re not going to dress up for the 30 most important nights of your year, when will you?” These suit holdouts are a reminder that sometimes dressing up isn’t just about looking good — it’s about honoring tradition and setting off life’s significant moments. Dress well for others!

Vitamin String Quartet. I love a good string quartet. While they’re associated with classical music, the Vitamin String Quartet covers pop and rock, making instrumental songs that are enjoyable to listen to while you’re working. VSQ has covered everyone from Taylor Swift to Coldplay. My favorite of their offerings is their Killers tribute album (of course!). It’s weirdly soothing to hear “Mr. Brightside” reimagined for the violin and cello. Makes for perfect background music when I’m writing, as there are no lyrics to distract me, but the familiar melodies keep me engaged. 

The Pocket Oracle and Art of Prudence by Baltasar Gracián. Back in high school, a mentor gifted me this little book that I still return to periodically. Jesuit priest Baltasar Gracián wrote The Pocket Oracle as a guide to surviving the shark tank of 17th-century Spanish court life. Its 300 pithy maxims offer a roadmap for succeeding in a competitive world while keeping your honor intact. Think of it as a manual for being “cunning as serpents and innocent as doves.” The book has drawn admirers from Schopenhauer to Nietzsche, who recognized Gracián as a keen observer of human nature. Whether dealing with office politics or character building, its insights on practical wisdom remain as sharp as ever. If you’re looking to develop both strategic smarts and personal nobility, pick up a copy. And if you want a taste of Baltasar Gracián, read my favorite maxims from his book here.

Over on our Dying Breed newsletter, we published “Sunday Firesides: Bear Witness to Your Own Vitality” and “Why I Hate Making (and Watching) Online Videos.”

Quote of the Week

One of man’s finest qualities is described by the simple word ‘guts’ — the ability to take it. If you have the discipline to stand fast when your body wants to run, if you can control your temper and remain cheerful in the face of monotony or disappointment, you have ‘guts’ in the soldiering sense. The ability to take it must be trained — the training is hard, mental as well as physical. But once ingrained, you can face and flail the enemy as a soldier, and enjoy the challenges of life as a civilian.

—Col. John S. Roosma

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.