Close X
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. smashes advance voting record with a million ballots already cast

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Oct, 2024 11:48 AM
  • B.C. smashes advance voting record with a million ballots already cast

Elections BC says a record number of British Columbians have already cast their ballots in advance voting before Saturday's provincial election.

The elections body says just over a million people have voted, representing more than 28 per cent of all registered electors and putting the province on track for big overall turnout.

They include about 223,000 people who voted on the final day of advance voting on Wednesday, the last of six days of advance polls, shattering the one-day record set just a day earlier by more than 40,000 votes.

Some ridings have already seen turnout of more than 35 per cent. 

The previous record for advance voting in a B.C. election was set in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when about 670,000 people voted early, representing about 19 per cent of registered voters. 

Total turnout in the 2020 election was 54 per cent, down from about 61 per cent in 2017.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Road closures due to Whalley collision

Road closures due to Whalley collision
On Thursday at after 1:30pm Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck in the southbound lanes of King George boulevard just north of 104 Avenue. The pedestrian has been transported to hospital with serious injuries. There are single lane closures on both on the northbound and southbound side of King George boulevard between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue. 

Road closures due to Whalley collision

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report
The report by Cardus looking at the roll out of the programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick found that issues ranging from unspent funding to skilled labour shortages led to missed child care targets. The federal government signed separate, five-year funding agreements with provinces and territories in 2021, committing up to $30 billion in five years toward the establishment of $10-a-day child care.  

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO
The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost federal and provincial governments an additional$11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years. The PBO released a report on Thursday that provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28. It follows up on a previous costing the PBO published in 2017 for a pharmacare plan. 

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling
The Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear a Hells Angels challenge of B.C.'s forfeiture of three clubhouses will "put criminals on notice," the province's pubic safety minister says. The high court ended a years-long court battle on Thursday as it refused to hear an appeal of the seizure of the clubhouses in East Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Kelowna.

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is giving an initial $10 million in humanitarian assistance for urgent needs in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He also says the first airlift of 130 Canadians that left Tel Aviv earlier today has landed in Athens.

Canada committing $10M in humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza as Canadian flights leave

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes
The mayor of Vancouver set out a foundation on Wednesday to address the housing crisis in the city, while reducing barriers to building and streamlining regulations. Ken Sim released a seven-point motion going before council that would direct city staff to prioritize new housing construction, allow for increased density around transit hubs, speed up a plan for 26 villages in the city and increase enforcement of short-term rental regulations. 

'New wave of building' in Vancouver comes as mayor makes plans to focus on more homes