No class for students at Vancouver Community College next Tuesday.

Unionized support staff will be holding a one-day strike.

Helen Carkner with the college says the job action affects both campuses.

"We've put plans in place to notify all the people that we need to let know. Administrative staff, so non-union members will be there and will be taking calls from students that have questions about admitting and so on."

Members of CUPE 4627 gave the college the required 72-hour notice.

The union officially gets its strike action under way with an overtime ban on Monday.

The Fraser Valley Regional District is blasting Metro Vancouver in the case of tonnes of toxic ash being shipped from an Burnaby incinerator.
 
Chilliwack mayor and FVRD chair Sharon Gaetz says people should be very alarmed at how the hazardous material is being treated.

Gaetz says the behaviours of both the Burnaby incinerator operator, Covanta, and Metro Vancouver are highly suspect, especially Metro with its "reactive communications strategy."

"This is 1800 tonnes of toxic waste that have been treated cavalierly, in my point of view ,from Metro who have said they will talk about it if the media approaches them about, really? I can imagine what would have happened in an oil spill if people would have treated it this cavalierly."

Gaetz wonders why Covanta and or Metro Vancouver left it to the operators of the Cache Creek landfill to sound the alarm over tonnes of toxic ash.

"The authorities didn't have systems in place to make sure that the testing was being successfully conducted to make sure that everyone was safe and that our health was being looked after. This is a private company Wastech who discovered it, if they had not done that Metro Vancouver, the Ministry of Environment, and the public wouldn't have known about it."

Gaetz says people should pay attention to the toxic ash story to see the facts about garbage incineration and the potential impact on the environment.

"And people need to be alarmed we just kind of trust if you burn something it magically disappears, it doesn't magically disappear and when it is treated with such levity it should really put fear into people."

Tests at the Cache Creek landfill have determined some of the roughly 2000 tonnes of hazardous material is toxic even though Covanta in an email says it isn't.

Now that the final report on BC's Missing Women Inquiry has been extended a third time, Justice Minister Shirley Bond says that won't cost taxpayers any --more-- money.

"I have been assured by Commissioner Oppal that the additional month is not going to incur additional costs."

Bond says Wally Oppal's review --slated to be delivered by November 30th-- should be released publicly... by the end of the year.

"British Columbians will not only be able to see the report, but government will hopefully be able to provide some initial reaction."

Bond adds total costs --now tagged at $8.6 million-- will likely top $9 million.

The purpose of the inquiry was to determine why serial killer Robert Pickton wasn't caught sooner... and suggest what can be done to ensure that tragedy is never repeated.

More than one thousand people have registered for the BC Liberal convention now underway in Whistler.

Party Vice-President Bill Belsey fired up the troops this morning telling them the Liberals have a chance to deliver a devastating blow to the NDP in next May's election.

"believing in our coalition...and with the determination of our leader Premier Christy Clark, we will win...we will win...we will absolutely win the next election."

Meanwhile, Clark says the BC Liberal tent is wide open.

Clark told those at the convention today the party wants their ideas on building BC's economy.

"this is your chance to make your voice heard, to make that difference in creating the future for British Columbia.  Help us we welcome your help we invite your help we want it, we are better with it." 

While the party says today's so-called "Free Enterprise Party" was open to non-Liberals, the vast majority of attendees are party members. 

Clark took a few shots at the NDP.

She said while her party welcomes a diversity of views, the opposition stifles dissent and hides its true plans.

"when you compare us to the other guys and they all walk in lock step toward a single vision or goal which they won't really tell us about, but nonetheless they're walking in lockstep toward it, and any deviation from that, any opinion that might be different will be punished, you compare that with who we are in the BC Liberal Party, as a coalition." 

But NDP observer Maurine Karagianis says Clark would do better to follow Adrian Dix's lead and stop demonizing the opposition.  

One of the main themes at the convention is don't split the "free enterprise" vote... 

And that message was driven home in a video-taped message from former BC Reform Party Leader Jack Weisgerber, who warned against a repeat of the 1996 election.

"we split the free enterprise vote and our economy paid the price.   We can't make that same mistake again.   We need to rally round the BC Liberal coalition just like we did in 2001, because so much progress has been made, and there's so much opportunity to come."

The NDP beat the Liberals in 1996 after the BC Reform Party drew off some of the right wing vote.  

Former Conservative senator Gerry St. Germain sounded an old refrain.

"the socialist hordes my friends are at the gates..we gotta keep these socialists outside the gates and show them where they belong because every time they enter into the gates, they take us into a have-not situation."

St. Germain said the only way to keep the so-called socialist hordes on the outside is to re-elect the BC Liberals.

NDP House Leader John Horgan is observing the convention --and takes exception to St. Germain's comments.

"using language to divide people is not the solution to the challenges of our time....this socialism versus free enterprise business died with the Berlin Wall a long, long time ago, and I think if the Liberals contemporized their comments on the opposition, they'd have a bit more credibility." 

Horgan says the Liberals' ideas are out of touch.    

The City of Vancouver is asking people to clear leaves away from drains ahead of a wet weekend.

Residents are instructed to avoid moving the leaves into the streets, where they could become a hazard.

Those lending a helping hand are asked to put leaves in garbage cans or biodegradable paper bags.

City staff won't collect leaves left in plastic bags.

Sentencing's been delayed in the case of Bill Lee.

The former Surrey resident has been convicted of sex crimes involving two children in Toronto in the 1970s.

He was scheduled to be sentenced Friday in Ontario Superior Court, but for unexplained reasons, his case has been adjourned to mid December.

Here in B.C., Lee was a highly respected aboriginal policy advisor with the Ministry of Children and Families and executive director of Surrey's Metis family services.

The Coquitlam Fire Department is giving notice of a scam in its community.

They call themselves the Burn Victims Aid Society.

In a bizarre scheme, the scam artists are approaching bars and restaurants trying to install coin operated breathalyzers, with all funds going to burn victims.

Only problem is, Coquitlam Fire Chief Tony Delmonico has never heard of them.

"When something like this happens, you usually find out by surprise. You know it's probably not something the fire service is looking after, because generally speaking we talk well and communicate well with each other."

Delmonico says he hopes the scam doesn't put people off contributing to legitimate charity work done by his department.

Transit Police used a taser to bring down a woman wielding a butcher knife in Surrey Thursday night.

Officers say they arrested Sheila Huber near the King George Skytrain station after watching her slash her own throat with a seven-inch butcher knife.

The 41-year-old also allegedly threatened to 'cut up' a hotel security guard, prompting an officer to draw his gun.

When backup arrived, the officer holstered his pistol in favour of his taser, bringing the woman down with one zap.

Police say a psychological assessment of Huber has been requested.

The incident apparently started with Huber being told to pour out a beer she was drinking in public, shortly after allegedly stealing a Skytrain ticket.

Carolyn Cross says it's a miracle she and the other passengers are still here.

She suffered a bash to the head; knee, hip and back injuries; and her teeth still need to be fixed.

A year ago today, a small plane tried to return to YVR from a flight to Kelowna, but crashed landed just short of the runway, in the middle of a busy road.

Cross often remembers the flames and twisted metal, but also recalls the courage of the bystanders who rushed to help them.

"When I look at the photos, had a chance to see the site, I'm really in awe of their bravery. I'm in awe of their willingness to risk themselves for perfect strangers. And I'm really impressed with the way that they all worked together with utmost efficiency to make the most amount of benefit for everyone."

All seven passengers survived, but the pilots died shortly after of their burns.

Federal safety officials have yet to release what caused the crash.

The gloves are coming off in the battle over building a waste to energy incinerator between the Fraser Valley Regional District and Metro Vancouver. 

As a controversy swirls over tonnes of toxic ash pumped out by a Burnaby incinerator that was shipped to Cache Creek for months with no warning FVRD Chair Sharon Gaetz seems to be saying enough is enough.

Gaetz says Metro Vancouver must abandon its efforts to build an even bigger incinerator to deal with the region’s garbage. 

"We understand that Metro has applied to the P-3 Canada fund to assist in financing the construction of a new incinerator and we will be talking to the federal government about this. We are concerned that if there are not the kind of measures in place to prevent this from happening when the public sector is involved that we don't think our tax dollars should be going towards that."

Gaetz says you don’t need to look farther than what is going on at the Covanta run incinerator in Burnaby to realize they pose serious environmental concerns. 

She says the ash byproduct of burning garbage in an incinerator has enough heavy metals, phosphoric acid, and lime to be considered hazardous waste.

The independent MLA for Abbotsford South is also weighing into the debate. 

John van Dongen says it is time for the board of Metro Vancouver to “come to their senses” and listen to the concerns of those in the Fraser Valley when it comes to garbage incineration.

When it comes to the airshed in the valley van Dongen says he is very concerned, as are others, over the impacts to air quality if Metro Vancouver forges ahead with a garbage incinerator.

 He says it is time for Metro to sit down and actually consult with the Fraser Valley Regional District as they are mandated to do. 

"I continue to have very serious concerns about Metro Vancouver's approach to this issue they have been told very clearly in a letter from the Minister of Environment a number of months ago that they need to fully consult with the Fraser Valley Regional District and we continue to hear indications that they are not doing that."

Van Dongen says Metro is also ignoring the huge capitol costs and the dependance on large volumes of waste needed to make any incinerator dealing with the region’s garbage to be viable.

He says cadmium, which was found in tonnes of ash pumped out by the Covanta incinerator in Burnaby, is a big concern as a he notes the US Environmental Protection Agency considers cadmium a health risk. 

An investigation was launched last week after CKNW broke the story of roughly 2000 tonnes of toxic ash shipped from a Burnaby incinerator to the Cache Creek landfill.

 The company running the incinerator have denied the ash is toxic but in emails obtained by CKNW show the company running the landfill, Wastech, say testing has confirmed some of the ash is hazardous. 

A police officer received significant injuries to his hand while helping clear out a house party in Saanich early this morning.

Details surrounding how he was injured are under investigation, but two men and a woman in their early twenties were arrested.

Meanwhile, later this morning in Saanich, two police officers received minor injuries as they responded to a man acting aggressive.

No charges were laid, and police offered the man a ride home--but as they let him out of handcuffs, the man punched one officer in the face.

Another officer scraped his face on the road while trying to subdue the man.

The thirty six year old man has a history of assaulting officers and is now undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Illegal firecracker use may be down in the city thanks to wet weather, but the Vancouver Fire Department will still be vigilant leading up to Halloween.

Captain Gabe Roder says the only night it is legal to set off fireworks is October 31st.

He says even though there aren't check-points at Vancouver borders, anyone caught without a permit, or setting off fireworks before Halloween will have their products confiscated.

"Our other concern is the fact you can buy dangerous illegal fireworks on the internet.  And we're asking people to be very cautious.  You don't know what you're buying when you're buying things on the internet and they're extremely dangerous."

And Roder says vendors caught selling to minors or those without a permit could face fines up to ten thousand dollars.

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control is halting use of an influenza vaccine after Health Canada recommended suspending the product.

Health officials say pulling the Novartis vaccine is purely precautionary.

They say those who have already received the shots don't have to worry.  There have been no adverse affects reported.

The vaccine was first suspended in Europe after clumping material was noticed in Italy.

Novartis makes up 30-percent of the Province’s vaccine supply.

A 44-year-old Surrey man is facing a sexual assault charge after an incident Wednesday afternoon at the Granville skytrain station.

A woman was allegedly grabbed by a man standing behind her as she was heading up the escalator.

Transit Police arrested a man as they heard her scream, then hit him with her purse.

Officers say Harminder Singh Takhar has been released under the condition he not take the skytrain.

He is known to police.

The University of British Columbia teaching assistants have served 72-hour strike notice.

Job action is set to begin Monday afternoon--what that entails isn't clear yet.

But the union does ask if members come across a picket line they respect it and do not cross.

The union says the strike vote was a 3-1 ratio in favour.

Teaching assistants at SFU, UVIC, UNBC, and Douglas College, among others, are also currently in job action.

The BC Liberals' convention wrapped up in Whistler today.

Delegates turned their sights on unions today.

They easily passed motions calling for disclosure of union finances and to prohibit public sector unions from spending union dues on any political purposes.

But a motion that called for allowing teachers to opt out of the BC Teachers' Federation ran into opposition.

"So if we're going to approve this motion in theory we should approve the same motion in respect to teacher-oriented respective accounts -- lawyers, doctors, engineers... all the other professions."

The motion was soundly defeated.

Meanwhile, delegates rejected a motion that called for compulsory voting.  

The proposal called for fines to be levied against people who don't vote, similar to the current system in Australia.

"this would correct distortions that occur within our political system where different demographics who tend to vote more are over-represented in policy priorities, the government would be able to govern for all British Columbians.   It also makes it more difficult for special interest groups or radical groups to hijack the system by mobilizing a small but vocal group of voters." 

But other delegates said Canadians have a constitutional right not to vote, and the motion was defeated.

There were lots of big cheers behind closed doors at the convention as delegates heard strategy tips from election guru Stephen Carter, who helped Alison Redford overcome a 17-point deficit in the polls to win the Alberta election earlier this year.

The session was off limits to the media--but reporters managed to catch a few snippets while leaning against the doors....Carter told the crowd not to trust pollsters or pundits who have already written off the Liberals.

Premier Christy Clark took a few shots at the NDP in her keynote address.

Clark said her government has delivered on its jobs plan, while the NDP is keeping its plan secret.....and she mocked opposition leader Adrian Dix for talking about a "modest" agenda if he wins the election.

"we have a big vision for British Columbia, we have a bold vision for our province we don't have a modest vision for British Columbia we have a bold vision for British Columbia and why not?"

Not much in the way of hard news from the election-style speech, but Clark did promise an anti-bullying summit to be held in two weeks in the wake of the Amanda Todd suicide.

NDP House Leader John Horgan says Clark is trying to scare British Columbians.

"again more fear in her speech today rather than just some practical realities that have a relevance to the people of British Columbia.   Good for her to keep the true believers excited inside this room but I don't believe anything that happened in there today will have any impact on the streets of British Columbia." 

Horgan also accused the Liberals of having their own secret plan, a charge Clark has levelled at the opposition. 

A major earthquake -- and several aftershocks hit the BC coast Saturday evening, prompting evacuations in several communities.

At 8:04 -- a magnitude 7.7 quake struck the Queen Charlottes -- about 40 kilometres south of Sandspit -- with a depth of about 19 kilometres.

Officials triggered a tsunami warning, affecting the north coast of BC and Haida Gwaii, and the central coast including Bella Bella, Bella Coola and Shearwater.

Officials said it was believed a low level tsunami could impact marinas and other coastal infrastructure or create strong currents in harbours and isolated coastal areas in those zones.

Local governments in affected areas were being advised to activate their emergency plans and to immediately evacuate marinas, beaches, and other areas that were below the normal high tide mark.

That warning has now been downgraded to a tsunami advisory.

Also under a tsunami advisory -- coastal areas of BC south of northern Vancouver Island to the BC-Washington border.

An advisory means to stay out of the water, off the beach, and out of harbours and marinas.

No damage or injuries have been reported.

Vancouver Police are investigating a fatal collision.

It happened around 8:30 last evening, at Dunlevy Avenue and Powell Street.

The victim -- a 52-year old woman -- was hit by a limousine that was making a left turn.

The victim's name isn't being released.

Tsunami sirens in Tofino went off last night, alerting residents to seek higher ground following  the 7.7 magnitude quake in Haida Gwaii.

Mayor Perry Schmunk says they made the call to alert people via siren and phone notifications after having trouble getting more information from the province.

"It took about 45 minutes before we got kind of an official notification from Emergency BC and to a certain degree I understand that it's because I would assume that their resources were directed at those communities that were closer to the epicentre."

Schmunk says 500 people came to the community hall which was operating as the emergency operations centre.

He says he's glad they had a chance to test the system.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson says the earthquake near Haida Gwaii is a wake-up call for the city.

Robertson says even though they have made earthquake preparedness a high priority, there are a lot of buildings not ready for a big quake.

"We're doing the work at the city to go through all of our buildings and assess them for earthquake resiliance.  The school system is in a process right now with seismic upgrades, but there are still around 50 schools that are relying on provincial funding to come and get that seismic work done." 

Robertson urges people to get their homes and businesses prepared.

He says communication with the Province was good during yesterday's event.