NEW - Flu vaccines will be available for the general population in BC starting on October 11, after the Thanksgiving long weekend. #bcpoli The BC government is preparing for a surge in both COVID and flu in November and December.
The COVID-19 projections suggest up to 700 additional patients may require hospitalization in the coming months. There are currently around 350 people in hospital. #bcpoli

David Eby's housing policy is massive and would mark a significant shift for the current government.
Here are some of the highlights including a BC housing flipping tax. #bcpoli #bchousing The Flipping Tax would apply on the sale of a residential property. The tax rate goes down to zero the longer the property is held. #bcpoli

Alright, the people have spoken.
Here we go.
NEW - The fall booster COVID-19 campaign will kick off in BC this week. The bivalent vaccine will be available in more than 500 pharmacies across BC by the end of the week. #bcpoli Health Minister Adrian Dix says 92% of British Columbians have received at least two COVID-19 vaccine doses. #bcpoli

Here is a quick thread about BC Place/Vancouver playing host to World Cup 2026 games.
The expectation now is BC will find out next week if Vancouver will be allowed back into the bid book.
The sense is FIFA will give thumbs up to Vancouver. #bcpoli Once Vancouver gets the thumbs up, that will mean 3 Canadian cities are being considered for 10 games.
Edmonton, Toronto and Vancouver all want at least 4 or 5 games.
Making it work financially with 2 or 3 games is very tough. #bcpoli

NEW - British Columbia will NO LONGER be requiring vaccination in the extended health care system. The commitment has been paused and it is unclear if this may happen eventually. Instead employees must show vaccination status by March 31. #bcpoli Dr. Henry says this is based on consultation with the regulated health care professions. Mentions there has been a delay on Novovax vaccine arriving in BC. #bcpoli

NEW - As of 12:01 am tomorrow (Friday) masks will no longer be required in public indoor spaces in British Columbia. #bcpoli NEW - The BC Vaccine card will remain until April 8 in British Columbia. #bcpoli

The final 32 is before us.
What is the most iconic animal/creature in B.C.
Here is the updated bracket. Voting begins now. #bcpoli Orca Whale vs. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin
The Orca Whales along BC's coast are some of the most studied whales in the world.
The White Sided Dolphin love company. They often swim in groups of 10 up to 100.

The final quadrant. This is the specialty part of the bracket. Some are figments of the imagination. Some don't fit into other categories. Some are individual/groups of well known animal(s). One is a human in a suit. Let's go. #bcpoli Ogopogo vs. Fin
The Ogopogo is more than a creature in a lake. It is a symbol of a city. A logo on a jersey. A statue in a park. And maybe a log floating in the water.
Fin is the mascot of the Vancouver Canucks.

Half the first round is done.
Dinner is over.
Now to the second half of the bracket.
Let's begin in the air. #bcpoli Bald eagle vs. barn swallow
There is a country who uses the eagle as one of it's symbols. Then there is BC, where eagles gather in larger numbers THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
Barn swallows are currently at risk.

British Columbia has many water animals. Lets vote on some of them. #bcpoli The Orca Whale vs. Chum Salmon.
There are five species of salmon. They are all in the bracket. Chum just got unlucky and drew the Orca in the first round.
The local NHL club has an Orca on it's jersey when it is not a skate.
#bcpoli

I know you guys feel like you are cheating on @j_mcelroy. But he will get over it.
Let's do a bracket to determine the most iconic BC creature. #bcpoli Beginning with land animals.
The Kermode Bear vs. the North American Beaver.
One is the star of an Imax film voiced by Ryan Reynolds and is also known as the spirit bear.
The other is on the nickel.

Finance Minister Selina Robinson is holding pre budget press conference.
Investments coming in environment and 'society'. "We have been through a lot together." #bcpoli Robinson notes climate change as first budget priority. This is response to destruction from floods and fires. "It is substantially increasing the impact on people's lives." #bcpoli

NEW - BC has once again recorded it’s highest single day COVID case count.
There are 2,441 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 235,658 cases in the province. #bcpoli There are currently 10,415 active cases of COVID-19 in BC.
Hospitalizations and ICU down. 192 individuals are currently in hospital and 71 are in intensive care. #bcpoli

Christmas Eve COVID-19 briefing is under way.
On December 27 and 28 COVID case numbers will be released.
December 29 there will be a briefing.
#bcpoli Dr. Bonnie Henry wanted to hold update to speak about the way Omicron is spreading and what people should do when they show symptoms.
"Omicron is different. It is spreading in a way that is different. We are in a different pandemic now." #bcpoli

Another new COVID case record.
B.C. is reporting 2,046 new cases of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, for a total of 233,217 cases in the province. #bcpoli There are currently 8,739 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Hospitalizations remaining stable with
195 individuals currently in hospital and 75 are in intensive care. #bcpoli

We are getting close to finalizing the bracket for the #bcpoli stories of the year. Will be 32 stories. 16 COVID, 16 non-COVID (8 weather, 8 not weather). Here are some playdowns. Weather play downs
With supply chains cut off people headed to grocery stores hoarding food. With railways crippled it would take weeks to restore supply lines vs. a damaged Trans Mountain pipeline and damaged highways led to an official order to ration gas. #bcpoli

NEW - B.C. is reporting 1,474 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 231,117 cases in the province.
The highest COVID case count ever recorded for one day in BC. #bcpoli There are 7,253 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.
Of the active cases, 187 individuals are in hospital and 71 are in intensive care. #bcpoli

This will be my thread for the flood update from the province. Starting now. #bcflooding #BCStorm Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth send condolences to the person who died on Highway 99. Holding back tears. Asking people who believe loved ones are missing to reach out to RCMP. #bcpoli

NEW - B.C. is reporting 338 new cases of COVID-19 for a total of 213,358 cases in the province. #bcpoli There are currently 3,568 active cases.
There are 376 individuals currently in hospital and 107 are in intensive care. #bcpoli

NEW - British Columbia has the first case of AY 4.2. This is a Delta variant evolution. It is seen as potentially more transmissible. The vaccine works against it. #bcpoli Dr. Henry says this mutation has been found in the UK and is not yet it's own variant of concern. #bcpoli

COVID-19 briefing underway in B.C.
Health Minister Adrian Dix opens with thanks to health care workers and emergency workers for what they have done during slides and floods. #bcpoli NEW - Dix announces 48 patients are soon going to be moved out of Princeton due to the ongoing floods and slides. #bcpoli