They say it’s never boring in B.C. politics. And 2025 did nothing to contradict that statement.
Here are some of the stories that occupied the policy-makers and captured much of our attention across the province this year:
Trudeau fall, Carney rise
Facing increased pressure as 2024 came to a close, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began the New Year by announcing he was stepping aside, leaving his Liberals facing a leadership race and a deep political hole to crawl out of.
But crawl out they did, thanks in part to the aggressive actions toward Canadian sovereignty by American president Donald Trump feeding the campaign buzz surrounding Trudeau’s successor. Mark Carney led the party to a return to power on April 28 that few would have predicted a few months before.
Cross-section of B.C. politicians say it was time for Trudeau to leave
Premiers offer hard ‘no’ to 51st state overture
Carney’s Victoria visit sparks hope for political change among voters
‘It won’t be for sale’: Carney sits down for 1st meeting with Trump
First Carney budget spends to boost Canadian economy, cuts federal workforce
The war on tariffs
While suggestions of Canada becoming the 51st state may have fuelled more angst in coffee shops north of the 49th parallel, it was Trump’s use of sweeping tariffs — or threats of same — that probably had the biggest impact on Canadian policy this year.
Industry care packages, nation-building projects, red-tape slashing and the search for new markets became a huge focus for leaders both provincially and federally as many British Columbians changed their relationships with their southern neighbours.
B.C. residents, businesses shift buying habits in response to U.S. tariffs
B.C. Premier David Eby stops in Japan on Asia trade mission
Trump follows through with threat, hikes tariffs to 35 per cent
Carney removes most of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods
B.C.’s forestry sector focus of first face-to-face meeting between Eby, Carney
B.C. signs pact to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers for most goods
The war on drugs
Even as B.C.’s toxic drug crisis hit a plateau and even showed some signs of retreat, its prevalence still held it firmly in the spotlight, from both a health and a public safety perspective, not to mention its impact on families.
Officials struggled to find ways to save lives while reclaiming public spaces and turn off the tap feeding this deadly supply to the vulnerable.
B.C. Conservatives want full public inquiry into safe supply ‘scandal’
B.C. public health expert fears changes to safe supply will end it
‘Personal’: Conservative MLA pleads for B.C. to end decriminalization ‘madness’
Inquest jury makes 10 recommendations in wake of overdose death in B.C. dorm room
B.C. has fewest drug deaths for the month of September since 2020
Canadian police chiefs support sweeping border reforms at B.C. summit
Commissioner calls for human rights-based approach to B.C.’s toxic drug crisis
Involuntary care
Tied tightly to the drug crisis was the mental-health crisis, and the ping-pong debate as it crossed lines between the spheres of health and law enforcement.
B.C.’s decision to implement a new policy explanding the parameters of involuntary care started to unfold across the province in 2025 with much still being debated about its implementation and effectiveness.
“This is trauma”: new B.C. involuntary care guidelines get cold reception
‘Pressured’ B.C. communities want province to bring them along for the ride
Involuntary care needed in unrecognizable landscape of B.C. addictions crisis: shelter CEO
B.C. Premier Eby announces new Prince George, Surrey involuntary care facilities
Bill passes to protect B.C. health-care workers providing involuntary care
B.C. doctors can administer anti-overdose drugs to involuntarily-held youth
The fracturing Opposition
In December of 2024, the B.C. Conservatives were basking in the afterglow of a rebirth that nearly saw it claim power in the province.
By December of 2025, the glow had faded in the wake of multiple MLA departures and a decision to push aside the leader that had engineered the party’s emergence.
B.C. Conservatives say MLA Brodie mocked abuse victims, oust her from caucus
B.C. government faces splintered opposition as fall session set to begin
‘Blindsided’: Rustad kicks Surrey MLA Elenore Sturko out of B.C. Conservatives
John Rustad resigns as leader after B.C. Conservative ouster
One B.C. caucus split caused by alleged anti-Semitic staffer, Brodie says
Indigenous rights and Cowichan decision
B.C.’s 2019 decision to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as its policy framework roared back into the headlines in 2025.
Fuelled in part by a government desire to fast-track resource and power projects in response to American trade policy, the debate intensified in the wake of a court decision over Indigenous title in the Fraser River delta that called into question the security of private land.
Richmond meeting stokes private property fears in wake of Cowichan court ruling
B.C. to appeal Cowichan Tribes land case
Tsawwassen First Nation, Musqueam Indian Band appeal Cowichan title decision
B.C. premier strikes conciliatory tone with First Nations on pipelines, property
B.C. considering changing Indigenous rights law after DRIPA court ruling
Slow-burn B.C. mining case sparks more Indigenous title questions
B.C. working on financial guarantee program for impacted Cowichan case landowners
Health shortfalls and their treatment
It was story repeated from every corner of B.C.: a lack of qualified professionals leading to growing wait times and sporadic closures for multiple health care facilities and procedures.
With no quick solutions in sight, officials struggled to get creative as they worked to plug the dike.
B.C.’s ER wait times continue to rise: Study
B.C. to fast-track American health professionals
‘So many people not being heard’: Kelowna town hall exposes health-care gaps
Recruiting not easy as Interior Health navigates 2 waves of resignations
Nearly 1,400 U.S. healthcare workers apply to work in B.C. in 4 months
AI a ‘game changer’ for B.C. health care time management, risks
Review of B.C. health authorities leads to 1,100 jobs cut, Osborne says
Public sector labour unrest
The health staffing issues existed against a backdrop of the B.C. Nurses Union contract negotiations, one of several deals percolating as two prominent disputes took centre stage.
Deals were eventually struck this year with the BCGEU, and with Canada Post, but not before job action disrupted service in two prominent areas.
Striking B.C. postal workers hopeful meeting with minister will spark movement
B.C. NDP reckons with rising debt and striking workers as fall session opens
2,500-plus workers off the job on day 2 of B.C. public service strike
Longest transit strike in B.C. history ends after nearly 8 months
B.C. Nurses’ Union calls for more action to stem violence in hospitals
B.C. General Employees’ Union strike ends with tentative deal
B.C. care home and addictions services workers authorize strike
Canada Post, union reach tentative agreements
Major projects and clearing a path for industry
A major outfall of the U.S. trade war was a mandate from both the federal and provincial government to kickstart ‘nation-building’ projects internally.
Mineral and power proposals took centre stage as watchdogs expressed concerns about the accelerated process.
LNG Phase 2 in Kitimat among 1st projects to be reviewed by new federal office
Ottawa asked to fast-track proposed B.C. port expansion project
B.C. Premier threatens election over energy bill as province’s demand soars
B.C. government pledges $241M for nation-building trades training
Carney supercharges B.C.’s northern grid ambitions with nation-building label
Alberta signs MOU with feds to prioritize new pipeline to B.C.’s coast
Playing house with the housing crisis
Like the semi-related involuntary care issue, B.C.’s housing news consisted less of new policies being introduced and more on their effectiveness in addressing the issue.
Rents dropping across Canada as B.C. capital bucks the trend
B.C. housing task force is failing vulnerable residents: SUDU
New bill aims to streamline housing approvals, move onus off B.C. municipalities
Housing target debate highlights rift between Oak Bay and province
New B.C. home-building program aims to expand prefabricated design use
‘We’re not going backwards’: B.C. rejects Metro Vancouver call to scrap housing legislation
Vacancy rates improve to highest level of the 21st century in B.C.’s capital region