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The Province
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Province
B.C. legislator shocked by American senator's 'nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
Conservative MLA says Canada has problems but they aren't solved by "surrendering our identity." Published Aug 15, 2025 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 2 minute read Brennan Day, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. PNG A British Columbia legislator said he went from 'disappointed' to 'enraged' after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. 'This would not be annexation. It would be adoption, welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions,' he wrote in the letter shared by Day. Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a 'fantasy of empire' but a 'vision deeply rooted in American tradition' that would give the four provinces a chance to 'leave behind failing ideologies.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means,' he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 'while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection.' He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Martin said 'millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation' would be rewarded by 'liberty' if the four provinces were to join the United States. 'The welcome mat is out,' he concluded. Day said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, monarchism, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Day said in an interview that Martin needed to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is. He said Martin's party was 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to 'rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment left by voice mail and text. Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. 'But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest,' Day said in his response. 'We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground.' Day said in his interview that the 'overwhelming majority of Canadians' like themselves just as they are. 'We have got a lot of work to do in improving our services, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely, and getting good value for it,' Day said. 'But I don't think anybody here looks south and goes, 'we want more of that.'' Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver Whitecaps Crime Business
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. legislator enraged by American state senator's 'nonsense' pitch to join U.S.
VICTORIA — A British Columbia legislator said he went from "disappointed" to "enraged" after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the "nonsense" letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. "This would not be annexation. It would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions," he wrote in the letter shared by Day. Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a "fantasy of empire" but a "vision deeply rooted in American tradition" that would give the four provinces a chance to "leave behind failing ideologies." "For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means," he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, "while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection." He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Martin said "millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation" would be rewarded by "liberty" if the four provinces were to join the United States. "The welcome mat is out," he concluded. Day said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, monarchism, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as "political baggage." Day said in an interview that Martin needed to look at "how heavy his luggage" is. He said Martin's party was "hauling around wheeled trunks" of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to "rhetoric" coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment left by voice mail and text. Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. "But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest," Day said in his response. "We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground." Day said in his interview that the "overwhelming majority of Canadians" like themselves just as they are. "We have got a lot of work to do in improving our services, and making sure that we are spending our money wisely, and getting good value for it," Day said. "But I don't think anybody here looks south and goes, 'we want more of that.'" This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025. Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
National Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Maine state senator's pitch for western provinces to join U.S. is ‘nonsense,' says ‘enraged' B.C. MLA
Article content VICTORIA — A British Columbia legislator said he went from 'disappointed' to 'enraged' after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Article content Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. Article content Article content Martin's three-page pitch said if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States after referendum votes, it would have to be as full American states. Article content 'This would not be annexation. It would be adoption — welcoming home kindred spirits, who were born under a different flag but who desire to live under our Constitution and accept our responsibilities, customs, and traditions,' he wrote in the letter shared by Day. Article content Martin said in the letter that his appeal is not a 'fantasy of empire' but a 'vision deeply rooted in American tradition' that would give the four provinces a chance to 'leave behind failing ideologies.' Article content 'For too long, Canadian citizens have been subjected to an illusion of freedom administered through bureaucratic means,' he wrote, adding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 'while lofty in rhetoric, provides no absolute protection.' Article content He said this was in contrast to the U.S. Bill of Rights. Article content Martin said 'millions of people currently frustrated by central authority, moral decay, and bureaucratic suffocation' would be rewarded by 'liberty' if the four provinces were to join the United States. Article content 'The welcome mat is out,' he concluded. Article content Day said the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, parliamentary government, monarchism, bilingualism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Article content Day said in an interview that Martin needed to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is. He said Martin's party was 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution was 'being torn up by Republicans.' Article content Day said it was not clear why Martin wrote to him, but suspected it might be due to 'rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led Martin to believe British Columbians would be interested. Article content Martin did not immediately respond to a request for comment left by voice mail and text. Article content Day said he had written a response to Martin, in which he acknowledged that Canada has problems. Article content 'But we don't fix them by surrendering our identity, as you suggest,' Day said in his response. 'We fix them by doing what Canadians have always done — rolling up our sleeves, listening to each other, and finding common ground.' Article content
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
51st state? No thanks, says B.C. MLA after receiving U.S. senator's ‘nonsense' pitch
The B.C. legislature is pictured as people walk in downtown Victoria, B.C., on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick VICTORIA — A British Columbia legislator says he went from 'disappointed' to 'enraged' after receiving a pitch from a Republican state senator for Canada's four western provinces to join the United States. Brennan Day, with the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, says his office had to first confirm the authenticity of the 'nonsense' letter from Maine Sen. Joseph Martin after receiving it last week. He says the most shocking part of the letter was its attack on Canadian institutions, like the Charter of Rights, federalism, multiculturalism, and the dismissal of those cornerstones as 'political baggage.' Day says Martin needs to look at 'how heavy his luggage' is, and his party is 'hauling around wheeled trunks' of baggage in the United States where the Constitution is 'being torn up by Republicans.' Day says it's not clear why Martin wrote him, but suspects it might be 'some of the rhetoric' coming out of Alberta that led him to believe British Columbians would also be interested. Martin's pitch says if B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were to seek admission to the United States, it must be as full American states. He says entry would not be in the form of annexation, but adoption, and the welcoming home of 'kindred spirits who were born under a different flag.' This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Global News
26-07-2025
- Health
- Global News
Nearly 30K people gave up on waiting and walked out of Island Health ERs last year
Patients in British Columbia's Island Heatlh region are the most likely to walk away from an emergency room without seeing a doctor. That's one of the takeaways of new data highlighting just how much pressure the province's ERs are facing. According to the provincial numbers, 142,000 people walked away from B.C. hospital ERs before they received treatment. The number was highest in Island Health, where nearly 30,000 people gave up on waiting. The data was obtained by the opposition BC Conservative Party through a freedom of information request. 'We know people are leaving ERs because of long wait times — but we hadn't any idea how many,' said Courtenay-Comox MLA and opposition critic for rural health Brennan Day. 2:11 People leaving ER without care on the rise, stats show 'Certainly, the numbers we got back reflected what British Columbians have been telling us and that's ERs are in crisis here in B.C..' Story continues below advertisement The data shows that B.C. ER walk-aways are up 86 per cent in the last six years. In the Island Health region, the increase is a staggering 160 per cent. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We need a change in culture, I think, in the health authorities more than anything,' Day said. 'We need to start prioritizing front-line patient delivery versus protecting the system for the sake of protecting the system.' In a statement, Island Health said it has recently launched a website where people can track estimated emergency room wait times. It added that it had recruited almost 1,800 net new employees last year, including more than 800 nurses. The B.C. Nurses' Union questioned those figures. 'I would ask, how many have left? How many vacant lines do you actually have in emergency? What is your percentage of emergency qualified nurses? Because I think there is much more to understand the context of the situation,' union president Adrian Gear said. 'This isn't just an Island Health concern — this is a provincial concern.' Gear said B.C.'s emergency rooms have become a 'pressure cooker' in part because so many people don't have access to primary care in the form of a family doctor or nurse practitioners, and end up relying on ERs when they get sick. Story continues below advertisement Health Minister Josie Osborne was not available for an interview. 'The number of patients leaving the emergency department is a small proportion of the total number of visits,' she said in a statement.
