Fatal Emergency Landing Causes Collision

One person has died after a twin-engine plane executed an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard in Prince George on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m. roughly 1.5 kilometres north of North Nechako Road, near Highland Drive.

During the landing amidst busy afternoon traffic, the aircraft struck two vehicles. Other motorists attempted to dodge the incoming plane, with one vehicle ending up forced into a ditch. Debris from the crash, including the front fan of a turbofan engine, was scattered across the road, and part of a wing penetrated the windshield of a truck.

Investigation and Road Closures

Foothills Boulevard has been shut down in both directions between Highland Drive and North Nechako Road. Prince George RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper stated that the thoroughfare will remain closed overnight and into Friday, prompting authorities to request that motorists utilize alternate routes.

The RCMP emphasized that members of the public must stay away from the site. Cpl. Cooper noted that curious onlookers have been creating a drain on valuable police resources, forcing officers to guard access points rather than assisting with the active investigation or responding to regular calls for service.

The Transportation Safety Board has taken over the investigation into the cause of the incident. RCMP noted that potential injuries to occupants of the struck vehicles or individuals on the aircraft remain unknown at this time.

Aircraft Details and Local Impact

The aircraft involved appears to be a 1980s Beechcraft King Air 200 registered under Sekani Air Ltd. A video shared on social media, recorded inside the aircraft prior to the crash, indicated that about eight individuals were onboard.

Nearby residents reported hearing the plane overhead immediately before the crash. Emergency responders, including Prince George Fire Rescue, arrived on scene shortly after 2:30 p.m. to manage the response.

Political shifts and executive resignations

The B.C. Conservative Party is undergoing significant structural changes under leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. According to political analyst Stewart Prest, a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, Findlay is steering the party away from the big-tent approach seen under former leader John Rustad toward a sharper, more populist brand of politics.

As this strategy unfolds, the party’s leadership structure is experiencing a major overhaul. Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News reported that B.C. Conservative party president Aisha Estey resigned on Wednesday after five years at the helm. Following her exit to pursue new opportunities, former federal candidate Mauro Francis assumed the role of party president. Vice-president Sharon White also stepped down, with board member Pavneet Singh stepping into the position. These exits follow the late-July departure of executive director Angelo Isidorou, who was replaced by Elaine Allen, a former federal candidate with close ties to Findlay.

Friction over Independent MLAs

Internal debates regarding whether to readmit former members to the party caucus remain a major point of contention. Speculation grew following an August 7 dinner meeting between Findlay and Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie at Vancouver’s Arbutus Club. Brodie stated she has not been formally invited back to caucus, though she emphasized both agreed on avoiding a right-wing vote split in the province. Brodie clarified she will not resign her seat to create a by-election opportunity for Findlay, who currently lacks a seat in the legislature.

The possibility of reuniting with former members has raised concerns within the existing caucus. Multiple sources from summer meetings indicated that Findlay initially reassured MLAs in early July that Independent members would not be brought back, but she took a less definitive stance during a meeting on August 15. Other Independent MLAs under discussion include Tara Armstrong and Jordan Kealy. However, Kealy’s recent sexual assault charge appears to block his return, while Armstrong’s status remains unresolved. House Leader Sheldon Clare confirmed there is no formal plan to readmit Independents at this time, noting that final decisions rest with Findlay.

caucus departures and online disputes

The internal strain became public last week when Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar quit the party caucus to sit as an Independent. Meanwhile, opposing camps within the party have engaged in online conflict using anonymous social media accounts like The Findlay Files and BC War Room, sharing insider claims about party leadership and staff.

With house business scheduled to resume in early October, analysts expect these unresolved internal debates and the party’s sharper political focus to set the stage for intense debates in the legislature against the governing NDP.

Canadian Exporters Face Fresh Economic Blow

A new wave of American tariffs reached enforcement status just after midnight Saturday, impacting more than $28 billion worth of Canadian products with a severe 50 per cent tax rate. The duties kick in after the collapse of bilateral negotiations, placing significant strain on the national economy and multiple commercial sectors.

Canadian electronics exporters are positioned to take the hardest hit, with over $4 billion US in electronic equipment—such as electrical boards and controllers—subject to the levies. Furthermore, Canada’s plastics industry faces new duties on roughly $3 billion US worth of goods, including bottles, floor coverings, and household items. Products such as cement, plywood, wine, and hockey sticks are also listed under the broad measures.

Provincial Economies to Absorb Disproportionate Impacts

Regional economies will feel the consequences unevenly across the country. British Columbia stands out as the most exposed province, with affected items—predominantly paper and wood—accounting for over 13 per cent of its total exports to the United States. Quebec is similarly vulnerable, with approximately 10 per cent of its export goods facing exposure on top of pre-existing 50 per cent tariffs targeting its steel and aluminum sectors.

Addressing the fallout, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce characterized the levies as non-absorbable and unsustainable for commercial operations, describing the escalation as a body blow to North American competitiveness.

Carney Directs Negotiators to Leave Washington

Prime Minister Mark Carney halted discussions and ordered Canadian representatives home from Washington, D.C., following a week of talks between Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Carney, who previously campaigned on securing optimal outcomes for Canadians, now oversees a situation where domestic products confront steep tariff hurdles.

“I have decided to suspend trade negotiations with the U.S. and have directed Canada’s negotiators to return to Ottawa,” Carney announced in an official statement. He stated that while negotiators worked hard until the final moments, last-minute changes proposed by the American side were unfair, uneconomic, and undermined trust in a potential deal. He affirmed that Ottawa intends to retaliate “dollar for dollar.”

U.S. Cites Retaliation and Terms Disagreement

Giving the administration’s perspective, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that talks broke down because Canadian officials declined to finalize the terms on the table. Greer asserted that the offered deal provided Canada the best treatment of any major exporter, but claimed Canadian demands and walk-backs upended the balance while Canada maintained its own retaliatory measures against U.S. goods and services.

Sources indicated that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had raised objections to the proposed terms earlier in the week. Prior to the walkout, tentative terms under discussion involved lowering sectoral tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles in exchange for Canadian premiers considering an end to provincial bans on American alcohol.

Tariffs Implemented Under Great Depression-Era Law

The White House enacted the 50 per cent duties using Section 338 of the U.S. Tariff Act, also known as the Smoot-Hawley Act. The Great Depression-era legislation permits the U.S. president to apply tariffs up to 50 per cent on nations deemed to discriminate against the American economy. Products that previously enjoyed exemptions under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) are no longer exempt from these latest measures.

Asked how the two nations might resolve the tit-for-tat dispute, a senior Trump administration official remarked that escalation remained Canada’s choice, noting that additional options could be presented to the U.S. president if Canada follows through on counter-tariffs.