B.C. throne speech cancelled because of Tumbler Ridge shooting

VICTORIA – The three official parties in British Columbia’s provincial legislature have announced the cancellation of Thursday’s “traditional” throne speech because of the mass shooting that claimed nine lives in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

The cancellation comes as a candlelight vigil will take place outside the provincial legislature at 7 p.m. and the public is invited to sign a book of condolences at the legislature.  

Government house leader Mike Farnworth, the opposition’s A’aliya Warbus and Rob Botterell of the B.C. Greens said during a joint appearance in the legislature that lieutenant-governor Wendy Cocchia will instead a deliver a speech dedicated to the people of Tumbler Ridge followed by brief legally required procedures.

“So what will have happen tomorrow is that there will not be the traditional pomp and circumstances that usually surrounds the reading of the throne speech,” Farnworth said. “There will be a throne speech. It was not the one that was planned to have been given by the lieutenant-governor.” 

Farnworth said Cocchia will instead deliver a throne speech that will be about the people, victims and families. “They are front and centre right now,” he said.

The throne speech historically marks the start of a new session, outlining government’s legislative agenda, with the provincial budget soon to follow. 

Farnworth said the budget will be tabled as scheduled on Feb. 17, but said that the budget speech might include much of what would have been in the throne speech that Cocchia would have delivered had it not been for the Tumbler Ridge tragedy.

Warbus said everybody needs to meet this moment with compassion. “Business will continue,” she said. “It’s going to be there waiting for us, but we need to give everyone a moment to breathe, to mourn properly.”

Botterell said the horrific events in Tumbler Ridge remind everyone about the importance of working together, and make appropriate adjustments to the legislature’s schedule. 

They include, among others, cancelling Question Period on Tuesday.

Interim B.C. Conservative leader Trevor Halford said earlier it was time to put politics aside. 

“Yesterday, parents packed their kids’ lunch,” he said. “Today, they are making funeral arrangements. There is no place for politics in any of this.” 

Halford said the focus in the coming days should be on the people of Tumbler Ridge. “Those kids, those people of Tumbler Ridge are the absolute priority.”

Farnworth, Warbus and Botterell first announced the changes to the throne speech in a joint statement, which also says that legislators will stand for a moment of silence in honour of the victims, their families and the entire community.

It says Thursday will be declared a day of mourning in British Columbia. 

Halford does not expect a traditional session. “I think it is going to be a really fluid situation,” he said. “The mood of this building has changed dramatically, since we all started to see the alerts, and I want to be really respectful of that, and how that process plays out.” 

Conservative Larry Neufeld, who represents Tumbler Ridge as MLA for Peace-River South, is in the community, and the rest of the opposition caucus is focused on supporting him in any way they could, Halford said. 

“He is really standing tall for his community right now, and we are standing with him,” Halford said.

The three house leaders say British Columbians are mourning, but are also united and will support for community members in the days ahead.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2026.