Friday June 27, 2025 | NORTH VANCOUVER, bC [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Early this morning, there was an explosion that damaged the door and entry of the constituency office of BC Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma who is the MLA for North.
Ma is the mother of a young daughter who often spends time with her mother on the job.
North Vancouver RCMP will not yet say if it was Ma’s office that was deliberately targeted. There was no damage inside the office. The RCMP says they are “not aware of any threats” against Ma.
- 2:45 a.m. – a loud bang in 100-block of West 1st Street; nothing suspicious was located and there was no damage.
- 4:15 a.m. – a second report of a loud explosion at West Esplanade Ave and Chesterfield Ave. A search found evidence of damage to the front door of an office building in the 200-block of West Esplanade Avenue that was “indicative of an explosive device detonation”, said RCMP. “The blast breached the door and damaged the door frame The RCMP’s Explosive Disposal Unit was notified and attended as well as officers from the Lower Mainland Integrative Police Dog Services and Integrated Forensic Identification Services. The office has been cleared and deemed safe.”
The RCMP said there is nothing to indicate that the two incidents are related. Police are also not saying that the explosion was politically motivated. The RCMP “is not aware of any threats”.
Meanwhile, the public is being asked to provide any dash-cam or CCTV footage that might be available from the early morning hours between 2:30 am and 4:30 am from today June 27. Contact North Vancouver RCMP or call Crime Stoppers. FILE: 2025-13204.
Emergency caucus meeting:
The NDP government held an emergency caucus meeting this morning. All staff and MLAs were told to be cautious. Several offices closed for the day.
Premier Eby’s remarks:
Today during a press conference in Vancouver, Premier David Eby said there is no motive so far as to what happened at Minister Ma’s office.
“We’re doing a routine safety review for MLA offices across the province,” said Eby, referring to the independent Sergeant at Arms office.
He recalls the fatal shooting f a Democratic Speaker of the House in Minnesota earlier this month. He reflects on “what feels like an increasing level of hate and vitriol at particularly women politicians in our system,” said Eby. “That has shaken a lot of people in the province,” said BC’s premier.
He says that the BC NDP team is committed to serve the public and delivering for communities. “They understand there is an element of risk in this work,” said Eby. That risk comes in “being so publicly available and visible and outspoken on issues that people care very deeply about and feel very passionately about,” said Eby. “They’re putting that first while focusing on families and the security of their staff,” Eby said to media today in Vancouver.
Statements from Minister Ma:
This morning, a statement from Bowinn Ma’s office stated:
“All meetings and appointments at my Constituency Office are cancelled for the day due to a security incident that occurred in the early hours of this morning. Thankfully, nobody was injured, but incidents like this can be quite frightening. I appreciate the concern expressed by community members. I am grateful to serve such a caring and compassionate community. I’d also like to thank the officers who responded for their diligence and professionalism. Due to the active police investigation, I will not be able to provide more details at this time.”
By mid-afternoon, Ma’s office issued an update:
“I’m grateful for the outpouring of support from community members and people across B.C., including MLAs from all sides of the House. My staff, my family, and I are okay,” said Ma in a statement this morning.
”The RCMP have been taking the incident seriously, and I have full confidence in their ability to conduct a thorough investigation. Their explosives disposal unit was on the scene today, and their serious crimes unit is engaged.
Her office will remain closed on June 30 and July 1.
Provincial action:
No one should feel they are in danger when going to work, was Premier David Eby’s overall sentiment today during a press conference.
A review is being undertaken by the Sergeant at Arms at the BC Legislature to ensure staff are safe at work. That could mean security-related changes at constituency offices as well as at the BC Legislative buildings.
In the coming days MLAs and staff will be operating with extra caution, says an NDP spokespeson.
BC’s 43rd Parliament is currently on summer break, not returning until October 6, 2025. MLAs use the summer period to meet with local constituents.
BCGEU response:
The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) issued a statement this afternoon:
“We are deeply disturbed by the violent incident that unfolded today in front of the constituency office of MLA Bowinn Ma. We are grateful to hear that no one was injured and that the BCGEU members working in this and other constituency offices across the province are now safe.”
“No one deserves to have their lives endangered when they show up to work,” the BCGEU statement continued.
“We are grateful to hear that government and Legislative Protective Services are taking these attacks seriously, and we urge them to continue supporting affected workers and to take steps to improve safety in political and public sector workplaces.”
Local to Langford:
Locally in Langford, the Langford-Highlands constituency office of Ravi Parmar, MLA on Jacklin Road did close today. But they expect to re-open Monday.
Parmar’s office was already planning to be closed on Tuesday July 1 for Canada Day. | See: 2025 Canada Day Event in Langford
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