No need to look back at the end of the year, so let’s look forward. That means it’s time for Bill’s Eerily Inaccurate Predictions for 2026.
• There will be a municipal election this year. Nailed it … this prognostication thingy isn’t that tough. Who will form Fernie’s Group of Seven come the fall? My crystal ball isn’t that good.
However, I do predict that all seven incumbents will look for another term. While some frustration has been evident among councillors, it seems they all still want to continue the work they’re doing.
The big question is whether any of the very vocal group that has been hammering city council over the new firehall location and, more recently, the wastewater dumping into the Elk River, will put their names forward come the fall. Regardless, the firehall location will be an issue this fall.
• Along those lines, I predict the city/city council will be doing their darnest to break ground on the new firehall this year because that will go a long way towards ensuring it doesn’t become an election issue.
• I predict the city will stop spreading crap around the city. Or, more specifically, into the Elk River. That, of course, depends on whether we get another atmospheric river which, apparently, is good for neither fishing nor rafting … so what good is it? What the sewage dump did do was drive home the fact that the city’s wastewater system is in dire need of upgrading. While the civic leaders have been saying this for some time, sometimes reality is the best communicator.
• Given the fact the federal Liberals are just one seat shy of majority, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will realize Green Party leader Elizabeth May holds the balance of power and cross the floor to the Greens. OK, I wouldn’t put money that prediction, but it’s fun to have fun.
• I do predict, however, Prime Minister Mark Carney will get his majority government, either through another Conservative floor crossing or maybe a come-to-Jesus moment by May. After all, there’s likely to be some tension in the Green Party caucus after Poilievre crosses the floor.
• I predict U.S. President Donald Trump will be unpredictable. Nailed another one.
• I predict that a new leader will help the provincial Conservatives … for a little while. The centre-right, far-right, and ultra-right factions in the Conservative Party are camped so far apart there isn’t a tent big enough to cover them all. Unless, of course, they ditch the ultra-right folks and move back to being a centre-right party which is where the Liberals, and Social Credit before that, found electoral success for decades.
Premier David Eby could call a snap election to capitalize on the Conservatives’ disarray. I suspect that won’t happen, at least until the Conservatives pick a new leader. To go sooner would be tacky.
• I predict the Vancouver Canucks won’t play well enough to make the playoffs in 2026, but they will play well enough to get out of the league basement thus ensuring they don’t get Gavin McKenna in the NHL entry draft.
• I predict that anyone who puts money on these predictions will not retire comfortably this year.
Happy New Year.
Born and raised in Fernie, Bill Phillips is an award-winning journalist and columnist. He was the winner of the 2009 Best Editorial award at the British Columbia/Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s Ma Murray awards, in 2007 he won the association’s Best Columnist award. In 2004, he placed third in the Canadian Community Newspaper best columnist category and, in 2003, placed second. Read more Writer’s Block here.
