B.C.’s Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma says her office is still helping support residents in the North Vancouver community after explosions damaged the front door frame of her office and prompted a police investigation.
North Vancouver RCMP said they were called out around 4:15 a.m. June 27 to investigate the explosion at a building at the 200 block of West Esplanade Avenue. The explosive disposal unit was also called in and the building was inspected to ensure it was safe, police said. They have not released further details, saying they were investigating “all possible avenues.”
Ma spoke publicly about the incident for the first time during a news conference on July 3.
“In the days since and the hours since, I think I’ve done a lot of reflecting on how frightening a situation like this can be for the community,” she told reporters.
“I want the community to know that my office continues to be there to support them, and that I have full confidence in the RCMP as they conduct their investigation,” Ma said.
Ma released a statement online the day of the incident, saying that her constituency office would be closed for the rest of the day.
She also noted that no one was injured as a result of the explosions. Ma said she could not provide much information due to the police investigation.
Police also said they had been called out to the North Vancouver area earlier that same morning for reports of a “loud bang” in the 100 block of West 1st Street, around 2:45 a.m. However, officers did not find anything suspicious in the area at that time.
Following the incident, Premier David Eby said his thoughts were with Ma, her staff, and the community.
He said that everyone had a right to a safe workplace.
“No matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you have a right to safety at work,” he said in a June 27 post on the X social media platform.
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad also released a statement on social media, saying all members of the Legislative Assembly should stand with Ma.
He called the incident “deeply concerning” and said that no one in the province should feel “scared to go in to work.”
Ma was first elected in 2017 and has served as the minister of emergency management and climate readiness.
RCMP have asked anyone with dashcam footage of the area from 2:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. to contact them at 604-985-1311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
