British Columbia
Gov’t polling showed many Canadians’ drug decriminalization fears
Months before British Columbia sought to scale back its drug decriminalization pilot project, the federal government’s own polling suggested to officials that a majority of Canadians believed the policy would lead to an increase in overdoses. The results of the 11-page survey by the Privy Council Office, the wing of federal bureaucracy that supports the Prime Minister’s Office, also suggests Canadians were split over whether decriminalization would make their community any less safe. “I guess what people are thinking is that [decriminalization] will somehow enable drug use,” said Thomas Kerr, aRead more
Selina Robinson steps down as B.C. cabinet minister over comments on Middle East
Premier David Eby says Robinson has significant work to do to address the harm she’s caused British Columbia Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson is stepping down amid an outcry over her remarks that modern Israel was founded on “a crappy piece of land.” Premier David Eby says Robinson’s “belittling” remarks were incompatible with her remaining in cabinet, although she will stay in the NDP caucus. “The depth of the work that Minister Robinson needs to do, in order to address the harms that she’s caused, is significant,” Eby told an impromptu newsRead more
B.C. welcomes federal housing dollars, but co-ops disappointed by timeline
$1 billion in funding has been promised for affordable housing across Canada. How much will B.C. get? B.C. leaders say although they welcome Ottawa’s affordable housing funding pledge, they worry it will amount to few projects over the next four years, while co-op housing advocates say they’re disappointed by the plan’s lack of urgency. On Tuesday, Ottawa pledged $1 billion for non-profit, co-op, and public housing providers to build more than 7,000 new homes by 2028. “The billion dollars they’ve said that’s going to be additional for building affordable housing isRead more
Fentanyl equal to 2.5 million street doses seized at rural property in Mission, B.C.: police
RCMP seizure included 25 kg of pure fentanyl and 3 kg of fentanyl already cut for sale Mission RCMP say they seized a huge quantity of fentanyl from a clandestine drug lab on an acreage in the rural Hatzic Valley in southwest British Columbia. Approximately 25 kilograms of pure fentanyl was seized along with three kilograms of fentanyl already diluted for street distribution. Additional precursor materials used to manufacture the drug were also seized, including 2,000 litres of chemicals and 6,000 litres of hazardous chemical waste, according to an RCMP news release. Police say theRead more
3 people dead after plane crash in Chilliwack, B.C.: RCMP
Everyone on board died and the next of kin are being notified Three people are dead after a small plane crashed in Chilliwack, B.C., according to RCMP in the city about 100 kilometres east of Vancouver. The plane crashed behind a motel near the airport, killing the pilot and everyone on board, Sgt. Pete Healey said. The RCMP are notifying the victims’ next of kin, Healey said. It’s still unknown what caused the Piper PA-34 Seneca, a twin-engined light aircraft to crash. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said it’s sending investigators. FirstRead more
B.C. port dispute ends as workers vote to accept new deal
Nearly 75 per cent of union members voted to approve the tentative agreement Port workers in British Columbia have accepted a new tentative deal with their employers, bringing an end to a tumultuous, weeks-long contract dispute that has paralyzed industries and supply chains across Canada. Late on Friday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU) says the vast majority of its more-than-7,400 members voted to ratify a deal reached with help from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The two-day vote closed at 6 p.m. PT on Friday. “The results of theRead more
Hundreds allowed to return home near Kamloops, B.C., as evacuation order eases
Several evacuation alerts were also rescinded for homes near Cranbrook, including the airport An evacuation order covering hundreds of properties south of Kamloops, B.C., has been scaled back to an alert as crews make good progress containing a wildfire about 10 kilometres south of the city. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District is allowing residents of 327 properties to return home, although they must be ready to leave again on short notice. The 26-square-kilometre Ross Moore Lake wildfire was sparked by lightning one week ago and forced the evacuation of properties fromRead more
Campfire ban in place for most of B.C., state of emergency for Stikine announced as wildfire numbers spike
British Columbia is imposing a campfire ban across the province, excepting only Haida Gwaii, as well as a state of emergency for the Stikine Region in the province’s northwest corner. “I think what’s clear to me is the climate crisis is here,” said B.C. Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma during a media briefing Monday afternoon. “We are seeing more climate events, major fires and droughts. This is an extremely challenging time for people and communities. It is immensely stressful.” The campfire ban goes into effect at 3Read more
B.C. must urgently change forest strategies or face more wildfire disasters: report
‘The key is there’s an urgency to this’: B.C. Forests Practices Board chair Critical strategy shifts are urgently needed to cut the risk of catastrophic wildfires in British Columbia forests that threaten to decimate ecosystems and communities, says an independent forests watchdog report. The B.C. Forests Practices Board is calling on the provincial government to undertake a “paradigm shift” in how it manages forests, saying wildfire risk mitigation currently focuses on areas near communities but leaves the wider forest landscape “severely vulnerable.” The report comes as the largest wildfire inRead more
The push in B.C. to relocate homes rather than demolish them
Metro Vancouver says a third of all waste at landfills comes from construction, demolition sector Advocates for lifting and moving homes to a new location rather than demolishing them are encouraging governments to streamline the relocation process to help meet waste-diversion goals and provide affordable housing in underserved communities. “We just need the municipalities to connect the dots, remove the red tape, expedite … permits to allow more buildings to be saved,” said Jeremy Nickel, president and CEO of Nickel Bros., a family-founded business that has been moving homes since the mid-1950s. Given the legacy of a company likeRead more