BC government

The Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap has burned an estimated 43,084 hectares as of Aug. 31, 2023. Because of severe drought conditions, if regions get too much rain too quickly this fall it could lead to flooding, but if there’s not enough rain the drought season could continue into 2024. (BC Wildfire Service)

Drought conditions in B.C. a ‘sleeping giant of a natural disaster’

But too much rain too quickly could lead to similar issues following the 2021 atmospheric rivers

The Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap has burned an estimated 43,084 hectares as of Aug. 31, 2023. Because of severe drought conditions, if regions get too much rain too quickly this fall it could lead to flooding, but if there’s not enough rain the drought season could continue into 2024. (BC Wildfire Service)
Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside speaking in Surrey May 5, 2023. Whiteside announced the province would be funding $3 million over the next three years toward the YMCA B.C.’s Y Mind and Mind Medicine programs for people aged 13 to 30 to learn strategies to cope with stress and anxiety (Photo: Anna Burns)

B.C. funding $3M toward YMCA mental health program in 30 communities

Y Mind is aimed at teaching people strategies to cope with stress and anxiety

Mental Health Minister Jennifer Whiteside speaking in Surrey May 5, 2023. Whiteside announced the province would be funding $3 million over the next three years toward the YMCA B.C.’s Y Mind and Mind Medicine programs for people aged 13 to 30 to learn strategies to cope with stress and anxiety (Photo: Anna Burns)
B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The British Columbia government is expanding its measures to lower the cost of child care by introducing fee reductions for preschool and school-aged children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. boosts childcare funding for preschool and school-aged kids

Premier David Eby says families could save an additional $145 per month

B.C. Premier David Eby speaks during an announcement at the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, in North Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday, June 15, 2023. The British Columbia government is expanding its measures to lower the cost of child care by introducing fee reductions for preschool and school-aged children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park to stay open over Labour Day weekend

It will then be inaccessible starting Sept. 5 as the province, Lil’wat Nation have ongoing talks

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, 2019. (Black Press Media files)
Wildfire evacuees Warren Pullen, left, and veteran Rob Pullen sit outside their trailer in the parking lot at an evacuation centre, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Mental health supports available for British Columbians impacted by wildfires

Disaster Psychological Support team deployed through B.C.’s Emergency Management program

Wildfire evacuees Warren Pullen, left, and veteran Rob Pullen sit outside their trailer in the parking lot at an evacuation centre, in Kelowna, B.C., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
The McDougall Creek wildfire, in West Kelowna, is an estimated 12,270 hectares as of Aug. 23, 2023. it was first discovered on Aug. 15. At least 90 properties have been damaged fully or partially by the wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

Travel restrictions remain for West Kelowna; B.C. urges caution

25,000 people remain on evacuation order and another 37,000 are on alert

The McDougall Creek wildfire, in West Kelowna, is an estimated 12,270 hectares as of Aug. 23, 2023. it was first discovered on Aug. 15. At least 90 properties have been damaged fully or partially by the wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
People without vehicles lineup to register for a flight to Calgary, Alberta in Yellowknife on Thursday, August 17, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to convene an urgent meeting with ministers and senior officials today as residents of the capital of Northwest Territories are ordered to evacuate the area because of an encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

‘Difficult days’: B.C. may be facing worst wildfire conditions of the summer

‘An evacuation order is not the time to wait and see, especially not under the conditions forecasted’

People without vehicles lineup to register for a flight to Calgary, Alberta in Yellowknife on Thursday, August 17, 2023. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to convene an urgent meeting with ministers and senior officials today as residents of the capital of Northwest Territories are ordered to evacuate the area because of an encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden
B.C. Premier David Eby says the provincial government will provide all possible support to neighbouring Northwest Territories. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

‘Our hearts are with the people of the Northwest Territories’: Eby

B.C. pledges to provide all possible support as Yellowknife is ordered to evacuate

B.C. Premier David Eby says the provincial government will provide all possible support to neighbouring Northwest Territories. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Selina Robinson, B.C.’s minister of post-secondary education, says a $48 million investment by the province to help Capilano University purchase the former Quest University campus for a total of $63.2 million will help the growing Sea-to-Sky region. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. invests $48 million in new Capilano University campus in Squamish

Capilano assumes ownership of what was formerly the private Quest University campus

Selina Robinson, B.C.’s minister of post-secondary education, says a $48 million investment by the province to help Capilano University purchase the former Quest University campus for a total of $63.2 million will help the growing Sea-to-Sky region. (Black Press Media file photo)
Legislation to regulate short-term vacation rentals is coming in the fall and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says it will help return housing stock to the non-vacation rental market. (Black Press Media file photo)

New law will help track and enforce vacation rentals: housing minister

Ravi Kahlon also did not rule out province-wide registry for short-term vacation spots

Legislation to regulate short-term vacation rentals is coming in the fall and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says it will help return housing stock to the non-vacation rental market. (Black Press Media file photo)
The provincial government has launched a verified Weibo account, a Chinese-language social media platform. B.C. hopes that a Weibo channel, in addition to all their other social media platforms, will help connect with more people, including the 11 per cent of British Columbians whose first written language is Chinese. (Lauren Collins)

B.C. launches account on Chinese-language social media platform Weibo

Chinese is the first written language for about 11% of British Columbians

The provincial government has launched a verified Weibo account, a Chinese-language social media platform. B.C. hopes that a Weibo channel, in addition to all their other social media platforms, will help connect with more people, including the 11 per cent of British Columbians whose first written language is Chinese. (Lauren Collins)
British Columbia midwives and the province have ratified a new three-year agreement with the overwhelming support of the health-care workers.The Midwives Association of British Columbia logo is seen in this undated handout. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

B.C. midwives and province deliver new 3-year deal, increasing wages

The agreement is effective retroactively from April 2022 until March 2025

British Columbia midwives and the province have ratified a new three-year agreement with the overwhelming support of the health-care workers.The Midwives Association of British Columbia logo is seen in this undated handout. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Harbour Air’s electric-powered de Havilland Beaver was among the projects that had benefited from previous funding through the CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization program. The province recently announced $5 million for another round of funding. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Aviation Museum)

Province defends size of investment in zero-emission vehicle research

Transportation sector responsible for 40 per cent of all greenhouse gases in B.C.

Harbour Air’s electric-powered de Havilland Beaver was among the projects that had benefited from previous funding through the CleanBC Go Electric Advanced Research and Commercialization program. The province recently announced $5 million for another round of funding. (Photo courtesy of British Columbia Aviation Museum)
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, here seen in Vancouver Thursday (Aug. 10) annoucing 170 mixed-use homes and 80 shelter beds for the Downtown Eastside, said he is “cautiously optimistic” that the federal support will help support the provincial housing agenda, but acknowledged that B.C. needs to play catch up. (Flickr/Government of BC)

Building B.C.: Housing minister promises ‘ambitious plan’ for the fall

Ravi Kahlon is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that Ottawa will support provincial efforts

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, here seen in Vancouver Thursday (Aug. 10) annoucing 170 mixed-use homes and 80 shelter beds for the Downtown Eastside, said he is “cautiously optimistic” that the federal support will help support the provincial housing agenda, but acknowledged that B.C. needs to play catch up. (Flickr/Government of BC)
Jordan Reichert, campaign director of Animal Alliance of Canada, is displeased with the eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island. (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Plan to eradicate fallow deer population from B.C. island faces backlash

Animal Alliance of Canada speaks out about alternative methods to preserve Sidney Island ecosystem

Jordan Reichert, campaign director of Animal Alliance of Canada, is displeased with the eradication of fallow deer on Sidney Island. (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Workers of app-based platforms could receive a higher mininum wage than other workers, but only when engaged. (Black Press Media file photo)

App-based workers could earn higher minimum wage in B.C., but only sometimes

New provincial discussion paper open for public feedback until Sept. 30

Workers of app-based platforms could receive a higher mininum wage than other workers, but only when engaged. (Black Press Media file photo)
The provincial unemployment rate dropped in July, but the construction sector continues to shed jobs. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s construction sector is shedding jobs; but overall unemployment drops

Unemployment rates in B.C. are going down, but key sector lost nearly 20,000 jobs in July

The provincial unemployment rate dropped in July, but the construction sector continues to shed jobs. (Black Press Media file photo)
Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Housing, health care, climate should be central to B.C.’s next budget: report

Final report from provincial finance committee released after extensive public consultation

Housing emerged as the one of the top issues during recent provincial budget consultations. Other top of mind issues include health care, the environment but also regulatory reform and labour shortages, according to the final report from the legislative committee that had toured the province earlier this year. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)

B.C., Canada promise $4M to help farmers adapt to climate change, drought

Program aims to help producers with waste management, air-quality and emissions control

B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)
A new new study by the University of British Columbia, links clear-cutting with more flooding, including extreme floods. (J.R. Rardon file photo)

B.C. can limit flooding by reducing clear-cutting: UBC scientist

New paper shows link between clear-cutting and more flooding, including extreme floods

A new new study by the University of British Columbia, links clear-cutting with more flooding, including extreme floods. (J.R. Rardon file photo)