British Columbia Archives - National Times

30 Sep

B.C. First Nations Seek Meeting with PM Carney to Discuss Salmon Protection and Open-Net Farm Ban

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s First Nations are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to meet with them to address the urgent need to protect and restore wild salmon populations. Bob Chamberlin, chair of the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance—a coalition representing over 120 First Nations—called for a collaborative, Indigenous-led plan to safeguard wild salmon, similar in approach to the joint land-use strategy employed for the Great Bear Rainforest. “We invite Prime Minister Carney to visit British Columbia to engage with us on a comprehensive initiative to rehabilitate and rebuild wild salmon populations as part of a nation-building effort,” Chamberlin…

29 Sep

Crews Plan Controlled Ignition to Contain Munro Lake Wildfire Near Peachland, B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Peachland, B.C. (Richa Walia): Firefighters battling the Munro Lake wildfire near Peachland in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley are preparing to carry out a planned ignition operation aimed at reinforcing control lines and slowing the wildfire's progress, emergency officials said Sunday. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre reported that the fire, which has forced evacuations since Thursday, showed no growth overnight, though it remains out of control. The wildfire currently spans just over three square kilometres. Planned Burn to Reduce Fuel Load The BC Wildfire Service says the planned ignition will target approximately 54 hectares along the fire's southeastern edge, aiming…

27 Sep

B.C. Government, Public Sector Union to Resume Negotiations Monday; Picket Lines to Stay in Place

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Victoria (Rajeev Sharma): Talks between the British Columbia government and the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) are set to resume on Monday after nearly two months of stalled negotiations. Despite the renewed dialogue, striking public service workers will continue to picket outside government offices and provincial liquor outlets. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey confirmed late Thursday that the province’s Public Service Agency extended a formal invitation to the union to return to the bargaining table. Speaking on Friday, Bailey reaffirmed the government’s goal of reaching a fair deal that balances worker needs with the province's fiscal limits. “We remain committed to…

07 Sep

Wildfires Force Evacuations Across B.C. as Smoke Blankets Province

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Richa Walia): Wildfires raging across southern and central Interior regions of B.C. have triggered multiple evacuation orders, forcing hundreds of families to leave their homes. Officials say smoke continues to be a major hurdle for firefighting crews, particularly those working from the air. According to the BC Wildfire Service, smoke is altering local weather conditions by blocking sunlight, keeping humidity levels higher, and shifting wind patterns, all of which complicate fire suppression efforts. Environment Canada has issued special air quality advisories for much of the province, warning that smoky skies may persist through Sunday. Residents have been urged…

30 Aug

Wildfire Surge in British Columbia as Lightning Strikes Spark New Blazes

nishuthapar10 CommentsCanadaBC wildfires, British Columbia, Mount Underwood fire, Vancouver Island, Wesley Ridge fire

Vancouver (Richa Walia) – The number of wildfires raging across British Columbia surged this week as hot, dry weather gave way to thunderstorms and lightning, igniting dozens of new blazes in the province’s southern regions.According to BC Wildfire Service figures released Friday, active fires jumped to more than 110, up from 68 on Wednesday. Over 40 are classified as out of control, a sharp increase compared to only a handful earlier this week. Officials reported 37 new fire starts in the past 24 hours, while 10 were declared out.Clusters of new wildfires have been reported in remote areas northwest of…

28 Aug

Youth Gambling on the Rise in B.C. as Online Access Expands: Report

nishuthapar10 CommentsCanadaadolescent health survey, British Columbia, McCreary Centre Society, online gaming, youth gambling

Vancouver (Richa Walia)— A growing number of young people in British Columbia are engaging in gambling and gaming with real money, according to a new report by the McCreary Centre Society.The findings, drawn from the 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey of more than 38,200 youth aged 12 to 18, reveal that 34 per cent had taken part in at least one money-related gambling or gaming activity in the previous year. These included sports betting, online card games, dice, and purchasing in-game items with real money.The report highlights the impact of expanded gambling opportunities since Canada legalized single-game sports betting for…

27 Aug

Man Dies After Incident at Prince Rupert Summer Carnival, Investigations Underway

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaBritish Columbia, Prince Rupert, RCMP, Shooting Star Amusements, Summer Carnival, Zipper ride

Prince Rupert, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma) — A man died after being found unconscious at the Prince Rupert Summer Carnival on Tuesday night.RCMP said they received a call around 10:40 p.m. PT about an injured man near one of the rides. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The incident reportedly took place near the carnival’s thrill ride, the Zipper.Police confirmed that an investigation is underway, with WorkSafeBC and the B.C. Coroners Service also involved. The area has been cordoned off as officials continue their work.In response, Shooting Star Amusements, which operates the carnival, announced that it would not open…

22 Aug

Supporters Rally to Save B.C. Ostrich Farm Flock Facing Avian Flu Cull

nishuthapar10 CommentsCanadaavian flu, bird cull, British Columbia, CFIA, ostrich farm, Universal Ostrich Farm

Edgewood, British Columbia (Richa Walia) : A controversy has erupted in southern Interior B.C. as supporters of the Universal Ostrich Farm prepare to gather at the property after it lost a court appeal against a government-ordered cull of its birds.The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the destruction of about 400 ostriches at the Edgewood farm after several birds tested positive for H5N1 avian flu last December, resulting in the deaths of 69 birds by January. Despite the farmers’ claims that the flock is now healthy, the CFIA insists the cull is necessary to prevent risks to both public health…

16 Aug

B.C. MLA Slams U.S. Senator’s Proposal for Western Provinces to Join America

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Canada

Victoria (Richa Walia): A British Columbia legislator has strongly rebuked a pitch from a Republican state senator in the United States, suggesting that Canada’s four western provinces consider joining the U.S. Brennan Day, a member of the Opposition B.C. Conservative Party, said his reaction shifted from disappointment to anger after receiving the letter from Maine Senator Joseph Martin last week. His office first verified that the three-page document was genuine before responding. In the letter, Martin urged British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba to hold referendums on becoming American states. He argued this would not amount to annexation but rather…

14 Aug

Unprecedented Wildfire Near Port Alberni Forces Evacuations and Declares States of Emergency

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Port Alberni

PORT ALBERNI, B.C (Richa Walia): A fast-moving wildfire south of Port Alberni is exhibiting “unusual” and highly aggressive behaviour for Vancouver Island, prompting multiple evacuation orders and states of local emergency. The fire, discovered Monday evening around 6:30 p.m., exploded to 600 hectares within hours and has since expanded to more than 20 square kilometres. According to B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Karley Desrosiers, such rapid growth is rare not only for the Island but across the province. “This kind of escalation in such a short time frame is significant,” Desrosiers said Wednesday, noting that a combination of drought conditions…