British Columbia Archives - Page 2 of 7

19 Jan

December Floods in B.C. Cause Nearly $900M in Insured Losses, IBC Calls for Faster Investment in Resilience

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Severe storms and flooding that swept across southern British Columbia and parts of Alberta in December have resulted in significant insured damages, with estimates approaching $900 million, according to data from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ) cited by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). The Fraser Valley was particularly hard-hit, accounting for roughly $74 million of the losses, primarily affecting homes and businesses. Floodwaters breached borders into Abbotsford-area neighborhoods and farmland, inundating poultry barns and prompting emergency evacuations, reports said. IBC emphasized that these recurring flood events underline the urgent need for the province to…

17 Jan

Haryana and British Columbia Explore Strategic Cooperation in Clean Energy, Trade and Technology

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Haryana, TrendingBritish Columbia, Haryana

Chandigarh (Rajeev Sharma/Balwinder Singh): Underscoring Haryana’s growing global engagement and its commitment to forging meaningful international partnerships, Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini on Friday held a meeting with a high-level delegation from British Columbia, Canada, led by the Premier Mr. David Eby. The interaction focused on exploring opportunities for collaboration across key sectors and strengthening State–Province level cooperation between Haryana and British Columbia. During this Chief Principal Secretary to CM Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Commissioner and Secretary, Foreign Cooperation Department Smt. Amneet P. Kumar also remained present. Welcoming the delegation, the Chief Minister said that the Government of Haryana attaches…

12 Jan

British Columbia Faces “The Big One”: Is the Province Prepared for a Major Earthquake?

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Victoria, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): A new provincial disaster report paints a stark picture of the potential devastation a major earthquake could bring to British Columbia—and underscores that preparation is just as crucial as the quake itself. The British Columbia Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA), released in October 2025, describes a scenario that, while extreme, is considered highly plausible by experts. Imagine a midsummer heatwave during wildfire season: a megathrust magnitude 9.0 earthquake strikes off the coast of Vancouver Island. In minutes, violent shaking sweeps across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, damaging 18,000 buildings, killing more than…

11 Jan

British Columbia Looks to India for Trade Growth Amid Shifting Global Alliances

nishuthapar10 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia Premier David Eby departed for India on Friday, launching a trade-focused visit that underscores a changing approach in Canadian economic strategy — one that places commercial opportunity ahead of unresolved diplomatic tensions. The trip is deliberately low-profile. No business delegations or ceremonial events are scheduled, and the premier is accompanied only by Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon and a small support team. Despite its modest format, the mission carries significant weight as Canada and its provinces seek to reduce reliance on the United States amid escalating trade barriers and political uncertainty. The…

10 Jan

British Columbia Sees Above-Average Snow Levels as Winter Progresses

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia’s snow pack is off to a strong start this year, with levels slightly above the seasonal average, according to the province’s latest snow survey and water supply bulletin. Issued on January 9, the report indicates that the provincial snow pack stands at 107 per cent of normal levels for this time of year, compared with 87 per cent on January 1, 2025. Regional variations are significant. While the South Coast basin and Vancouver Island are below average—at 67 per cent and 58 per cent, respectively—the Central Coast, Similkameen, and Nechako regions are well above…

07 Jan

British Columbia Premier to Lead Business Delegation to India Amid Renewed Economic Outreach

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia Premier David Eby is set to lead a high-level trade mission to India next week, signalling a renewed push by Canada’s western province to deepen commercial ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Announcing the initiative in Vancouver, Eby said the delegation will include BC’s Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth, Ravi Kahlon, along with business and industry representatives. The mission is scheduled to run from January 12 to January 17 and will take the team to New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chandigarh. The visit comes at a sensitive moment in India–Canada relations, which…

30 Dec

Heavy Rain Triggers Fresh Highway Washouts Across Haida Gwaii and Northwest B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaBritish Columbia, Haida Gwaii, Heavy Rainfall, Highway 16, highway washout

Haida Gwaii, B.C (Rajeev Sharma): Persistent heavy rainfall has led to continued highway washouts in Haida Gwaii and parts of northwest British Columbia, disrupting travel and isolating several communities as repair crews assess the damage. Authorities say sections of Highway 16 on Haida Gwaii have been severely affected, forcing closures between key points with no alternate routes available. The washouts have cut off north–south movement on the islands, impacting access between communities including Tlell, Lawn Hill, Skidegate and Daajing Giids. Local officials and volunteers are assisting stranded motorists and residents while monitoring conditions on affected stretches. Environment Canada has warned…

29 Dec

Rockfall Forces Closure of Popular Squamish Hiking Trail in B.C.

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia, Squamish Hiking Trail

Squamish, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): Authorities have closed the main trail at Stawamus Chief indefinitely following a major rockfall that covered a significant portion of the path with rocks and fallen trees. The incident reportedly occurred around 10:40 p.m. on December 26, according to witnesses, though the closure was officially announced by B.C. Parks on December 27. Fortunately, Squamish Search and Rescue confirmed that no hikers were injured in the event. A social media post from Squamish SAR urged the public to avoid the area entirely until officials can assess the trail for safety. Hiker Nathan Romanin encountered the debris the…

23 Dec

Halford Says B.C. Conservative Leadership Contest Will Reset Party and Bring Unity

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, CanadaBritish Columbia

Victoria (Rajeev Sharma): Trevor Halford says the upcoming leadership race for the Conservative Party of British Columbia will be an opportunity to clarify the party’s direction and restore cohesion after weeks of internal turmoil that briefly left the party with competing claims to its top job. Halford stepped into the role of interim leader on December 3 after the party’s board appointed him amid mounting tensions within caucus. Earlier that day, a majority of Conservative MLAs publicly withdrew their support from then-leader John Rustad, citing ongoing disputes that had affected fundraising and damaged the party’s public standing. The board later…

20 Dec

British Columbia Sets 2026 PNP Nomination Allocation, Falls Short of Request

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingBritish Columbia

British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): British Columbia has become the first Canadian province to announce its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocation for 2026, revealing a total that is lower than what it had originally requested. The announcement was published on the BC PNP’s official updates page on December 18, 2025. For the upcoming year, the federal government has granted British Columbia 5,254 nomination spaces. While this represents a 31% increase over the initial 2025 allocation of 4,000 slots, it is fewer than the province ended 2025 with, after receiving additional nominations throughout the year: 1,254 extra slots in October and another…