Category: British Columbia

Ash From Russia Volcano Causes Flight Cancellations in Northwestern BC

Some flights out of northern British Columbia are cancelled due to ash from a Russian volcano that erupted thousands of kilometres away. Air Canada says it is monitoring the ash cloud from the Shiveluch Volcano, which caused the cancellation of some of its regional flights to and from Prince Rupert and Terrace on Thursday. It…


BC Creates Enforcement Teams in 12 Communities to Tackle Repeat Violent Offenders

Teams of police, prosecutors and probation officers are being enlisted to tackle repeat violent offenders in a dozen British Columbia communities. Premier David Eby says the government will create 12 law enforcement hubs in communities across the province from Nanaimo to Terrace dedicated to enforcement and investigation. He says the new regional hubs are part…


Pharmacists Fear More Drugs May Fall Into Loophole That Saw BC Ozempic Sent to US

Canada’s pharmacists worry a lack of data about prescription management could see a repeat of the situation with diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic, in which thousands of doses have been mailed over the border to Americans. Canadian Pharmacists Association vice-president of public affairs Joelle Walker said Americans buying cheaper Canadian drugs is nothing new. But…


DriveBC Issues Advisory for 150 Km Stretch of Highway Between Golden and Revelstoke

British Columbia’s transportation ministry says an “intense spring storm” is poised to hit a 150 km stretch of Highway in the southeastern part of the province. DriveBC issued a travel advisory Saturday morning for a portion of Highway 1 running between Golden and Revelstoke. It says the storm is expected to peak on Monday and…


BC Lifts Health-Care Mask Rules With Province ‘Emerging’ From Pandemic, Henry Says

British Columbia has lifted pandemic restrictions including mandatory mask-wearing in health–care settings, and proof of vaccination and COVID test results for visitors in care homes. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday that the requirement for health–care workers to be fully vaccinated would remain, but the steady decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations indicated the province…


Canada’s Supreme Court Won’t Hear Appeal Involving Right to Private Health Care

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from a Vancouver physician who has led a legal challenge over a patient’s right to access private health care. The Supreme Court’s decision, handed down on April 6, ends the challenge by physician Brian Day, two Vancouver-based private health facilities, and four patients who argued that…


BC to Spend Billions on Plan to Build More Homes to Ease Housing Crisis

The British Columbia government has introduced a multibillion-dollar plan to construct more homes as quickly as possible in an attempt to build its way out of the housing crisis. The so-called Homes for People plan starts with a $4-billion investment over three years and commits to $12 billion over a decade with incentives to build,…


Former BC Premier John Horgan Joins Board of Steel-Making Coal Company

Former British Columbia NDP Premier John Horgan is joining the board of a steel-making coal company, according to a recent report, and says he is aware that the move will likely draw some criticism. Horgan, 64, who served as the province’s premier for five years before stepping away from the role last year due to…


Unprecedented Construction Needed in BC to Offset Record Immigration: Report

A new report says home construction in British Columbia will need to rise to unprecedented levels to offset the impact of record immigration on the housing market. The B.C. Real Estate Association says the province must build 25 per cent more new homes than usual for the next five years to address deteriorating housing affordability….


Federal Decision to Shut Down BC Salmon Farms Prompts Company Court Challenge

A British Columbia salmon farming company is going to court to challenge the federal government’s decision not to renew the licences for its open-net farms off Vancouver Island. Documents filed in Federal Court in Vancouver by Mowi Canada West apply for a judicial review of the decision last month by Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray to shut down 15 salmon farms. Mowi’s…