Provincial Government

Mink farms are being phased out in B.C. and will be shut down entirely by April 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

BC plans to phase out mink farming industry by 2025

The government is doing this over four years to allow farmers and workers a transition period

 

A group calling itself BC Public Service Employees for Freedom is rejecting the province’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which takes effect Nov. 22. (Black Press Media file photo)

Letter to deputy minister latest step protesting B.C. Public Service vaccine mandate

Nov. 22 the deadline for all B.C. Public Service workers to get vaccinated

 

The CanPac Valour will be laying the cable for the project. Photo by Marc Kitteringham / Campbell River Mirror

3,400 kilometres of cable bringing high-speed internet to B.C. coast

Connected Coast project officially launched in Campbell River

 

Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)

Chilliwack MLA Kelli Paddon reads powerful words from bullied 11-year-old in BC Legislature

“They said because I am black, I should go kill myself,” Eevah Macdonald wrote

Left to right, Chilliwack-Kent MLA Kelli Paddon, Eevah Macdonald, and Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore inside the Legislature in Victoria on Oct. 21, 2021. (Submitted)
The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

B.C. government employees in hot water for sending anti-vaccine emails

Public service agency taking ‘appropriate follow-up’ to messages sent from government computers

The BC Public Service Agency building on Blanshard Street in Victoria. Some government employees have sent internal emails criticizing the province for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all employees by Nov. 22. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Residents show their appreciation to firefighters as they stand with signs of love, some dressed up, on Old Kamloops Road as crews drive ‘home’ to the fire camp set up at the former Kin Race Track. (Amanda Quiring photo)

Vernon-Monashee MLA extends gratitude to constituents in wildfire crisis

Harwinder Sandhu grateful, she said, for the community’s outpouring of care and support for each other

Residents show their appreciation to firefighters as they stand with signs of love, some dressed up, on Old Kamloops Road as crews drive ‘home’ to the fire camp set up at the former Kin Race Track. (Amanda Quiring photo)
Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. cities will no longer need provincial approval to launch single-use plastic ban

More than 20 municipalities in B.C. are developing bylaws banning single-use plastics

Esquimalt, Nanaimo, Richmond, Rossland, Saanich, Surrey, Tofino, Ucluelet and Victoria all have plastic bag bans. (Pixabay.com)
Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. says expanding emergency alert for wildfires is a priority, but no timeline set

About 4,300 properties were under evacuation orders Thursday due to wildfires

Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
fire metrocreative

Emergency funds flow for Thompson-Okanagan communities

EOC centres in Vernon, Lumby, Sicamous, First Nations backed with funds

fire metrocreative
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Battle between Penticton and B.C. over homeless shelter officially before the court

The city filed their official petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, July 6

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)
Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)

Penticton paramountcy sparks Vernon vote

Heavy hand of B.C. government over homeless

Penticton mayor John Vassilaki and Minister of Housing David Eby have been battling over the Victory Church shelter and BC Housing projects in the city. (File photos)
Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon is seen during a news conference in Calgary on Sept. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol

Alberta revives ‘turn-off-taps’ resources bill that sparked legal row with B.C.

Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon says it’s prudent to have such legislation

Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon is seen during a news conference in Calgary on Sept. 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
In a Jan. 18 notice, Interior Health and Salmon Arm West Elementary confirmed a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19 and, due to a possible transmission, advised students who ride School District 83's Monkey Bus be monitored for symptoms of the virus. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Upgrades roll in for Okanagan schools

Vernon, Central Okanagan, South Okanagan and Shuswap provincial funds set for capital projects

In a Jan. 18 notice, Interior Health and Salmon Arm West Elementary confirmed a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19 and, due to a possible transmission, advised students who ride School District 83's Monkey Bus be monitored for symptoms of the virus. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

EDITORIAL: High marks for Canada’s democratic process

Accusations of widespread corruption do not hold up

  • Apr 22, 2021
Gavel (Courtesy photo)
B.C. homeowners are being urged to take steps to prepare for the possibility of a flood by moving equipment and other assets to higher ground. (J.R. Rardon)

‘Entire province faces risk’: B.C. citizens urged to prepare for above-average spring flooding

Larger-than-normal melting snowpack poses a threat to the province as warmer weather touches down

B.C. homeowners are being urged to take steps to prepare for the possibility of a flood by moving equipment and other assets to higher ground. (J.R. Rardon)
The Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express will finally play games in early April as the BCHL squeezes in a shortened 20 game season. Just-announced provincial funding may help the junior A league offset financial losses caused by the COVID pandemic. (Darren Francis photo)

Province provides relief funding for amateur sport

The government is directing $15 million to teams/leagues impacted by the COVID pandemic

The Chilliwack Chiefs and Coquitlam Express will finally play games in early April as the BCHL squeezes in a shortened 20 game season. Just-announced provincial funding may help the junior A league offset financial losses caused by the COVID pandemic. (Darren Francis photo)
Royal LePage Place, along with the adjacent Jim Lind Arena are the two ice arenas operated by the City of West Kelowna..—Image credit: contributed

21-year-old ammonia chiller at Jim Lind Arena to be replaced

West Kelowna is the recipient of a provincial grant to replace the ammonia chiller

Royal LePage Place, along with the adjacent Jim Lind Arena are the two ice arenas operated by the City of West Kelowna..—Image credit: contributed
The 2016 National Youth Homelessness Survey — which surveyed 1,103 young people who experience homelessness in 47 communities across Canada — found that 57.8 per cent of youth surveyed reported having some sort of involvement with the child welfare system. (Pixabay)

B.C. extends emergency supports for youth ‘aging-out’ of foster care

Youth will either be able to stay in their placements or receive financial support, Ministry says

The 2016 National Youth Homelessness Survey — which surveyed 1,103 young people who experience homelessness in 47 communities across Canada — found that 57.8 per cent of youth surveyed reported having some sort of involvement with the child welfare system. (Pixabay)
(Pixhere photo)

B.C. dentists argue for COVID-19 vaccine priority after ‘disappointing’ exclusion from plan

Vaccines are essential for dentists as patients cannot wear masks during treatment, argues BCDA

(Pixhere photo)
Hillview Elementary students Emma Li and Mina Nadeau were awarded by the Premier’s office for winning the annual holiday card contest. (Karen Rogers photo)

North Okanagan students’ art featured on Premier’s cards

Hillview youth chosen for annual holiday card contest

Hillview Elementary students Emma Li and Mina Nadeau were awarded by the Premier’s office for winning the annual holiday card contest. (Karen Rogers photo)