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The emergency room at Port Hardy Hospital will remain closed overnight for the foreseeable future, the province announced Friday. (Island Health Photo)

B.C. confirms extended overnight closures for 2 rural Vancouver Island emergency rooms

Additional investments announced without a time line when Alert Bay, Port Hardy ERs will reopen

The emergency room at Port Hardy Hospital will remain closed overnight for the foreseeable future, the province announced Friday. (Island Health Photo)
Vancouver will start charging a new hotel tax to help cover the costs of hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)

7-year-long Vancouver hotel tax to start in February to help pay for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Provincial statement suggests tax would be in place until 2030, so four years after tournament

Vancouver will start charging a new hotel tax to help cover the costs of hosting the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup. (Ryan Adams/Wikimedia Commons)
A provincial government report finds different levels of internet cell service for urban and rural regions of BC with rural residents paying more for worse services. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rural British Columbians pay more for worse internet, cell phone service: report

Nearly 30 per cent of provincial highways also lack cell coverage

A provincial government report finds different levels of internet cell service for urban and rural regions of BC with rural residents paying more for worse services. (Black Press Media file photo)
Stewart Prest of Quest University gives the New Democratic governemnt under David Eby an ‘incomplete’ some 50 days into its mandate, but praises specific aspects. (Photo courtesy of Stewart Prest)

Eby’s 100-day action plan gets mixed grade ahead of B.C. budget

Stewart Prest gives NDP government an ‘incomplete’ so far but praises specific aspects

Stewart Prest of Quest University gives the New Democratic governemnt under David Eby an ‘incomplete’ some 50 days into its mandate, but praises specific aspects. (Photo courtesy of Stewart Prest)
Ten pilot projects across B.C. promise to improve access to period products

10 period projects get funding across B.C. for those in need of menstruation products

Government says the projects will help develop better ways of delivering period products

Ten pilot projects across B.C. promise to improve access to period products
New figures released show British Columbia passed the 5,000-mark for COVID-19 deaths since the start of pandemic in March 2020, but other metrics such as hospitalizations are trending down. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Grim milestone: British Columbia passes 5,000-mark for COVID-19 deaths

Other COVID-19 figures, influenza cases are trending down while RSV cases remain high

New figures released show British Columbia passed the 5,000-mark for COVID-19 deaths since the start of pandemic in March 2020, but other metrics such as hospitalizations are trending down. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
School District 83 trustees voted unanimously in support of an anti-racism policy at their Jan. 17 board meeting. The province is mandating that all schools district and independent schools are required to have codes of conduct and policies to address racism and discrimination. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

B.C. announces anti-racism plan for inside Kindergarten to Grade 12 classrooms

Anti-Racism Action Plan sets out to support school districts in building more inclusive classrooms

School District 83 trustees voted unanimously in support of an anti-racism policy at their Jan. 17 board meeting. The province is mandating that all schools district and independent schools are required to have codes of conduct and policies to address racism and discrimination. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Sanjiv Gandhi, a former children’s surgeon, joined B.C. Greens party leader Sonia Furstenau and house leader Adam Olsen in Vancouver Monday when party announced him as their second deputy leader. (Screencap)

B.C. Greens appoint former children’s surgeon Sanjiv Gandhi as 2nd deputy leader

Sanjiv Gandhi makes appeal for mandatory masking during winter season

Sanjiv Gandhi, a former children’s surgeon, joined B.C. Greens party leader Sonia Furstenau and house leader Adam Olsen in Vancouver Monday when party announced him as their second deputy leader. (Screencap)
Lt. Gov. Janet Austin said during the inaugural ceremony recognizing the 2021 and 2022 recipients of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award that more work lies ahead when it comes to Reconciliation. (Photo Courtesy of DON CRAIG photography)

Appeal for ‘revolutionary’ change voiced at B.C.’s latest reconciliation awards

Award recognize individuals and organizations who have furthered and inspired reconciliation

Lt. Gov. Janet Austin said during the inaugural ceremony recognizing the 2021 and 2022 recipients of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award that more work lies ahead when it comes to Reconciliation. (Photo Courtesy of DON CRAIG photography)
The Coquitlam Glacier, Metro Vancouver’s last remaining glacier, is disappearing fast. A Science study predicts some 80 per cent of B.C. glaciers will have disappeared by 2100. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver

Disappearing glaciers in B.C. put tourism, watersheds at risk: scientist

Brian Menounos predicts most glaciers will disappear but warns against inaction

The Coquitlam Glacier, Metro Vancouver’s last remaining glacier, is disappearing fast. A Science study predicts some 80 per cent of B.C. glaciers will have disappeared by 2100. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Metro Vancouver
A provincial promise of $50 million holds the promise of making use of low-value wood that would otherwise by burned. (Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services).

Province pumps $50-million into increasing fibre supply in B.C.

Premier David Eby announced the funding Thursday

A provincial promise of $50 million holds the promise of making use of low-value wood that would otherwise by burned. (Photo courtesy of Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services).
The state of the forest industry has drawn a lot of this week as Premier David Eby continues to address key industry leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. forest industry looks to get out of the woods amid meetings with government leaders

Industry faces declining prices, other challenges as Eby speaks of ‘exhausted’ and ‘stressed’ forests

The state of the forest industry has drawn a lot of this week as Premier David Eby continues to address key industry leaders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Construction crews work on an affordable housing project for victims of gender-based violence in Chilliwack on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

‘There’s good housing and bad’: B.C.’s fast-tracked permitting plan draws environmentalist’s concern

B.C. Wilderness Committee needs more information, but expressed skepticism

Construction crews work on an affordable housing project for victims of gender-based violence in Chilliwack on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman (here seen in 2020) fulfilled statutory reporting requirements under the Climate Change Accountability Act, according to a court ruling Tuesday. But the ruling also found that the province is not likely to meet change goals for 2025, 2030. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Judge rejects lawsuit claiming B.C. failed to properly report climate change plans

Court hands B.C. government a victory, but finds province unlikely to meet its climate change goals

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman (here seen in 2020) fulfilled statutory reporting requirements under the Climate Change Accountability Act, according to a court ruling Tuesday. But the ruling also found that the province is not likely to meet change goals for 2025, 2030. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Blueberry River First Nations, located 70 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the provincial government have signed what both sides call an historic agreement after a 2021 court decision. (BRFN photo)

B.C. government, Blueberry River First Nations reach land management agreement

Agreement includes restoration fund of $200 million by 2025

Blueberry River First Nations, located 70 kilometres north of Fort St. John, and the provincial government have signed what both sides call an historic agreement after a 2021 court decision. (BRFN photo)
Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston and Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey flank Premier David Eby as he announces $90 million over three years to support high-value industrial and manufacturing projects. (Omineca Express)

B.C. announces up to $90M over 3 years for areas impacted by changes in forestry

Announcement gets applause from industry leaders with some pushing for additional measures

Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston and Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey flank Premier David Eby as he announces $90 million over three years to support high-value industrial and manufacturing projects. (Omineca Express)
Premier David Eby has announced a new streamlined process to speed up housing developments in British Columbia. (Screencap)

B.C. to overhaul approval process for building houses in hopes of increasing supply

Eby made the announcement Monday morning in Vancouver.

Premier David Eby has announced a new streamlined process to speed up housing developments in British Columbia. (Screencap)
Cases of influenza, RSV and COVID are decreasing, with influenza cases decreasing faster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner

B.C. influenza cases down, RSV cases remain high while also declining

Provincial authorities have detected 24 cases of ‘Kraken’ COVID-subvariant

Cases of influenza, RSV and COVID are decreasing, with influenza cases decreasing faster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dirk Meissner
Recreational cannabis is legal in Canada on Oct. 17th. The City of Lacombe has spent the last year preparing bylaws to allow for the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis in the community. Black Press File Photo

Should B.C. allow cannabis lounges and cafes? Survey gets mixed reviews

Support high for cannabis consumption spaces among users, but police, health experts more cautions

Recreational cannabis is legal in Canada on Oct. 17th. The City of Lacombe has spent the last year preparing bylaws to allow for the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis in the community. Black Press File Photo
Salvatore Vetro has launched a recall petition against Premier David Eby. (Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vetro)

Premier David Eby called a ‘dictator’ in recall petition citing Bill 36

Petition by former HandyDART driver and aspiring actor concerns Bill 36

Salvatore Vetro has launched a recall petition against Premier David Eby. (Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vetro)
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