BCFeb 25, 2025
Second earthquake in four days strikes off B.C. coast
Another earthquake has struck off the British Columbia coast.
A post on X from Emergency Info BC Monday night said a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck west of Port Alice, a community on northwest Vancouver Island.
The agency added there was no risk of a tsunami, and there have been no reports of damage or injuries.
This is the second earthquake in British Columbia in four days, after a 4.7-magnitude temblor struck the southwest coast on Friday, northeast of Sechelt.
Tremors were felt on the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver as well as Vancouver Island.
Though several smaller aftershocks came from
BCFeb 24, 2025
B.C. Opposition Leader Rustad wants to hit U.S. with 'carbon tax' on coal shipments
British Columbia Opposition Leader John Rustad is proposing a "carbon tax" on U.S. thermal coal that is shipped out of B.C. ports to use as leverage against threats of American tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber.
Rustad says such a tax would be a "tool to fight back" on softwood tariffs and duties proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said last week could increase to more than 50 per cent.
He says that until "unfair and unwarranted" U.S. duties on B.C. softwood are removed, the province needs "to be ready to hit the Americans where it hurts.”
The B.C. C
BCFeb 24, 2025
Delta Hospital Emergency Room Closure Highlights Doctor Shortage in BC
Delta Hospital in British Columbia closed its emergency room for the second consecutive night on Sunday due to a shortage of doctors. Fraser Health issued a notice around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, announcing the temporary closure of emergency room services from 9:30 p.m. Sunday to 6:30 a.m. Monday.
Patients who had already been admitted were attended to before the doctor on duty left at 1:30 a.m. It is worth noting that the emergency room had also been closed on Saturday night due to the same issue. During these closures, nurses provided first aid to patients and assisted in transferring them to n
BCFeb 21, 2025
LifeLabs Workers Launch Phased Strike Across BC
LifeLabs workers have initiated a phased strike across British Columbia, with 18 LifeLabs centres closed on the first day of the strike, Thursday. Leaders of the BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) have warned that protests may escalate if the issues of wages, benefits, and working conditions are not addressed through negotiations with the US-based company.
Union president Paul Finch warned that workers are prepared to expand the strike to more than 100 centres. Speaking to supporters outside Vancouver’s Cityview LifeLabs, he stated that the fight would continue until their demands are met.
BCFeb 18, 2025
B.C. LifeLabs prepares for rotating closures after notice of strike
LifeLabs in British Columbia says some of its more than 100 centres in the province will be subject to rotating temporary closures starting on Thursday as part of job action taken by the union.
The B.C. General Employees' Union, which represents about 1,200 LifeLab workers, issued a strike notice on Sunday after what it said was months of negotiations and LifeLabs' refusal to bring wages and benefits in line with the cost of living.
LifeLabs, a lab testing service provider, says in a statement that as a designated essential service, it will continue to operate and do everything in its control
BCFeb 14, 2025
B.C. minimum wage increases by 45 cents per hour starting June 1
The British Columbia government says the province's lowest-paid workers are getting a wage boost to keep pace with inflation.
The Ministry of Labour says the minimum wage will increase from $17.40 to $17.85 per hour starting in June. It says the 2.6 per cent increase follows changes made last spring to the Employment Standards Act, which mandated yearly wage rises.
Labour Minister Jennifer Whiteside says those adjustments were made last year because minimum-wage workers are most vulnerable to jumps in prices for living expenses like groceries, rent and gas.
The province says the changes align
BCFeb 12, 2025
B.C. snowpack at 72% of normal as of Feb. 1 after 'extremely dry' January
British Columbia's latest snow and water supply bulletin says it was "extremely dry" across much of the province last month, with average snowpack measuring 28 per cent below normal as of Feb. 1.
The latest snow pack figures released Tuesday come after the province started the year with a snowpack at 13 per cent below normal.
The bulletin, release by from the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, says last month fell within the top 10 driest Januaries across much of the province, while Abbotsford, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Cranbrook and Chetwynd were in the top five since record-
BCFeb 11, 2025
Teens body recovered after fall through ice on B.C.'s Shuswap Lake
The body of an 18-year-old man has been recovered from Shuswap Lake in British Columbia's Interior after he fell through the ice over the weekend.
Police say in a statement that the RCMP's underwater recover team found the teen's body on Monday.
Salmon Arm Search and Rescue, the fire department and BC Emergency Health Services were called to the scene on Saturday to help search for the man.
Staff Sgt. Simon Scott, the Salmon Arm RCMP detachment commander, says the death is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected the man's family, first responders and the community.
Scott says changing
BCFeb 07, 2025
B.C. Government Approves Controversial Supportive Housing Project in Richmond
The B.C. government has approved a six-storey, 90-unit supportive housing project in Richmond, sparking backlash from locals. The project, initially paused in August ahead of the October provincial election, was greenlit Thursday evening.
Three Conservative MLAs from Richmond oppose the project, citing a lack of consultation with residents and issues arising from the city’s temporary modular housing sites.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon clarified that the new permanent building will be separate from the temporary housing initiative, aiming to address community concerns.