Author: SKEENA NEWS

KISPIOX VALLEY — The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS) has declared a State of Local Emergency in Electoral Area ‘B’ as a massive ice jam on the Kispiox River sent freezing floodwaters spilling into rural properties Thursday night. The emergency order, which took effect at 9:00 p.m. on January 15, 2026, follows a rapid buildup of river ice that has obstructed natural flow, causing water levels to rise unpredictably. Drone footage from the area shows at least one residential home and several outbuildings completely surrounded by icy water. Evacuation Orders in Effect Under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, the RDKS has mandated the immediate…

ABBOTSFORD — The financial toll of December’s severe weather is coming into sharp focus, with the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reporting that last month’s atmospheric river caused nearly $90 million in insured damage across Western Canada—with the Fraser Valley bearing the brunt of the destruction. According to new estimates released Friday, roughly $74 million of that total is tied to homes and businesses in the Fraser Valley. The region was submerged in mid-December when the Nooksack River in Washington State once again breached its banks, sending cross-border floodwaters into Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie—a haunting echo of the catastrophic 2021 floods. A Strategy…

WestJet Scraps 28-Inch Seats After Public Backlash CALGARY – Following a wave of public indignation and viral videos showing passengers wedged into tiny spaces, WestJet announced Friday it is scrapping its controversial plan to reduce legroom across its economy fleet. The Calgary-based carrier confirmed it will strip out the newly added “extra row” of seats on 21 aircraft and return to its prior standard of 30-inch seat pitch. The airline had initially intended to roll out the high-density configuration—which offered just 28 inches of space between seats—across 43 Boeing 737 jets to lower operational costs and offer “Ultra Basic” fares. “WestJet tried…

B.C. Drug Decriminalization Ends as Northern Deaths Surge VICTORIA — British Columbia is pulling the plug on its controversial three-year drug decriminalization pilot project, acknowledging the “groundbreaking” experiment failed to deliver the safety and health outcomes officials had promised. Health Minister Josie Osborne announced Wednesday that the province will not seek to renew the federal exemption that allowed for the legal possession of small amounts of illicit drugs. The pilot, which began in January 2023, is set to officially expire on January 31, 2026. “Despite the hard work and good intentions behind the pilot, it has not delivered the results we hoped for,”…

CANADA — As the provincial forestry sector reels from aggressive U.S. tariffs and a wave of mill closures, the B.C. Ministry of Forests has officially turned its gaze toward the Pacific to secure the industry’s future. On Thursday, British Columbia and the federal government signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Chinese government to promote modern wood construction. The agreement, signed during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s landmark diplomatic mission to Beijing, aims to integrate B.C. mass timber and engineered wood into China’s massive urban renewal projects and “green” building strategies. Escaping the ‘Trump Tariffs’ The move signals a strategic…

Coastal First Nations pipeline opposition PRINCE RUPERT – The Coastal First Nations (CFN) alliance has sent a clear message to Ottawa: their coast is not for sale, and their opposition to a bitumen pipeline remains unshakable. Following a high-stakes meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Prince Rupert on Tuesday morning, Indigenous leaders held a press conference at the Crest Hotel to debrief the public on a discussion that touched on reconciliation, economic development, and the environmental sanctity of the North Coast. Marilyn Slett, President of the Coastal First Nations, told reporters that while the dialogue was productive, the alliance’s stance…

The Finality of January 12, 2026 – Terrace Kin Hut Demolition On January 12, 2026, the mechanical dismantling of the structure known locally as the “Kin Hut” marked the end of a physical narrative that had stretched across eighty-four years of northern British Columbia history. Perched on the “Bench” overlooking the Skeena River valley, the modest white-sided wooden building was demolished by heavy equipment following a prolonged and contentious municipal process—one that pitted the financial and legal liabilities of a decaying structure against the intangible weight of collective memory. Built in 1942 as the mess hall for the Canadian Army’s…

Terrace Kitimat Rental Market Stays Strong Amid National Downturn SKEENA NEWS  — While major metropolitan centers across Canada are seeing a long-awaited cooling of the rental market, residents of the Skeena region are facing a different reality. According to the latest National Rent Report from Rentals.ca and Urbanation, Canada’s average asking rent hit a 30-month low in December 2025, dropping to $2,060. However, in Terrace and Kitimat, local demand continues to keep prices stable and supply tight. The National Picture: A 30-Month Low Across Canada, the average rent declined 2.3 per cent year-over-year in December. This represents the 15th consecutive month of annual decreases, a…

Mark Carney Prince Rupert Visit PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. — In a significant move for Northern B.C.’s political and economic landscape, Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in Prince Rupert today, January 12, to engage in a pivotal meeting with the Coastal First Nations (CFN). The Prime Minister is not traveling alone; he is accompanied by two heavy-hitters from his cabinet: Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson. The high-level delegation is set to sit down with the Alliance of First Nations on Tuesday, January 13, fulfilling a request for dialogue originally made by the coastal nations in July 2024.…

B.C. India trade mission 2026 NEW DELHI / SKEENA REGION — British Columbia has officially launched a high-stakes diplomatic and economic offensive in India, with Premier David Eby and Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon landing in New Delhi on Monday to begin a six-day mission. The goal is clear: to secure a massive slice of India’s booming economy and shield B.C.’s resource sectors from the volatility of U.S. trade policy. The mission represents a critical step in B.C.’s target to attract $200 billion in investment over the next decade. Speaking from New Delhi, Premier Eby emphasized that the “unjustified tariffs” from the Trump administration…