Author: SKEENA NEWS

BRITISH COLUMBIA – An atmospheric river is arriving in the coming days, setting off a train of significant, soggy weather across British Columbia over the next week. The robust stream of moisture, fueled by Pacific air originating near Southeast Asia, will bring back-to-back rounds of heavy precipitation and hazardous travel conditions. The atmospheric river moving into the West Coast on Monday will hit B.C. with AR-2 to AR-3 intensity, meaning the region will see beneficial rains that could prove hazardous in spots. Forecasters note that the intensity is high enough to warrant concern, particularly for river flooding due to the persistent…

OTTAWA, ON – Hundreds of federal public servants received notices this week that their jobs are on the line as the government proceeds with cost-cutting measures outlined in the federal budget. The department feeling the brunt of the potential cuts is Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), with unions warning the decision jeopardizes critical environmental safety and research programs. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) reported that 219 of its members at NRCan received warning notices, while the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) stated an additional 200 of its members were also notified. This means over 400 scientific and technical positions at NRCan are…

VANCOUVER, B.C. – A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP), now CPKC, over the 2021 wildfire that destroyed the community of Lytton, B.C. The ruling is a significant victory for residents who have waited years for accountability. The December 2 ruling by Justice Ward Branch noted there is “some basis in fact” to support the plaintiffs’ allegation that railroad operations caused the fire that killed two people and consumed more than 800 square kilometers on June 30, 2021. The fire broke out after the region recorded a Canadian record temperature of 49.6 degrees Celsius the day before.…

TERRACE, B.C. – The British Columbia government is setting out new guidance on how involuntary care can be provided for youth under 19 years old when they are unable or unwilling to care for themselves. The change is intended to provide clarity for physicians and families grappling with the severe mental health and substance-use crisis impacting young people. Premier David Eby acknowledged that the new guidance for doctors and parents will not be universally well received, but stressed that the changes could significantly reduce brain injuries and deaths of children. Clarifying the Mental Health Act The revised guidance will help physicians clarify…

VANCOUVER – After decades of consistent advocacy by industry leaders, B.C.’s new prompt payment legislation has officially received Royal Assent and is now law. Bill 20, officially named The Construction Prompt Payment Act, SBC 2025, c 24, aims to stabilize cash flows and reduce the financial burden of late payments across the province’s construction sector. The legislation, first introduced in October 2025, marks a significant milestone for the industry, which contributes over $28.5 billion annually to the provincial economy. New, Strict Payment Timelines The core of the new law is the establishment of strict payment deadlines across the construction supply chain, bringing B.C.…

OTTAWA, ON – The Government of Canada has announced a major investment of $357.7 million to establish the new Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII). The funding is intended to strengthen Canada’s domestic defence industrial capacity and build a more resilient foundation to meet the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This initial investment is positioned as a foundational step toward a forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, with a goal of driving research, innovation, strengthening domestic supply chains, and improving access to capital for Canadian small- and medium-sized defence businesses. Strategic Focus on Northern and Pacific Capabilities The RDII is designed to make targeted…

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Northern Health is reporting a significant milestone for the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) Acute Care Tower project, announcing the selection of the preferred mechanical and electrical contractors. This news, delivered via a Northern Health press release to Skeena News, confirms the full formation of the project alliance. The selected mechanical and electrical non-owner participants (NOPs) are both B.C.-based companies with extensive experience in major infrastructure: Collaborative Model for a $1.579 Billion Project The UHNBC Acute Care Tower is a transformative $1.579 billion project that will enhance surgical, cardiac, and mental health and substance use services for residents across Northern…

OTTAWA – Canada’s unemployment rate once again defied expectations in November, falling to a 16-month low of 6.5%. The drop signals a continued, robust recovery in the labour market, driven primarily by strong gains in part-time employment. The economy added a net of 53,600 jobs in November, marking the third straight month of significant employment growth. Canada has now added 181,000 new jobs since September, contrasting sharply with the almost zero change seen in the first eight months of the year, a period characterized by trade uncertainty and U.S. tariffs. Healthcare and Youth Drive the Gains The drop in the jobless rate was…

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s Crown utility, BC Hydro, has initiated legal action against a family of ranchers near Vanderhoof, B.C., for allegedly blocking access to land crucial for the $6-billion North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL). The NCTL, which Prime Minister Mark Carney designated a “nation-building” project last month, is essential to expanding the province’s electricity grid to power major industrial developments in the Skeena region, including new mines, LNG facilities, and port expansions. BC Hydro filed a petition in B.C. Supreme Court last week alleging that Kenneth Fawcett, Carolyn Fawcett, and their daughters, who own the multi-generational Little Valley Farms, have wrongfully prevented the…

OTTAWA, ON – A coordinated, five-month national enforcement initiative dubbed the National Fentanyl Sprint 2.0 has resulted in the reported seizure of a massive 386 kilograms of fentanyl, significant amounts of other illicit drugs, and the reported arrest and charging of 8,136 individuals. The operation, which ran from May 20 to October 31, 2025, was coordinated and endorsed by the Canadian Integrated Response to Organized Crime (CIROC), mobilizing law enforcement agencies across Canada to disrupt fentanyl production and distribution networks. “CIROC’s purpose is clear: to coordinate efforts to detect, pursue, counter and disrupt organized crime,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner and CIROC Co-Chair, Bonnie Ferguson.…