Author: SKEENA NEWS
Fire Ban Now in Effect Across Skeena-Stikine as B.C. Warns of Rising Wildfire Risk By Skeena News A fire ban is now in effect across parts of Northwest B.C. as provincial officials warn residents, travellers, businesses and rural property owners to prepare for a summer of rising wildfire and drought risk. The City of Terrace says Category 3 open fires and related equipment and activities have been prohibited since noon on Friday, June 12, across the Coast Mountain Fire District and the Skeena Stikine Forest District. Terrace follows the direction of the Northwest Fire Region, and the ban will remain…
Canada Steps Deeper Into Ukraine War Supply Chain With New Defence Package Canada is preparing to join Sweden and Norway in a new defence package for Ukraine, marking another step in Ottawa’s expanding role in the international supply chain moving U.S.-made weapons to the Ukrainian battlefield. According to Reuters, Sweden’s Defence Minister Pål Jonson said in Brussels on Thursday that Sweden, Norway and Canada will announce a new package under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, known as PURL. The NATO-backed system allows allied countries to fund military equipment sourced from the United States and send it to Ukraine. Sweden’s defence…
Canada Refuses to Bend – World Cup Star Denied Entry Before Toronto Match The 2026 FIFA World Cup was promoted as a tournament of unity across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. But even before the opening stages of the competition settled into rhythm, one of the biggest questions surrounding the tournament had little to do with football itself. Who gets to cross the border? That question came into sharp focus after Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was refused entry to Canada ahead of Ghana’s Group L match against Panama in Toronto. Partey, a senior member of Ghana’s national team, is…
Canadian Seniors Set to Receive June OAS Payments as Cost-of-Living Pressures Continue Canadian seniors are scheduled to receive their next Old Age Security payment on Friday, June 26, 2026, as many retirees continue to manage rising living costs, housing expenses, food prices and health-related needs. Old Age Security, commonly known as OAS, is one of Canada’s main federal retirement benefits. It is paid monthly to eligible seniors aged 65 and older and is separate from the Canada Pension Plan. Unlike CPP, OAS does not depend on a person’s work history or how much they contributed during their career. For the…
New Provincial Court Judge Appointed for Prince George as B.C. Expands Justice Access The B.C. government has appointed two new Provincial Court judges, including one assigned to Prince George, in a move the province says is intended to strengthen access to justice in northern B.C. and the Lower Mainland. The appointments, announced Friday, June 12, include Matthew Stacey and Jason LeBlond, KC. Both appointments take effect July 13, 2026. LeBlond will be assigned to the Northern region with chambers in Prince George, while Stacey will be assigned to Port Coquitlam, serving communities including Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. For northern B.C., the appointment…
Vancouver World Cup Cost Raises Questions Across B.C. as Canada’s Historic Soccer Moment Builds Canada’s first home World Cup is becoming more than a sports story. It is now a major public spending, tourism, transportation and affordability story for British Columbia. After Canada opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 1–1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, excitement around the national team quickly shifted west. Vancouver is preparing to host two of Canada’s next Group B matches at BC Place: Canada vs. Qatar on June 18 and Canada vs. Switzerland on June 24. For soccer fans, it is a…
Carney Heads to G7 as Canada Tries to Balance Trump Tensions and Trade Reality Prime Minister Mark Carney is heading into the G7 summit in France at one of the most sensitive moments in Canada’s relationship with the United States. Carney met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris ahead of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, where trade, global security, technology, and the future of international cooperation are expected to dominate discussions. But for Canada, one issue sits above almost everything else: the future of trade with the United States. The timing is important. The G7 summit comes just…
Canada’s Under-16 Social Media Ban: What Bill C-34 Means for Families, Privacy and TikTok Syed Jaweed Canada is considering one of the most significant changes to online life since the rise of social media. The federal government’s proposed Safe Social Media Act (Bill C-34) would introduce a minimum age of 16 for social media accounts while creating a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada to oversee compliance and enforce new safety standards on platforms. Supporters argue the legislation is necessary to protect children from harmful content, online exploitation, cyberbullying and addictive platform design. Critics warn the proposal could create new…
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% as Mortgage Renewal Pressure Builds Across Canada – Jaweed The Bank of Canada has held its key overnight interest rate at 2.25%, keeping borrowing costs unchanged for the fifth straight decision as the country faces a difficult mix of weak economic growth, high living costs, and renewed inflation pressure from global energy prices. For Canadian households, the decision means there is no immediate relief on borrowing costs. For homeowners preparing to renew mortgages in 2026 and 2027, the pressure remains especially serious. The central bank is now in a difficult position. Canada’s economy…
Major Change for Canadian Cellphone and Internet Customers Takes Effect June 12 Canadians will soon find it easier—and cheaper—to switch telecom providers. Starting June 12, 2026, new Canadian telecommunications rules will prohibit service providers from charging activation fees, plan-change fees, and many cancellation fees on cellphone plans and internet services. The changes are part of a broader consumer protection initiative aimed at increasing competition and reducing barriers that discourage customers from switching providers. For years, Canadians have faced activation fees ranging from $30 to $80 per line when signing up for new services. Customers were also sometimes charged fees to…