Author: SKEENA NEWS

TERRACE, B.C. – Terrace City Council voted last night to formally support a regional call to action urging the federal government to reconsider immigration caps that local leaders say could be “catastrophic” for the Northwest’s economy. During their bi-weekly meeting on Tuesday, council discussed the “Voices of Northern BC – Call to Action” document. The initiative aims to protect local businesses from severe labour shortages by highlighting the critical role that workers on temporary visas and international students play in the regional workforce. The city’s Lands and Economic Development Manager presented the recommendation, sparking a robust debate among council members. Several…

OTTAWA, O.N. – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is calling for an emergency meeting of chiefs from across the country to strategize a response to new federal legislation aimed at fast-tracking major projects like pipelines and mines. The AFN’s National Chief expressed “deep concern” after a meeting with the Prime Minister last week, warning that the “One Canadian Economy” bill could violate the collective rights of First Nations and lead to “protracted litigation” if passed without significant changes. The legislation, tabled last Friday, would give the federal cabinet new powers to approve nationally significant projects. For the Skeena region, where…

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Youth in the Skeena region looking for paid training and work experience have until this Friday, June 13, to apply for a comprehensive employment and skills program. The Youth Employment & Skills Strategy (Y.E.S.S.) program, offered by TRICORP, is a paid opportunity for youth aged 15-30 who are not returning to school and have a valid Social Insurance Number. The program is designed to provide the necessary skills for work, learning, and life. The 12-week program is split into two parts: Participants will also benefit from certificate training and one-on-one mentoring to help them strengthen their employability…

OTTAWA, O.N. – Renewed pressure from the United States for Canada to significantly increase its defence spending, particularly on Arctic security, could have future implications for Northwest B.C. as the federal government prepares a new defence and security announcement for this Monday. In an interview this past Friday, the American ambassador to Canada acknowledged that Canada’s defence spending has been an “irritant” in the relationship. His comments come as the U.S. administration continues to push allies to meet NATO spending targets, with some proposals suggesting a new target as high as five per cent of GDP. Canada’s current spending is projected…

KITIMAT, B.C. – A wave of uncertainty is rippling through Kitimat after the U.S. government announced it is doubling tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, a move that directly impacts operations at the Rio Tinto BC Works smelter. The decision by the U.S. President’s administration has been called a “huge hit for the aluminum industry” by the executive director of the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce. The smelter is the region’s largest employer, with 1,100 direct workers and many more indirect jobs tied to its operation. In a statement, Rio Tinto confirmed that while operations have been “running normally,” the company is…

PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Summer travellers and business commuters now have more options for flying out of Prince Rupert, as Air Canada Jazz has launched a new seasonal evening flight to and from Vancouver. The new service, which began on Friday, June 6, has been introduced to meet the growing travel demand of the busy summer season. The additional flight will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, and is currently scheduled to run until October 24, with a potential for extension if demand remains high. The schedule for the new flight is as follows: To accommodate the later departure…

SMITHERS, B.C. – Communities in the Bulkley Valley are receiving a significant boost to their emergency response capabilities, with the B.C. government investing nearly $7 million in new projects for Smithers, Witset, and Saik’uz First Nation. The funding, announced late last week, is aimed at enhancing local Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) to better manage climate-related disasters such as wildfires and floods. The investment will allow Witset to install essential equipment, including radios and a backup generator, and provide specialized training for emergency staff. This will improve the community’s ability to coordinate with regional partners like the Town of Smithers during a…

TERRACE, B.C. – The BC Conservation Officer Service has issued an urgent warning to the public to keep their distance from Kermode (Spirit) bears, as a recent spike in sightings and social media posts draws crowds to highways and forest roads near Terrace and Kitimat. Conservation officers are expressing growing concern over public behaviour, noting that some people are attempting to get too close or even lure the rare bears for a better photo. This behaviour, they warn, is not only dangerous but can be a death sentence for the animals. “I know people want to go and see them,” a…

OTTAWA, O.N. – In a world facing trade disputes, supply chain disruptions, and extreme weather, the head of the Bank of Canada says the institution needs to evolve how it manages the Canadian economy, acknowledging the pain a new generation has felt from high inflation and the ongoing housing crisis. Tiff Macklem, the governor of the Bank of Canada, made the remarks this week after holding the country’s benchmark interest rate steady for a second time. While the bank successfully fought down the last surge of post-pandemic inflation without causing a major recession, Macklem noted a new crisis is already here:…

TERRACE, B.C. – While Canada’s national unemployment rate ticked up to a multi-year high of 7.0% in May, the job market in Northwest B.C. continues to show resilience. The latest data from Statistics Canada shows the unemployment rate for the North Coast & Nechako economic region, which includes Terrace and Kitimat, stood at just 5.1% last month. This puts the Skeena region well below both the British Columbia average of 6.4% and the national rate. The national jobs report, released Friday, painted a stagnant picture for the country as a whole, with employment being “little changed” for the second consecutive month. The national rate has…