Author: SKEENA NEWS
OTTAWA, O.N. – With just one week until world leaders arrive in Alberta, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office has outlined its official priorities for the G7 summit, focusing on global peace, energy security, and new economic partnerships. However, the agenda has been overshadowed by the government’s controversial decision to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit, taking place in Kananaskis from June 15-17, will see Canada host leaders from the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the E.U. Ottawa says its goals include countering foreign interference, strengthening critical mineral supply chains, and responding to wildfires. However, the main point…
KITIMAT, B.C. – Residents in Kitimat and surrounding areas have been taking to social media this week, posting photos and asking questions about noticeable black smoke and increased noise coming from the LNG Canada site. The company has now responded, stating the emissions are a normal part of its advanced commissioning work and do not pose a risk to public safety. The visible black smoke, which has been rising from the facility’s main flare stack, is the result of routine flaring used to safely burn off excess natural gas. According to a company spokesperson, the smoke is primarily composed of carbon…
TERRACE, B.C. – This Sunday, Knox United Church in Terrace will be filled with music, food, and fellowship as it marks the 100th anniversary of the United Church of Canada with a special service and a community open house. The celebration begins with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. on June 8, led by the church’s 37th pastor, Paul Allard. Following the service, the church will host what Pastor Allard calls “a very United Church thing”—a potluck lunch. While the event celebrates the centennial of the national United Church, which formed on June 10, 1925, by joining Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist…
Terrace, B.C. – The B.C. government has launched an aggressive new recruitment campaign in the United States, targeting doctors, nurses, and other health professionals with a clear message: come work in British Columbia. For residents of the Skeena region, who have faced persistent healthcare staffing shortages, the campaign offers a glimmer of hope. The ad campaign, which began this week in Washington, Oregon, and California, highlights the stability of B.C.’s public, universal health-care system compared to what Health Minister Josie Osborne described as “chaos and uncertainty” in the U.S. Crucially, the province says recruiters are highlighting job opportunities in the areas…
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline project, now owned by the Nisga’a Nation and Western LNG, has cleared a critical regulatory hurdle. The BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) announced Thursday it has determined the project was “substantially started” before its 2024 deadline, allowing its original 2014 environmental certificate to remain valid for the life of the project. This decision is a major victory for the pipeline’s new owners, who acquired it from TC Energy in March 2024. The pipeline is the critical component intended to supply natural gas to the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG facility, a…
TERRACE, B.C. – Youth across the Skeena region looking for summer work have a new batch of opportunities available, as the federal government announced it is adding up to 6,000 more positions to its popular Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program. The national program was already on track to create 70,000 jobs, but the expansion aims to provide even more youth aged 15 to 30 with valuable first-work experiences. The program provides wage subsidies to employers, allowing them to hire summer staff they might not otherwise be able to afford. While the announcement was made in Ontario, the impact is being felt…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, next week, a move seen as a cautious step toward mending a deep diplomatic rift with Canada. The visit is being watched closely across the country, including by members of the Sikh communities here in the Skeena region. Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the summit, which runs from June 15-17. The meeting comes after years of strained relations following Canadian allegations implicating the Indian government in the 2023 murder of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.…
OTTAWA, O.N. – A sweeping new piece of legislation introduced by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government this week aims to fundamentally reshape Canada’s economic landscape, with potentially massive implications for Northern B.C. The “One Canadian Economy” bill proposes to fast-track major infrastructure projects and tear down long-standing trade barriers between provinces. The bill, if passed, would grant the federal cabinet new powers to designate “national-priority” projects, including highways, ports, pipelines, and mines. Once a project receives this designation, a new federal office would be tasked with cutting approval timelines from an average of five years down to just two. For a…
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Families in Prince Rupert have a new, free option for keeping kids active this June. A mini bike park is being set up inside the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena every Monday for the rest of the month, starting this Monday, June 9th. As part of the City of Prince Rupert’s “Community Better Challenge,” the arena will be open from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM for kids aged 0-18 to use with bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and scooters. The drop-in event is designed to be accessible to all, and organizers say some extra gear will be available for…
KITIMAT, B.C. – In a deeply meaningful moment for the region’s Muslim community, the new Kitimat Islamic Centre opened its doors for the very first time today to welcome worshippers for Eid al-Adha prayers. While a formal grand opening for the centre is planned for a later date, the community chose today—the first day of one of Islam’s holiest festivals—to begin using the Skeena region’s first-ever mosque. The new sign at 1274 Nalabila Blvdidentifies the building, which operates under the BC Muslim Association (BCMA). For years, families have gathered in rented halls and private homes. Today marked the emotional culmination of that wait,…