Author: SKEENA NEWS

FRASER LAKE — The reporting period of February 24 and 25 has been dominated by the grim transition from fire suppression to forensic recovery at the site of the Fraser Lake Shopping Centre. While the initial blaze on February 22 was a devastating blow to the village’s commercial infrastructure, the focus has now shifted to a potential loss of life. Forensic Recovery and the Search for the Unaccounted As of Wednesday, February 25, Fraser Lake RCMP continue to manage a protracted stalemate at the charred remains of the Fraser Lake Inn. Forensic teams have been unable to fully enter the structure due to “substantial heat and…

FRASER LAKE — The Village of Fraser Lake has transitioned to hazardous site monitoring after a catastrophic fire leveled much of its commercial core over the weekend. The blaze, which erupted around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, resulted in the total destruction of several local landmarks, leaving a community of fewer than 1,000 residents reeling from the loss of essential services.+1 The Toll on Local Business The fire originated at a shopping plaza and quickly consumed multiple structures. By Monday and Tuesday, February 23–24, the full scale of the commercial crisis became clear. Status of Affected Businesses (as of Feb 24,…

PRINCE RUPERT — The Port of Prince Rupert remains a primary engine for the North Coast economy, maintaining a high operational tempo despite a reported four per cent decrease in foreign cargo volumes to start the 2026 fiscal year. While the first month of the year saw just under 2.3 million tonnes of foreign cargo—a decrease of nearly 87,000 tonnes from the previous year—the port’s ability to handle a diverse array of commodities from metallurgical coal to biomass was on full display this past weekend. Vessel Activity: A Gateway in Motion The 48-hour period ending February 23 saw a constant rotation of massive cargo vessels.…

TERRACE — The Skeena region is standing at the threshold of a massive industrial electrification project as BC Hydroenters the final stages of planning for the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL). The 450-kilometre expansion is being hailed by the provincial government as a “nation-building project” essential for unlocking billions in mineral and energy investments. However, as construction nears its summer 2026 start date, the project is drawing intense scrutiny over its doubling costs and the “socialization” of its multi-billion-dollar price tag. The “Grand Bargain” for Clean Power The NCTL is a critical prerequisite for several massive industrial developments, most notably the Ksi Lisims LNGproject. In January…

THORNHILL / TERRACE — The search for 69-year-old Noel Ross Grant has transitioned into a high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional crisis as of the morning of February 21, 2026. Grant, an Indigenous elder who suffers from dementia, has been missing since February 6, sparking an unprecedented regional coordination of emergency services. The urgency of the operation reached a fever pitch this weekend as a severe Arctic outflow warning gripped the Terrace and Kitimat areas, with wind chill values plummeting to −23∘C. The Scale of the Search As of February 22, Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from Terrace, Houston, Kitimat, and Prince Rupert have logged a cumulative 480 person-hours across 41 distinct search assignments.…

VICTORIA — Finance Minister Brenda Bailey delivered British Columbia’s 2026 Budget to the legislature on February 17, unveiling a fiscal plan defined by record-breaking deficits and a significant expansion of the provincial tax base. By February 19, the budget became the center of a fierce debate led by Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Scott McInnis, who characterized the plan as a fiscal failure that disproportionately affects rural communities. Escalating Debt and the “Million-Dollar-an-Hour” Interest The provincial deficit is projected to widen to $13.3 billion for the 2026-27 fiscal year, a sharp climb from the $9.6 billion recorded in 2025. This trajectory is expected to push…

WASHINGTON / OTTAWA — The global trading system faced a historic turning point on the morning of February 20, 2026, as the United States Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. In a 6-3 decision, the court struck down the sweeping global tariffs previously imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The 170-page opinion clarified that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress clear authority over taxes and tariffs, ruling that the executive branch exceeded its mandate by using emergency powers to enact what were dubbed “Liberation Day” tariffs. The Tactical Shift: From IEEPA to Section…

KITIMAT — The Kitimat Marlins swim club is celebrating a significant milestone this week as two of its standout athletes prepare to represent the region on the provincial stage. Following a successful swim meet in Terrace on January 24, swimmers Sadie Rego and River Newton officially qualified for the Swim BC Northern and Interior Winter Divisional Competition. The prestigious event is scheduled to take place in Penticton from February 20–22, 2026. A Remarkable Club Recovery The qualification of Rego and Newton is more than an individual achievement; it reflects a broader resurgence for the Kitimat Marlins. Like many youth organizations, the club faced significant disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to…

TERRACE / VICTORIA — The B.C. provincial government has launched two major healthcare initiatives this week, focusing on saving lives in the opioid crisis while tightening the grip on patient privacy protections following a series of data breaches. $50 Million Boost for Nasal Naloxone On February 19, 2026, the province announced a $50 million investment specifically to expand the distribution of nasal naloxone. This move is a critical development for the Skeena region, where vast geography and remote terrain often lead to longer ambulance response times. Unlike the injectable version, the nasal spray is easier for untrained bystanders to administer, making it an ideal…

OTTAWA — The Canadian parliamentary landscape is undergoing a historic shift as the governing Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, successfully courts moderate “Red Tory” elements of the Official Opposition. This strategic consolidation of the political center has resulted in three high-profile floor-crossings by Conservative MPs between November 2025 and February 2026, pushing the Liberals to the brink of a legislative majority. The Arithmetic of the 45th Parliament Following the April 2025 federal election, the Liberals secured a fourth consecutive mandate in a minority capacity.Prime Minister Carney initially governed with 170 seats—just two shy of the 172 required for a majority…