B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down
Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Sep, 2023 05:12 PM
The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires.
The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home.
Metro Vancouver says Stage 2 water-use restrictions begin next Friday -- halting all lawn watering until further notice and limiting other outdoor water use. Metro Vancouver chair George Harvie says the restrictions should ensure enough drinking water -- and water for essential uses -- is available throughout the dry season.
Mounties say two Alberta hikers have been found dead at the bottom of a ridge at Mount Coulthard, a summit in the Rocky Mountains. RCMP were informed Wednesday night that the two hikers who were making their way along the North York Creek Plane Crash Trail, outside Coleman, Alta., had not returned when planned.
Statistics Canada says the energy sector was down 2.1 per cent in May -- its first decline in five months and its largest since August 2020. Canada's record-breaking wildfire season led many mining and oil and gas companies to reduce their operations in Alberta.
The B-C government says it wants to hear from British Columbians about taxi and ride-hailing services in the province. The province says it's holding a public meeting in the fall as a special committee is set to review so-called passenger-directed vehicles that come under the Passenger Transportation Act.
City council in Surrey has awarded a contract for designing the widening of 132nd Street between 72nd Avenue to 80th Avenue. The city says in a news release that the expansion to four lanes aims to improve traffic and safety.
A shooting in Richmond has left one man dead, and police are investigating whether a nearby car fire is related to the case. Richmond RCMP were called to Milner Road at Blundell Road at 5:45 p.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting.