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.
Residents in the Poplar Point, Knox Mountain, Magic Estates and Clifton areas near the fire were under an evacuation order on Canada Day that was later downgraded to an alert as crews fought the flames. Kelowna RCMP assisted with an evacuation of more than 400 properties.
The BC Maritime Employers Association released a statement Monday afternoon saying it had gone as far as possible on core issues and it doesn't think more bargaining is going to produce a collective agreement. Thousands of union members walked off the job Saturday morning. Both sides negotiated over the weekend and were at the table earlier in the day on Monday.
R-C-M-P officers were called to the Foster Avenue and North Road area shortly before 9:30 p-m, where they found a man with gunshot wounds. The man died at the scene.
A possible strike by British Columbia port workers will not disrupt cruise ships docked in Vancouver, Prince Rupert or Vancouver Island, employers say. The BC Maritime Employers Association says it and the union representing cargo loaders have "confirmed" that cruise ships will continue to be serviced if a strike starts Saturday morning.
The union for more than 1,000 employees of Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain service says it has reached a tentative five-year deal with the BC Rapid Transit Co. CUPE 7000 says the new deal was reached after 10 days of negotiations, and includes future wage increases and improved benefits over the last contract.
B-C Transit had banned alcohol on buses on Canada Day, saying the policy was to ensure customer and driver safety. Signs posted about the zero-alcohol policy told passengers that they might be searched to make sure they are following the rules.