Negotiations between British Columbia's port employers and the union representing foremen are entering a final scheduled day in a bid to avoid a labour disruption. Both the BC Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 confirm talks are ongoing with the help of federal mediation services. The current negotiation session began on Oct. 29 and was said to be extendable by two days, if necessary. The union, which represents about 700 foremen at the ports, has said if talks break down it has a mandate from members to strike that expires on Nov. 2. N

Federal prosecutors have approved charges against 19 people, eight of them still at large, after an investigation into what police call a violent drug trafficking network in northeastern British Columbia. A statement from B.C.'s Combined Special Forces Enforcement Unit says two of the 11 people who were arrested remain in custody, while the others have been released with conditions as they move through the judicial process. It says the other eight, all men, are wanted on outstanding charges that include trafficking, possession of a restricted firearm and careless use or storage of a gun. The u

Premier David Eby addressed the media today for the first time since the NDP government took power in the province. Speaking at the Legislative Assembly building in Victoria, he said that the people have given a clear message that he and his government must do better for British Columbia. Eby expressed his gratitude and honor for the support given by the people. David Eby noted that the BC NDP is forming a third consecutive term of government for the first time in the province's history, and their goal is to establish a cabinet as soon as possible. He also said that he is not ruling out the po

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has warned of a possible measles exposure at airports in Vancouver, Toronto and Fredericton on Oct. 16. According to the notice, a passenger with a confirmed case of measles arrived in Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Philippine Airlines flight PR16 from Manila at 5:30 p.m. PT that day. The BCCDC said passengers who were on the same flight or who were in YVR at the same time may have been exposed, particularly those who were in Terminal M around 6 p.m. PT on Oct. 16 and Gate B17 at 10:30 p.m. The passenger did not visit any restaurants or stores at

BC Hydro says the massive Site C dam project in northeastern British Columbia has started generating power. The provincial electric utility says in a statement that the first of six generating units on the Site C dam has begun operations after completing testing and commissioning procedures. It’s expected that the site will be in full service by fall 2025, adding about eight per cent more supply to B.C.'s electricity grid. BC Hydro says the reservoir is now reaching more than 90 per cent full, with the water level at the dam rising by about 40 metres since late August when the filling proces

RCMP say a traffic stop in British Columbia's southern Interior led to the discovery of about 73 kilograms of cocaine in a vehicle. Insp. Lori Orstad with B.C. Highway Patrol says their preliminary investigation suggests the discovery earlier this month has "all the earmarks of organized crime." Police say officers arrested the 28-year-old man from Surrey who was driving the vehicle, and he's since been released with conditions and a scheduled court date. A statement from police says the traffic stop on Oct. 8 involved a roadblock on the Trans Canada Highway near Malakwa, east of Sicamous. The

Coastal British Columbia will see strong winds overnight with gusts that could reach speeds of between 90 and 110 kilometres per hour. Warnings from Environment Canada span the Greater Victoria area, the southern Gulf Islands, eastern Vancouver Island, southern parts of Metro Vancouver and Haida Gwaii. The weather office says most areas will see winds gusting up to 90 kilometres per hour before conditions are expected to ease Saturday morning, while winds over Haida Gwaii could peak at 110 kilometres per hour. The warnings come a week after an atmospheric river weather system drenched B.C.'s c

Voting officials say recounts in two ridings that could determine the outcome of British Columbia's election won't start until Sunday afternoon.Elections BC says results of the Surrey City Centre recount will be posted on Sunday when it is complete, with the results from the Juan De Fuca - Malhat recount to be posted on Monday. The election agency also says in a statement that screening of uncounted absentee and mail-in ballots has identified 65,000 ballots province-wide must also be tallied in a process running from Saturday until Monday, up from the previous estimate of 49,000.

Illicit drug deaths are down slightly in British Columbia from the same period last year, but the coroners service says females are dying at a much higher rate. The service says in a statement that 26 per cent of the 1,749 toxicity deaths so far this year were women or girls, and the rate of death among females is up 60 per cent from four years ago. There were 187 overdose deaths in B.C. in August and 183 in September. The service says the nine-month total is an eight per cent decrease from the same period last year, although it still represents about six people a day dying from unregulated dr