British Columbia's Crown utility says crews have restored power to 95 per cent of some 290,000 businesses and homes that were in the dark at some point Monday as strong winds battered coastal areas and parts of the central Interior. BC Hydro says crews have been working around the clock to replace dozens of spans of power lines as well as power poles knocked down by toppled trees. Environment Canada had issued now-lifted wind warnings for most of the south and central coast, including Metro Vancouver, where the weather office said gusts of wind were expected to reach speeds of up to 100 kilome

The shutdown at BC ports is expected to impact $800 million in cargo per day. The BC Maritime Employers Association announced that, in light of foreman workers going on strike yesterday, it has also suspended union members from work. Among the most concerned are business owners, who are still recovering from the disruption caused by the railway strike earlier. Additionally, the 13-day strike by port workers last year had halted billions of dollars in trade. Bridget Anderson, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, stated that the latest port closures will disrupt the movement of $8

Environment Canada is warning of strong winds and heavy rain over much of coastal British Columbia and a large swath of the central Interior, while winter storm warnings are in effect for stretches of highway in the south. The weather office says gusts of wind could reach speeds of up to 90 or 100 kilometres an hour over southern Vancouver Island, including the Victoria area. It says gusts could jump to speeds of 110 kilometres an hour over northern Vancouver Island and stretching up to Bella Bella on the central coast. Winds were expected to reach speeds of 90 kilometres an hour over Metro Va

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