Wolf Depner

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This partial map of B.C. shows the snow pack for provincial water basis. The redder the region, the lower the snow pack as of Jan. 1. (Screencap)

B.C.’s snow-pack 44% below normal on heels of worst drought in recent memory

Low snow pack level could ‘significantly affect ongoing drought concerns’ in summer 2024

This partial map of B.C. shows the snow pack for provincial water basis. The redder the region, the lower the snow pack as of Jan. 1. (Screencap)
BC United has partially linked its call for a cellphone ban in provincial classrooms to declining test scores.(Photo: Pixabay)

BC United repeats call for cellphone ban in classrooms, citing test scores

But Education Minister Rachna Singh notes

BC United has partially linked its call for a cellphone ban in provincial classrooms to declining test scores.(Photo: Pixabay)
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday B.C. has seen an “uptick” of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

B.C. has seen “uptick” in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations: Henry

Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry predicts respiratory illness to peak next week

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Wednesday B.C. has seen an “uptick” of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
A woman holds a test swab for an at-home HPV test piloted by BC Cancer. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced Tuesday (Jan. 9) that B.C. is moving toward at-home HPV test as the primary testing method, replacing the traditional Pap test. (Courtesy of BC Cancer Facebook)

B.C. launches self-screening for HPV amid rising cervical cancer rates

New self-screening tests using HPV testing methods to become available Jan. 29

A woman holds a test swab for an at-home HPV test piloted by BC Cancer. Premier David Eby and Health Minister Adrian Dix announced Tuesday (Jan. 9) that B.C. is moving toward at-home HPV test as the primary testing method, replacing the traditional Pap test. (Courtesy of BC Cancer Facebook)
According to a new Angus Reid survey, 27 per cent of British Columbians say their provincial government is doing a good or very good job in handling health care. (Black Press Media File Photo)

Less than 1 in 3 residents say B.C. is handling health care well: survey

In 2020, 63 per cent said government was doing good or very good job on health care

According to a new Angus Reid survey, 27 per cent of British Columbians say their provincial government is doing a good or very good job in handling health care. (Black Press Media File Photo)
UBC Professor Paul Kershaw calls for a shift in taxes toward health to help with housing affordability. (Troy Landreville/Langley Times)

Taxing the house-wealthy could help solve B.C.’s housing crisis: UBC prof

Paul Kershaw calls for more taxation on wealth after housing study shows ‘erosion’ of Canadian dream

UBC Professor Paul Kershaw calls for a shift in taxes toward health to help with housing affordability. (Troy Landreville/Langley Times)
This was the aftermath after a truck carrying steel girders struck the Highway 99 overpass in Delta, B.C. The provincial suspended the safety certificate of Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. (Greg Cruse/Canadian Press)

B.C. wants Ottawa to close ‘semi-truck’-sized commercial trucking loophole

Call comes after company is using Alberta-plated trucks in B.C. after losing safety certificate

This was the aftermath after a truck carrying steel girders struck the Highway 99 overpass in Delta, B.C. The provincial suspended the safety certificate of Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. (Greg Cruse/Canadian Press)
BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Debate over B.C.’s climate action tax credit takes another fowl turn

Green MLA Adam Olsen plucks Conservatives’ climate change policy with his own chicken reference

BC Green House Leader Friday publicly praised the provincial’s climate action tax credit while also criticizing the provincial Conservatives’ climate change policy. (Black Press Media file photo)
The provincial film industry bounced back in December following the end of the respective strikes by Hollywood actors and writers. (Bob Orchard/Submitted)

B.C. unemployment up slightly despite creation of 74,000 new jobs

New figures show 2.83 million British Columbians employed in December 2023

The provincial film industry bounced back in December following the end of the respective strikes by Hollywood actors and writers. (Bob Orchard/Submitted)
A social media and digital literacy expert warns against a B.C.-wide approach when it comes to regulating non-instructional use of cellphones. (Photo: Pixabay)

Digital-literacy expert opposes B.C.-wide policy to cellphones in schools

The White Hatter’s Darren Laur says most schools already have appropriate policies in place

A social media and digital literacy expert warns against a B.C.-wide approach when it comes to regulating non-instructional use of cellphones. (Photo: Pixabay)
New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

B.C. blames clean hydro power for low StatsCan ranking on emissions cuts

Figures used by StatsCan, not B.C., show greenhouse gas emissions by households barely budged

New figures from StatsCan show that greenhouse gas emissions in B.C. barely budged in more than a decade, but one reason for the low drop is the prevalence of hydro power. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has condemned a mass mailing of drugs by advocate Dana Larsen to all 87 MLAs in B.C. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

MLAs condemn B.C. advocate’s mass mail out of drugs to their offices

Cannabis advocate Dana Larsen sent a package containing drugs to all 87 MLAs

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth has condemned a mass mailing of drugs by advocate Dana Larsen to all 87 MLAs in B.C. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)
Corey Ranger, president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, welcomes an injunction against the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act. He says it threatens the safety of drug users by pushing them into covert places, where they are more likely to die. But the injunction has also received criticism. (Contributed/ Corey Ranger)

Injunction against B.C.’s new public drug use law sparks mixed reaction

Public Safety Minister Farnworth says injunction temporarily prevents regulation of hard drug use

Corey Ranger, president of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association, welcomes an injunction against the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act. He says it threatens the safety of drug users by pushing them into covert places, where they are more likely to die. But the injunction has also received criticism. (Contributed/ Corey Ranger)
A tree and two boulders were dislodged from Cameron Bluffs, forcing closure of Highway 4 east of Port Alberni on Christmas Day. The road reopend early afternoon on Boxing Day. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)

Transportation ministry prepared in case Vancouver Island highway closes again

Highway 4 connecting western Vancouver Island closed part of Christmas, Boxing Day

A tree and two boulders were dislodged from Cameron Bluffs, forcing closure of Highway 4 east of Port Alberni on Christmas Day. The road reopend early afternoon on Boxing Day. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure)
BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, here seen during last media availability during the fall session, said her party will find a “whole new level of strength” in 2024. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

BC Greens will demonstrate ‘new level of strength’ in 2024: Furstenau

Sonia Furstenau acknowledges shifting political winds in B.C., but predicts strong campaign in 2024

BC Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, here seen during last media availability during the fall session, said her party will find a “whole new level of strength” in 2024. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

B.C.’s Environment Minister welcomes COP28 agreement

But George Heyman also acknowledged it could have sent a ‘more positive signal’

Environment Minister George Heyman welcomes the results of COP28, but acknowledges that could have “sent a more positive signal” through stronger language around the phasing out of fossil fuels rather than transitioning away from them. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, here seen announcing Karen Long as the party’s candidate in Langley-Abbotsford, said he doesn’t sweat polls showing the party behind the Conservative Party of BC. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

BC United remains ‘coalition party’ to defeat NDP: Leader Kevin Falcon

Falcon said he does not ‘sweat’ polls that show party behind Conservative Party of BC

BC United Leader Kevin Falcon, here seen announcing Karen Long as the party’s candidate in Langley-Abbotsford, said he doesn’t sweat polls showing the party behind the Conservative Party of BC. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Premier David Eby is photographed during a year-end interview from his office at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, December 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Eby says province ‘put literally everything’ into housing in 2023

David Eby also defended the carbon tax as B.C. heads into a provincial election

Premier David Eby is photographed during a year-end interview from his office at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, December 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Salvation Army Major Michael Ramsay helps a student load a box of food into the Salvation Army truck at Alberni District Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 28. A new survey commissioned by the Salvation Army found almost seven out of 10 British Columbians faced food challenges last year. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)

Nearly 7 of 10 British Columbians face food challenges, survey finds

Sally Ann survey finds 1 in 5 British Columbians concerned about having enough cash for basic needs

Salvation Army Major Michael Ramsay helps a student load a box of food into the Salvation Army truck at Alberni District Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 28. A new survey commissioned by the Salvation Army found almost seven out of 10 British Columbians faced food challenges last year. (ELENA RARDON / Alberni Valley News)
Deaths among homeless in B.C. rose in 2022 by 28 per cent compared to the previous year. The spike looks even more significant when looking at the last two years. Whereas BC Coroners Service counted at least 275 total death for 2019 and 2020, the two-year-total for 2021 and 2022 was 609, an increase of 138 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)

Toxic drugs blamed as B.C. homeless deaths more than double

At least 609 homeless people died in 2021 and 2022, up 138 per cent from previous two-year-total

Deaths among homeless in B.C. rose in 2022 by 28 per cent compared to the previous year. The spike looks even more significant when looking at the last two years. Whereas BC Coroners Service counted at least 275 total death for 2019 and 2020, the two-year-total for 2021 and 2022 was 609, an increase of 138 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)