Tag Archives: Gov of BC

Cost of Climate Change, Food Security

‘Sell them for nothing or watch them starve’: farmers face difficult decisions amid B.C. drought

By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

When Yoenne Ewald’s hay supply fell through this spring, she was devastated. Without hay, she can’t feed her cattle. Like most farmers, she’s tough and used to troubleshooting unexpected problems but the stress this year has been on another level.

“The options are to sell them for nothing or watch them starve,” she says on her farm just outside of New Hazelton, B.C. 

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Forests

New online ‘Forest Eye’ will daylight old-growth logging in B.C.

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

There will soon be no way for old-growth logging to go undetected in B.C. 

An online tracking system developed by an international environmental group goes live today. It will enable the public to monitor where old growth is being logged and is designed to hold the province accountable for promises to reform forestry, said project lead Angeline Robertson, a senior investigative researcher with Stand.earth. 

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Environment

Strathcona Regional District receives funding to mitigate climate-related disasters

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Regional District that encompasses Campbell River, the Homalco First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, K’ómoks First Nation, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Gold River, and Sayward received over $1.1 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund to strengthen its resilience against climate-related disasters.

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Forests

‘A public relations strategy’: Critics slam B.C’s recent effort to boost transparency on logging

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The B.C. government has announced changes to improve transparency around logging operations, but critics have more questions than answers. 

Due to recent changes to the Forest and Range Practices Act, forestry companies will be required to create a map of proposed logging operations available for public review as of April 1, 2024, according to B.C.’s Ministry of Forests. And the public will be able to offer input on what environmental values should be considered for future logging plans. 

In addition, the province is developing an online mapping system that companies can choose to use to display their map and get public feedback. The system will be fully launched sometime in 2024. 

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Politics, Transportation

B.C. rolls out rural transportation surveys but the roadmap for action is unclear

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

B.C. is examining long-standing roadblocks to intercity transportation for rural communities on Vancouver Island and other underserved areas in the province.

The province is spending $2.5 million on in-person and virtual community consultations and online surveys to study passenger transportation gaps faced by rural and remote areas on Vancouver Island and parts of the coastal mainland, as well as B.C.’s north and southern Interior. 

Continue reading B.C. rolls out rural transportation surveys but the roadmap for action is unclear →