B C Update – CP

Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Aug 11, 2017

(BC-Wildfires)

Officials will be deciding this morning whether a widespread ban to accessing the backcountry in the B-C Interior is necessary to help mitigate wildfires.

Warm, dry conditions have persisted throughout the province, and forecast thunderstorms could bring more lightning that has already been causing new fires to spark.

The B-C Wildfire Service says human-caused fires must be avoided in the coming weeks so crews can remain focused on the naturally occurring ones.

The ban would apply to the Cariboo fire centre and the final decision will depend on wind conditions. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Wildfires-Preservation)

Scientists at the Royal B-C Museum are racing to collect samples from ecosystems being devastated by wildfires this summer.

The museum says its scientists have been conducting extensive fieldwork for the 16th year in a row, collecting specimens that represent the biodiversity of the province and Yukon.

It says the information collected builds a crucial baseline for scientists to work with at a time when rising temperatures is changing the landscape for species particularly used to the cold.

The museum’s C-E-O Jack Lohman says all the data that’s collected will be freely shared to other institutions and researchers around the world.

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(BC-Trans-Mountain)

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says despite the latest attempt by the British Columbia government to fight construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline project, “the decision has been taken.”

The B-C government said yesterday that it will join the legal fight against the project and has hired former judge Thomas Berger to provide legal advice as it seeks intervener status in court challenges against Ottawa’s approval of the 7.4-billion-dollar project.

Notley says she pleased that B-C government moved away from discussing halting the pipeline and shifted to making sure environmental and First Nations concerns are met.

She also says the pipeline — scheduled to have construction start this fall — will go ahead because it’s in the best interest of the country as a whole. (CFFR)

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(BC-Coke-Settlement)

Teamsters union members in B-C have ratified a new collective agreement with their employer, Coca-Cola, bringing an end to job action.

The 370 members who work in production, warehousing, trucking and merchandising at Coca-Cola facilities across the south coast walked off the job July 24th.

It took a marathon session with a mediator, union and employer to finally reach an agreement Tuesday, which was then ratified yesterday.

Union representative Jim Loyst says workers are satisfied with the pension, health and welfare benefits agreed upon and are looking forward to being back on the job. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Carfentanil-Victoria)

Victoria police say they’ve confirmed for the first time the presence of the deadly substance carfentanil that was discovered mixed into heroin seized during an arrest.

Carfentanil is 100 times more potent than the opioid fentanyl, which has been linked with the majority of overdose deaths across the province.

Police say the department’s new scanner tested samples of drugs seized during the arrest of two men on August 2nds.

Other drugs including cocaine and methamphetamine were also seized and police say one of the men was already facing several outstanding charges related to drug trafficking. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Avatar-Grove)

The Avatar Grove boardwalk near Port Renfrew is B-C’s newest public attraction to open yesterday in one of the oldest forests.

The Ancient Forest Alliance has spent four years working on the project, and director Ken Wu says far from being a hindrance to the local economy Avatar Grove has helped the local area.

Wu says the protected forest has attracted new businesses and jobs to the region, improving the economy.

The kilometre-long trail and boardwalk includes extensive stairs, walkways, bridges, and viewing platforms between monumental old-growth trees and was built entirely by volunteers. (CFAX)

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(B-C Update by The Canadian Press)

(The Canadian Press)